Feb 15 • 20:32 UTC 🇮🇹 Italy Il Giornale

"I ask for help from the Pope." The desperate appeal of the mother of the boy with the 'burned' heart on Domenica In

A mother appeals for help from Pope Francis after her son received a severely damaged heart transplant due to mishandling during transport.

In a heartfelt appeal on the Italian TV show Domenica In, Patrizia Mercolino shared the harrowing experience of her son who underwent a heart transplant at the Monaldi hospital in Naples. Anticipating the surgery for two years, they were devastated when the heart, which they thought would save his life, arrived critically damaged after exposure to dry ice during transportation. This unfortunate situation left her son fighting for his life, and she expressed her struggle against the hospital's system while seeking justice for her child's plight.

Mercolino recounted how, upon learning the news of the failed transplant, she and her lawyer had to navigate the difficult path of formally addressing the issues that arose. Their efforts led to media coverage, bringing to light the true reason for her child's precarious condition. In her interview, she emphasized the emotional toll this ordeal has taken on her family and spoke about the support from the Italian public, who are rallying behind her cause. The sentiment expressed by the show's director, Tommaso Cerno, highlighted the collective hope of the nation that a miracle might still save the young boy.

As the family continues to fight for their son's life, this situation raises broader questions about the medical transportation protocols for organ transplants in Italy and the accountability of healthcare providers when tragedies occur. The urgent appeal to Pope Francis signifies a desperate search for divine intervention, as well as a call for systemic changes to ensure better safety measures in such critical medical operations.

📡 Similar Coverage