My cousin Andrea Mongiardo was born with a severe heart condition and his only option to live was a heart transplant. In 1994 an American family was on holiday in Italy when shooting started on the motorway and Nicholas Green, 7, was shot dead. His parents decided to donate the organs and 7 lives were saved, including Andrea's.
Andrea spent most of his life in and out of hospital, but he was given a new chance in life which meant he could play football, work, go on holiday and have a little fun too.
He met many friends in hospital and considered the doctors at Bambin Gesu' hospital in Rome like a second family.
Unfortunately Andrea passed away due to a lynphoma in his lungs. He was going to be 38 on 22nd March.

A hospital room is being dedicated to him and the doctors need specialist equipment to save more lives of people with heart conditions.

I wanted to share his story to encourage people to think about the positive effects of organ donations and the importance of being nice to others.

More details on Andrea and Nichola's story can be read here http://www.nicholasgreen.org/articles.html

Why support Bambin Gesu' hospital?

1) 1985 - Recognition as Institute for Research, Hospitalization & Health Care. it ranks at International level, sustaining research and clinical
trials for innovative services.
2) 2006 - Recognition by the Joint Commission International for the quality of its services and the for the safety of its patients.
3) 2010 - the first artificial heart transplant in the world was carried out
at Bambin Gesu' and, in the same year, the first intestine transplant.
4) 2014 - Opening of new Research labs amongst the biggest in Europe
5) 2016 - 5 Star Recognition for its Radiology Department by the
Eurosafe Imaging programme, recognising the quality and effort in
reducing radiations in hospital treatments.
6) it hosts 'Orphanet', the biggest database in the world for rare
diseases, shared by 39 countries.