Dear editors, I'm Francesco's mother, and for years now my family has been bound with affection to you and our friends. This past summer, when the leaders made the wise decision that we couldn't do a week-long vacation with friends and other young people, I felt my heart sink. I understood their reasoning, but the long stretch that followed—without the day center, without the respite of friends stopping by for even half a day—weighed heavily on my shoulders and in my chest. I think it weighed on my son too, though he understood nothing of why so many people suddenly disappeared. Then two dear friends from Fede e Luce—faithful, attentive, and loving for so many years—found a way forward. Chicca and her husband Claudio decided to take Francesco for a week to an isolated farmhouse in the countryside. A week with Francesco, who needs continuous help and care, is exhausting work. It's no vacation. But a mutual friend, hearing what they were doing, said to me: "Did you know that the friends of Fede e Luce are also brave?" The answer came straight from my heart: "They know they're not alone." And then he said: "Exactly. He never abandons anyone."
