PESARO – A photo worth a thousand words. Carlo Alberto Petrucci standing, on his own legs, together with his friend Marco Manzini. A miracle, double. Yet another demonstration of how the Paralympic taekwondo champion from Pesaro manages to stimulate the minds and hearts of those who, like him, have seen the abyss and emerged from it. That of Carlo Alberto, 26 years old, is a story that is as painful as it is filled, today, with hope. To tell it, you have to rewind the tape to Saturday 16 December 2023.
The restart
A flight from the fifth floor of the house, the devastating impact with the porphyry of the historic center of Pesaro and then the darkness. The real one, with his life hanging by a thread, the hospitalization in Torrette, the desperation of friends, family and relatives. Time, for Carlo Alberto Petrucci, could have stopped that evening. Instead he started again with determination and willpower also thanks to the continuous stimuli of Marco Manzini, a healthy bearer of impossible feats, a warrior who never gives up. «I know Carlo Alberto because he is the son of a great friend of mine. As soon as possible, after the accident, I tried to convey a lot of trust to him until, a few days ago, telling him to tell me in a loud and convinced voice “that he is the strongest”, I shouted at him to get up from the wheelchair and prove it to me. . Because I believe in him and he must too. At that point, he stood up. And he was standing straight, smiling, with me. It was wonderful. His parents thanked me with their hearts in hand. They are overjoyed for this great undertaking.”
Emotion
His father, Massimo Petrucci, says: «That evening, my son got unbalanced and flew down. He suffered many physical injuries and fractures. Today he is in a wheelchair. Marco Manzini, his childhood friend, gave him the book he wrote as a gift. Reading it gave him a lot of confidence and mental strength. The last time they saw each other Carlo Alberto got up from his wheelchair, he felt the positive energy that Marco emanates.” Eleven years ago, following a terrible car accident, Manzini woke up from a deep coma after 40 days. He had already received extreme unction. Fundamental, in his case, was the stimulus in the form of an audio message from his idol: Dino Zoff. «Since then we have spoken every 15 days on the phone. He is my teacher and champion in life. Let’s talk about us and, obviously, about Juventus.” Manzoff – as he was renamed after the release of his book in which he recounts his rebirth – knows suffering well but also struggle. And to everyone’s surprise, he became the Italian Paralympic champion in the Chimera Cup, bronze at the European Open and third Dan black belt. And to think that for doctors he would no longer be able to walk.
The push
«You have to react with a lot of confidence – he repeats – In life it’s not about being strong but feeling strong. The mental strength that we all have is powerful and also heals the body, it gives you the courage to overcome any obstacle without being afraid. I’ve been doing it every day for 11 years without having the strength anymore but just believing in myself.” Marco is often stopped by people who have read his story, thank him and also ask to take a selfie, showing him great respect. «I remain incredulous. I say to everyone: I stagger but I don’t give up, giving my all. I won because I tried. I started training again, even at the seaside, despite the poor balance I have. The story of Carlo Alberto, even for me who saw it in hell and who still often goes there today, amazed me profoundly. He’s alive, he wanted to live, he’s mentally clear, he has incredible stamina. If the doctors talked to me about a miracle, with him we must talk about a super miracle to be studied for medicine.”
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Read the full article at
Adriatic Courier
Tags: Manzini calls stands wheelchair
