What happens when a developing child has a condition incompatible with life? For parents, the question is devastating.
Many mothers and fathers have lived through this reality. Some have chosen to continue their pregnancy to its natural conclusion rather than end it early. They want to give their child all the love they have for him, to witness the value and dignity of every life. They believe that, compared to an interrupted pregnancy, "a loss is far easier to bear."
At Rome's Gemelli Hospital, a team led by Professor Noia follows these pregnancies with careful attention and equal dignity. Most doctors advise early termination to spare the mother stress and the child unnecessary suffering. But this team offers a different path.
Two parents, Sabrina and Carlo, met Professor Noia while expecting their third child, who had a severe kidney condition. Out of that experience—a pregnancy that seemed hopeless, sustained by love, prayer, and the strength of an oak—Associazione La Quercia Millenaria was born. Their son Giona, now three years old, came into the world. He still faces many challenges, but he is alive and deeply loved. The Association now offers information, testimony, and accompaniment in partnership with Professor Noia's team—some of the finest specialists in prenatal medicine, pediatrics, and surgery. They provide psychological and spiritual support to welcome families and, where possible, ease their suffering.