Dear Andrea,
I walked into your grandmother's shop to buy some nails and screws and left with your diary, "Pieces of a Life"—which your grandmother, tremendously proud of your work, shows to her longtime customers.
We at the magazine decided to publish excerpts from it because your story is real, your feelings are honest, and you've done an remarkable job teaching yourself to use a computer so well.
We thank you for your testimony, we embrace you, and we wish you all the best as you become a great writer!
My name is Andrea
My name is Andrea Bonini. I'm 31 and a half years old, and I've suffered a lot. When I was born, the doctor wasn't in the hospital. There were complications during labor, so both my mother and I came close to dying.
I've always lived in Mondano, a small village in Tuscany's Maremma region, with my family—my parents, my sister, and my grandmother.
Family
My mother was cheerful and open. She spoiled me a great deal.
My sister's name is Francesca. She's 22. We've always had a close bond, even though when we were small she'd play tricks on me. Once, when she was very little, she put my hand on a hot radiator as a prank, and I got burned. I usually laughed when these things happened, because it was her way of playing with me.
My father is a jovial person too. What's always struck me about him is how well he understood how important it was for me to be around other people—and how much I needed help expressing myself and talking with them.
School
Her name was Vera, and she worked with me during third and fourth grade. She'd built a circle like a clock face with letters of the alphabet on it. I could select letters by moving arrows in the right direction to form words.
Pain
The heaviest thing in my whole life has been not being able to walk.
The Center
When I turned 26, I started going to the rehabilitation center in Orbetello. I did lots of activities there from 9 in the morning until 4 in the afternoon.
Twice a week I did hippotherapy. Learning to ride wasn't easy, but I've always loved animals. Slowly I learned to ride my horse, Melinda.
At the center I also learned to write on a computer. My teacher, Piergiorgio Pierfederici, built me a special foot pedal so I could select letters with my feet, because that's the only part of my body I can control well.
Afternoons
In the afternoons I'd be in my parents' grocery store. I'd talk and joke with the customers and friends who came in.
To Rome!
Last year, after five years of waiting, I moved to Don Guanella...
I was the one who asked for a place right for me after my mother died.
The hardest thing when I got here was getting used to a different way of life from the one I had with my family. Donatella Armati is the one who takes care of me.
The Doorbell
Giuliano came to this house around the same time I did. I want to thank him for all the times he rings the doorbell for me because I can't do it myself.
Donatella
Donatella welcomed me warmly and helped me in every way she could during a time of big change. There are all the other people I'd like to name... but to avoid leaving anyone out, I want to thank everyone on the third floor of the San Giuseppe ward.
Theater
The best thing was taking part in the show for the "Festival of Meeting." My friends even let me play the prince!
During rehearsals for "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" I got to know Fiorenza better—she played Snow White. It was her first year here too.
Back to: THE COMPUTER!
Finally, in October I got to use the computer again. Dad bought me one just like the one I had in Orbetello. Piergiorgio had already sent me the foot pedal and the word-processing program, so I started writing again "with my feet" (that poetic touch comes from Giulia) and since this is how I communicate what I think and feel, it's wonderful to know that my thoughts can reach the heart of whoever reads them exactly as they're born!