"I survived after losing my whole family"

Girasole: Mosquitoes test positive for the Usutu virus: Mayor's order comes into effect.

Did it succeed?

"Yup. But I don't deny that deep down, even now, sometimes I feel alone. A particular loneliness: from one moment to the next I lost father, mother and four little brothers, I was the oldest. And I miss them. I miss my mom, who loved children and would have been a great grandmother. I miss my father, a strong, good, hard worker, who went out of his way for us. And then Enea, he was 14 years old, he was a closed but very good child, Natasha (11 years old) who was in love with animals, with life in the open air, Jonatan, (10 years old) a playful always smiling like mother, and Samuele, had four years old, the little one of the house. But they are always with me ».

What do you remember of that day?

“I didn't know anything that evening. I didn't have a cell phone, I didn't watch TV. I was unaware of everything. The next day I arrived at school by bus, a person near the newsstand recognized me and said: yours are all dead . I collapsed. My aunt's husband, mother's sister came to pick me up, they welcomed me at home, I owe it to them if I was able to study and continue my life as always even if it was never the same again ".

What did your father do?

“The warden at Cape Blu. And my mother kept the houses clean, I also helped her when I finished school. We were finally a happy family, after difficult times: thanks to my father, his desire to work. He was well liked by everyone ».

Do you believe in God?

“When certain things happen, you question everything a bit. I cultivated a faith towards Our Lady: I prayed a lot even when we couldn't have children and I was very keen on it: I didn't want to be alone in the world anymore ».

Who helped her?

"Many. Even relatives, of course, but above all people who met me by chance, maybe they didn't know my story and appreciated me for what I became, a woman, a mother who cares so much for her family. Among these there is a dear friend from Cagliari who also helped me with my work, she is my mother's age, I owe her a lot ».

Did you tell your children the truth?

“They know that grandfather, grandmother and uncles are gone, they are protecting them from heaven. Sometimes I dress them in T-shirts or underwear that belonged to my little brothers. When I went to free Capo Blu's house, I took a lot of things, even my mother's clothes and my father's shirts and jackets. What remains of them, as well as wonderful memories ».

Do you often talk about your loved ones who are no longer there?

«Yes, every occasion is good because it is right to cultivate the memory of those you loved so much. The other day, for example, my tennis teacher in Pula, Fabrizio Mei, gave me a photo of Natascia: my little sister was playing tennis with him in the Santa Margherita elementary school. I didn't even know he had practiced that sport, Natasha. It gave me immense pleasure ».

Paolo Carta