A story of good healthcare, told by those who have returned to life also thanks to the competence and human values of those who work at the Great Metropolitan Hospital of Reggio Calabria.
Rocco Anile, originally from Rizziconi, who recently underwent a kidney transplant, obtained thanks to the generosity of his sister Domenica, a living donor who became the protagonist of an extraordinary gesture of love, recounts his experience.
«Until a few days ago – said Anile – my existence was marked by a heavy routine, made up of expectations and hopes under my breath. I saw the future through a fog, convinced that my destiny would be managed only in the large centers of the North. The health news of our country often tends to highlight shortcomings and difficulties, especially in regions such as Calabria. But sometimes, behind the veil of criticism and underestimation, stories of excellence are hidden that deserve to be celebrated and highlighted. This is the case of the “Riuniti” hospital in Reggio Calabria, part of the “Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli” hospital, the scene of a recent and complex kidney transplant from a living donor. A complex operation, successfully completed, demonstrates that the South, often criticized, hides international-level medical teams and structures.”
Behind the success of the kidney transplant operation there are the faces and the tireless commitment of the professionals: the team of the Nephrology, Urology and Vascular Surgery departments, supported by the nursing and anesthesiology staff. «Only they are the true silent heroes who, despite working in a regional context perceived as “disadvantaged”, guarantee standards of care that save lives» underlined Anile.
What is also and above all striking in this positive story is the role of the donor. «The greatest thanks go to my sister – he continued – for having made my rebirth possible, demonstrating how love and solidarity can overcome every barrier, even that of illness. The person who took a step back in his life to allow me to take a thousand steps forward.”
The positive outcome of the transplant at the Grande Ospedale Metropolitano is also a powerful reminder of the crucial importance of organ donation, which in Calabria has strangely declined in the last year, perhaps also due to low trust in regional public health. Thousands of people are on the waiting list and the possibility of a new life depends on a “yes” which can come at a difficult time.
«Donating organs, both while alive when possible, and after death – Rocco Anile recalled – is the final and greatest act of generosity that can be performed. It is a legacy that turns pain into hope and the end into a new beginning for someone else. We invite everyone to inform themselves and express their will in life: let’s not let prejudice or lack of information deprive others of the possibility of being reborn. Calabria, with its doctors and its structures, is ready to welcome your gift. With the hope – he concluded – that my story will be an encouragement for everyone.”