survived Covid, the story of Aurelio Franciosa de Sirmione

In a few weeks he lost 27 kilos, was hospitalized in four different hospitals in the province, and even today he has not recovered 100% clinically: this is the odyssey of Aurelio Franciosa, a 55-year-old entrepreneur from Lake Garda – owner of the Tour Sirmione – survived Covid after a long battle, of which he still has the signs now (from the scars on his chest, to the drainage of the lungs, to his respiratory capacity which 6 months after the first symptoms he is still not aware of 100%).

An odyssey of months from February 28

It all started on February 28: “Suddenly I felt bad at night, and the next morning I had a fever of 40%. On March 5, Franciosa is admitted to the Desenzano emergency room, March 8 is his birthday: that day he will be intubated and will only wake up on April 20, in the intensive care unit of Gavardo, in intensive care.

The famous Sirmione boat driver obviously does not remember anything until that day: the doctors put him to sleep (almost like in a coma) to help him with artificial respiration, connected for more than 40 days to a pulmonary ventilator (and with injections of curare, a poison to block muscles). But when he woke up, the road was still long.

Discharged from the hospital only on June 8

Transferred to Desenzano, in Pneumology, on May 3 he was transferred urgently to the Manerbio Surgery Service, due to internal bleeding. In a couple of weeks he will be back in Desenzano, but he suffers from a urinary tract infection. Only in late spring will he finally be transferred to Villa Gemma, in Barbarano di Salò, for the long rehabilitation. He was discharged on June 8.

Back home in the embrace of his daughter Laura and his brothers, Aurelio only a few weeks ago began to “ride” his boats, which have been carrying residents and tourists for years (on the lake).

Thanks to doctors and nurses

Covid survivor, you want to leave a message, or rather two. “I want to thank the doctors and nurses and operators, and in particular Doctor Luigi Vincenzo of Pneumology in Desenzano and Doctor Davide Coppini of Intensive Care in Gavardo – he explains – It is thanks to them that I am still here, and that is why I tell everyone those who attack or even denounce them, which is not the fault of the doctors. I understand the pain of those who have lost a loved one, but have always done what they could, always ”.

Aurelio’s appeal: “Be careful”

The second is a call, addressed to everyone: “I feel lucky because I survived – said Aurelio Franciosa – but we must be careful, put on the mask and respect the rules: you cannot mess with this virus. Do it for yourself, but do it above all for others ”. Here, the “others”: a perception that many forget. Against all individualism, against selfishness, the only cure is solidarity.

In front of those who shout that they want to “free themselves” from the masks and who today as yesterday deny the emergency: they did not understand freedom at all. The only thing they get rid of is the duty of responsibility towards others: too comfortable in this way and too unfair.