TOLENTINO A splendid family, a job he loves and a great passion for sport. It seemed like a perfect life. Then one day, fate put him in front of the hardest, seemingly insurmountable obstacle. It was June 27 last year when Rossano Salvatelli, while he was skydiving in Fermo, he jumped from the plane. And he couldn’t imagine the drama that would materialize after a few seconds.
The story
«There was a problem during the landing – says Rossano – and in the fall I injured two cervical vertebrae and the spinal cord. I was at the end of my life due to serious respiratory problems.” Rescue services and air ambulance transport to the Torrette hospital in Ancona were immediate. «I was in a medically induced coma for five days and I woke up paralyzed from the neck down. I spent almost a month in intensive care. I was intubated for 12 days, then the doctors tried to restart my lungs on their own. But they didn’t succeed. They told me there was a risk of having to be attached to a machine for life. I was emergency intubated again for another week. At that point a new attempt was made and thank goodness, this time the lungs started doing their duty. After winning the battle against death I was transferred to the Spinal Unit, also in Torrette.” From an escaped danger to the shock of the paralysis caused by the fall. «As soon as I woke up from the coma I immediately realized the gravity of the situation: I couldn’t feel any limbs of my body. It was shocking. The head physician William Capeci explained to me what had happened and the scenarios. There were two possibilities: to remain paralyzed for life or to have improvements.” No certainties for Rossano, 45 years old, originally from Corridonia and resident in Tolentino, but a lot of willpower. He fought like a lion every day. «The first improvement after two months. I noticed that I was starting to move my arms and by the third month also my legs. I undertook a long rehabilitation journey with physiotherapists: electrostimulation and dynamic activities. A job that allowed me to obtain initially unexpected results. The closeness of my wife Roberta and our children Ascanio and Giulia was also very important. Even relatives and friends have always remained by my side.”
The turning point
Last June 6th, almost a year after the accident, the return home. «It was a very strong emotion – he says -. Having dinner together with the family, hugging each other, joking: moments of everyday life that have an inestimable value.” How priceless is the value of his wife Roberta’s gesture. «When I was in intensive care – Rossano reveals – holding my hand she said to me “my love, hold on. If I can get you home we’ll have a big party.” And she kept her word: «Last Saturday you blindfolded me and took me to Tolentino. We arrived at the Bimbolandia nursery, of which Roberta is the owner: in the garden, waiting for me, there were relatives and friends. A beautiful surprise party.” Rossano Salvatelli is still in a wheelchair but his battle is only just beginning. «I am continuing the rehabilitation process at Santo Stefano in Tolentino and at the Officina di Fidia in Corridonia. I hope for more miracles. I want to thank all the doctors and healthcare workers who looked after me with professionalism and humanity.” And there is also a short-term goal: «I am team coordinator in the electricity sector of the Assm of Tolentino, in September I would like to return to work. My thanks also go to Sandro Meschini, director of the municipal company, and to the engineer Susanna Tallei”.
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