Direct from Bologna

 

 

Direct from Bologna

Finally Fr Norberto arrived in Italy!

Fr Norberto was seriously injured by a landmine while going to the villages for pastoral work and to repair a school on Friday, February 10th. There were six of them in the car, but he was the most seriously injured: one broken leg, and the other had a mangled foot and leg.

The following day he was flown to Bangui by helicopter, and operated on in the UN hospital. On Sunday he had been moved to Kampala, Uganda, where the next day they had to proceed with the amputation of his foot.

From that Monday a marathon began to get him to Italy and complete the treatments. There were times when we feared for his life, and times when we feared further and more serious amputations.

There was a race to win this marathon to get him appropriate treatment, where the obstacles were numerous and sometimes insurmountable.

We had a whole network of affection and prayers that supported Fr. Norberto and all those who worked to make this almost impossible dream come true: our Mission Office of Arenzano, with Fr. Davide Sollami, the lead, our Carmelite Province, the Nunciature in Uganda, our Italian Embassies in Uganda and Cameroon, the Rizzoli hospital in Bologna, the Italian Red Cross and many friends, known and unknown, who all over the world took action with prayer and support.

Finally, after constant delays and updates, Thursday evening Fr. Norberto, accompanied by Fr. Federico Trinchero and a doctor, left the Kampala hospital, with sirens blaring, towards Entebbe airport.

From there they left with a KLM flight, and when they were finally on the plane we breathed a sigh of relief.

On Friday morning I left Arenzano with Fr. Davide Sollami at 5am heading towards Bologna. At the airport we met with the Red Cross team, and we got to the runway.  Finally we saw a small red plane, the air ambulance, landing.  We were able to greet Fr. Federico and, above all, Fr. Norberto.

We left in the convoy with sirens blaring, and we crossed into Bologna, to arrive at the Rizzoli Institute, one of the best Italian hospitals for orthopedics.

Here, outside the emergency room, the doctors were already waiting for us. There was even the head physician, Prof. Marco Innocenti, and they immediately welcomed Fr. Norberto and started examining and visiting with him.

After about an hour, the chief physician joined us and gave us some good news: the wound, albeit serious, was in good condition, and the prognosis was quite good: there will be further operations, another small amputation to prepare the leg for a prosthetic, and a long rehabilitation process.

In the meantime Claudio Pozzi, Fr. Norberto's brother, arrived from Lecco with his wife. He is a doctor and has constantly followed his brother in this ugly adventure.

In the afternoon, the provincial, Fr Saverio, also arrived and we could finally spend some time together with Fr Norberto, who now settled in the ward. He's in good spirits, getting his appetite back, and in his spunk too! For now, his morale is high, and his reaction encourages us. Not everyone is able to go through such a serious accident and in turn look ahead and make plans for the future!

I feel like saying: GO FR. NORBERTO! But it is he, Fr. Norberto, who gives us strength!

We continue to accompany him with prayer and affection. 

 

Also, for those who can, with financial support: the costs of transport in Italy are huge, and our Public Prosecutor's Office has launched a fundraiser:

Let's do everything possible together so that he can walk again.

Help us support the necessary expenses, even a small donation can make a difference.

𝐼 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖 𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑙𝑖 𝑔𝑙𝑖 𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑖 𝑑𝑖 𝑃𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑒 𝑁𝑜𝑟𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑜 𝑖 𝑃𝑎𝑑𝑟𝑖 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑖 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑖

HOW YOU CAN DONATE:

✅IBAN: IT 42 D 05034 31830 000000010043

Payable to: Missioni Carmelitane Liguri Convento dei Carmelitani Scalzi

Reason: Father Norberto Pozzi emergency

✅ With PayPal: You can send a donation to missioni@carmeloligure.it