Three Hearts

Cristina Zambonini was 19 years old when she received her first diagnosis that lead her to be put on a waiting list for a heart transplant. At 20 she received a new heart, lived with it for ten years and then problems started again.

I interviewed her for Visit Italy Web Radio, where I present a program every Friday morning at 10 am, Istantanee da Zurigo, and even though I had read and heard her story already so I thought I was well prepared about it, emotions took me by surprise. Her memories of some of the hospital days, when her girlfriends organised dinners  with the help of staff, and her strong, positive spirit gave me goosebumps.

It is much more difficult for those who around the hospital bed, than for the person in it

She said with a sweet smile.

The illness gave me much more than it took

Is another sentence that left me speechless.

Together with her best friends, Cristina has founded a non profit organisation, Cuori 3.0, to make people aware of the problem of lack of organs, and help patients and families cope with the difficult situations linked to transplant. They go to concerts, fashion shows, brunches etc – sometimes announced  – and tell their story. Needless to say, many listeners (me included) sign up for organ donation right after.

Take life lightly, lightness is not superficiality but it’s gliding on things from above, not having boulders on the heart (Italo Calvino)

Says Cristina’s homepage, over a famous Bansky painting.

If you want more information about donating in Switzerland, check Swisstransplant.

For italy, Aido.

For any other country , Google the nearest organisation near you – normally it only takes 10 minutes to fill a form.