Fundraising by Andrea Morsiani

We would like to share with you the story of our friends Ivana and Roberto and their daughter Lucija. They are a precious gift to us and tireless witnesses of free hospitality. This time they are the ones who need our help.

"Hi, we are Ivana and Roberto, mom and dad from the Family House "St. Mary Untying Knots," and we are part of the Pope John XXIII Community.

Our daughter Lucija is 12 years old and grew up among many brothers and sisters who needed a family, to whom she first opened the door of her home, welcoming them for a while or forever. Today she has four adopted sisters, who have been joined over the years by other minors, single mothers freed from prostitution, mentally and physically disabled people, young volunteers and a few newborn brothers or sisters to raise and cuddle in the first months while waiting for an adoptive family.

Lucija has suffered since birth from congenital femoral/tibial hypoplasia in her right leg, a rare limb malformation consisting of a growth of the bones of the right leg inferior to the left leg, associated with a lack of cruciate ligament in the knee.

Currently, the dysmetria has exceeded 8 cm, and Lucija walks wearing an orthopedic shoe with a heavy elevation and, in order to be able to practice activities like her peers, she has compensated, as far as she has been able, by walking on her toes, managing to attend artistic gymnastics, swimming, modern dance, and scouting. As her dysmetria increased and she became more aware of her disease, she also grew to feel great distress in feeling that she was not "being like others." Lucija longs to wear shoes like her friends and to participate freely in activities that she now faces with difficulty, such as a simple walk, and after which she feels pain in her hip, foot, and back as soon as the exertion is a little greater than normal.

Today the time has come to face a very demanding, invasive and painfulleg lengthening surgery, which will take a year of her life. If she did not have it done, she would face serious joint and back problems in the future. The innovative methodology that will be used on Lucija is much less painful than the traditional one, but it has a cost of about € 60000 that is not supported by the National Health Service.

Lucija is very sensitive, she likes music, playing the piano and especially reading, so much so that she dreams of becoming a writer. Who knows that one day she might tell the story of a little girl who, climbing a mountain on her own legs, discovered that she was not alone, meeting Jesus in the affection and support of so many friends who accompanied her to the top, just as she welcomed so many brothers and sisters into her own family in simplicity and gratuitousness.

Therefore, together with the large family of the Community, we seek the help of friends and those who wish to support us in this arduous journey of healing for our daughter."

We support Ivana and Roberto in this fundraiser. With our help and yours, we can reach the goal and ensure Lucija will have a life-changing operation!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.