I couldn’t sleep tonight!! While thinking of the chaos in the world, I remembered a special phone call to a couple called Lavizzari, long-term friends of mine and parents of 5 children. Marco and Maria live in the small, pretty town of Poschiavo in the Italian-speaking canton of Graubünden. Framed by a majestic crown of mountains it is a place of passage for a railway that connects Valtellina (Italy) to Eastern Switzerland.
Having become blind due to an eye disease, Marco, endowed with a strong sensitivity and sense of duty, did not turn in on himself, but developed exceptional creative skills to contribute to the family’s livelihood.
Nothing stops Marco, in the company of his faithful dog he sometimes even walks along mountain paths because that wonderful creature warns him of every obstacle he may encounter, such as a root, a stone and so on. A strong solidarity reigns in his family which is increased by their faith in the love of God that accompanies them, even in painful trials. Their daughter Francesca, a young mother had recently left this world for our heavenly homeland.
I cannot express myself otherwise, but the contact with Marco, Francesca’s father, was like a ray of light that penetrated my heart. I had called this family to express my participation in their mourning, but I did not have time to speak, Marco was alone at home at that moment and with his clear voice, he began to talk about his daughter.
Even though he is blind, by what Maria had told him, he was able to give me an insight in detail to the last days of Francesca`s illness accompanied by her husband and their two children who are still very young. Marco gave me the impression that a celestial being was speaking yet he had his feet firmly on the ground. He said: “Francesca faced her illness supported by a special grace! After learning of her health condition, the whole family were united in living every step of the long journey that led her to the destination that is a natural part of life. The children were made aware of every reality that gradually arose and knew the seriousness of the situation: their mother would have to go to the hospital for a few days, or she would have to go to the doctor, etc. Then came the last 15 days spent at home!”
The time to say goodbye came during the night, Gabriele, an 8-year-old boy, was not present when his mother died. Lia, 9 years old, on the other hand as if by call, was present with her father, accompanied by Marco and Maria, together with their children Davide, Evelina, Luca, Matteo and Sabina, and a dear friend of Francesca, until her departure for Heaven. At that moment, Lia exclaimed: “Mummy is healed now!”
It’s the first time I had heard how this family managed to overcome such a harsh reality, in such a natural way. How her husband and closest relatives accompanied her in this way, leading their children to live in serenity such a detachment, which left even their teachers and friends amazed.
Lia in her spontaneity and purity of heart had said a great truth: “Mummy is healed now”.
(Writer: Maria Pia di Giacomo – www.cittanuova.it – © All rights reserved)
