Hospitalized since birth due to a rare genetic disease that affects his bones and muscles, Francesco Bruno, a boy of two years and 10 months, has joined his home for the first time.
- The term skeletal dysplasia brings together more than 400 rare diseases that alter the development of bones and cartilage in children.
- They are usually caused by a genetic mutation.
He can finally go home. Francesco Bruno, a little American boy, spent the first thousand days of his life hospitalized because of a genetic disease. Tuesday, October 11, the boy was able to leave La Rabida Hospital, located in Chicago, Illinois.
A rare disease that blocks lung growth
His parents confided in the American media CBS News. “We are very happy, nervous, tense, scared, overwhelmed, really happy and delighted, slipped his father Emanuele Bruno. It’s a mix of emotions.” When their son was born, there was no indication that he would ever be able to leave the hospital. The doctors had told the parents that their son would only live for thirty minutes. “It is truly a miracle that he is with us today.”, underlines Priscilla Bruno, his mother. The little boy has a genetic disease that affects his bones and muscles. He was diagnosed with a rare form of skeletal dysplasia, which affects his ribs and blocks the growth of his lungs. One of his brothers was affected by the same pathology, and died a week after his birth. In December, Francesco will celebrate his third birthday, and for his parents, his fight is a lesson in life: “we must live each day as the last, because we do not know what awaits us tomorrow“, recalls his mother. “The fact that we are here, almost three years later, talking about him is already a miracle in itself, in my opinion.“, rejoices the father of Francesco.
An obstacle course for Francesco Bruno
Since birth, Francesco has lived in four different hospitals, equipped with an artificial respirator and fed by tubes. During this long stay, he underwent several surgeries. When he left the hospital, his parents were not the only ones to rejoice: the hospital staff gathered to say goodbye to him. “As a team, we put so much love and effort into developing Francesco“, explained Maggie Sladick, therapist at La Rabida, to News24. “It’s always a mixture of sweet and bitter to see children leave.“Along with her colleagues, she explains that the little boy is getting a little stronger every day, even if the coming months will not be easy. But his parents are prepared for it.”We will deal with things day by day, as we have done so far.”says Emanuele Bruno, Francesco’s father.
“We’re very happy, nervous, tense, scared, overwhelmed”: Francesco Bruno went home from the hospital for the first time Tuesday after spending the first 1,000 days or so of his life in hospitals. https://t.co/YfvI3G3pxh
—CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) October 12, 2022
