Tommy Rossi's legacy is now clearly visible in the small waiting room of the Oncology department of Giovanni Paolo II. It is the new furnishings, a beautiful big screen TV and the colors of the framed posters hanging on the walls that recall the five events of the "Never Give Up" charity evenings, thanks to which all this was possible. Tommy, a music lover, event organizer and speaker known throughout Sardinia, fought like a lion against the disease and transformed his fight into a concrete gesture with a thought turned to the well-being of those who, like him, were facing this path of treatment. This morning the inauguration of the completely modernized room: it was packed. Along with family members, doctors, nurses, friends, artists who came to pay homage to him, some patients in therapy, united in a moving Christmas gift.
After the blessing prayer by Don Paolo Era, the words of the head of the Oncology Unit, Natale Tedde: «Tommy was a companion of ours for a few years», he said, «and here he developed the idea of making the waiting room more welcoming by organizing a fundraiser». A series of meetings, organized in collaboration with the Mario Cervo Archive, in which music alternated with a debate on prevention and the memory of friends who had lost the battle against the terrible disease. «All the credit goes to Tommy», said the former director of the Oncology Unit, Salvatore Ortu, «the beauty of these events was the togetherness between doctors and patients, that sharing that exists but in the hospital environment is difficult to implement and perceive. I remember Tommy with great affection and I am happy to see this room finally welcoming thanks to him».
In memory of the speaker Velia Cervo, of the Mario Cervo Archive where he was a collaborator and coordinator of the Record Award: «His absence is felt», he began, «we shared the evenings of “Non mollare mai” with joy because they were witnesses of his stories of returning from therapy, of his desire to contribute to making this place where he spent so much time comfortable. No one ever refused to participate in the evenings, a sign of how engaging he was and of the esteem that all the artists had for him». The plaque that remembers him has a symbolic phrase engraved on it, which many have underlined was also his lesson: «When you treat a disease you can win or lose, when you treat a person you always win». The same plaque that was given to Tommy's daughter, Aurora Rossi.
Also at the presentation were the health director of the ASL Gallura, Raffaele De Fazio, and the nursing coordinator of the Oncology Unit Antonella Delogu, a friend and assistant of Tommy, a key figure in organizing the event and who dedicated a reflection to him on the value of human relationships, taken from a reading of "The Little Prince". The morning ended with musical tributes by Mauro Mibelli and Nicole Ruzittu, the Sos Astores Choir and the screening of a video dedicated to the figure of Tommy and the adventure "Never Give Up".