A Christmas Tale

by Michele Alonzo
Area Representative for World Heritage Student Exchange Program

When Cecilia arrived to Cincinnati from her Italian hometown, Turin, on August 18 this year, the last thing she expected was to recover from the jetlag in a hospital bed, under general anesthesia. Only hours after landing on the American continent, Cecilia was evaluated for a sudden abdominal pain at a medical facility in Mason, Ohio. Diagnosis: acute appendicitis. Treatment: urgent appendectomy. Against all odds!

Cecilia after surgery

Being an Italian exchange student and having never been in the USA before, what better welcome could she have had from her host family than holding hands while she was being wheeled to the operating room only 24 hours after her arrival. Everything went nicely and smoothly. Her American mom, Lisa, spent the whole night with her in the hospital after surgery; she was there when Cecilia woke up and helped with her first American meal: cold, orange Jello!

Lisa and Mike Ruggiero encouraged and emotionally supported her before and after surgery; Cecilia could not have had better care by her new family during those days. This episode ended up as one of those stories to tell to her grandchildren someday. What a wonderful moment of bonding for Cecilia with the Ruggiero family. She was never scared and felt always part of that family that she had met only 24 hours before. She was comfortable from the first moment with those American parents who reassured her and her natural family in Italy, just like they had known each other for years.

Cecilia had to skip the first four days of school to recover from surgery, but before walking into Kings High School to meet teachers and classmates, she was already well known as the Italian girl who was in the operating room the day after arriving in the USA.

Cecilia lost a small part of her body, but she gained a lifetime experience and a true loving relationship. She understood that odd and difficult situations often become a way to bond with people and realized that love can stretch across countries, cultures and languages.

Cecilia and her American mom Lisa

She is now spending her first Christmas in the United States with her host family, enjoying the holiday spirit of their household and already missing her acquired relatives. In a few weeks she will go back to Turin to reunite with her natural parents after about six months. She will leave her appendix in Mason, Ohio, but she will carry in her heart the tender care of the Ruggieros who treated her like a daughter since the first day, supporting her in a difficult moment, thousands miles away from her hometown.

Lisa and Mike will visit Cecilia and her family during their trip to Italy this summer. They plan to see many places, but no Italian hospitals, for sure!