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by Tiziana Di Giovannandrea November 18, 2019The 12-year-old Genoese boy was paralyzed following a sting on the neck of a breed (a trine), a species of poisonous manta, while he was bathing in Costa Rica, in Las Minas, according to the health officials who they have taken care of him in Bologna, he is hospitalized in good condition and he already mentions the first movements.

Following the terrible sting of the aculeus, which the trigone has on the tail, in the sea in front of the beach of Las Minas, Pietro, this is the name of the boy, has been paralyzed from the waist down. The sting of this type of breed can reach a length of 35-40 centimeters and in shape resembles a knitting needle.

The humanitarian flight , for the minor's return to Italy, was authorized by the Presidency of the Council and by the Farnesina and was carried out with a Falcon from the 31st Ciampino Wing of the Italian Air Force. The journey took about 13 hours. On board, in addition to pilots, specialists and flight attendants, there was also a doctor from the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna, Dr. Liliana Copertino, together with her parents and her older brother. During the flight the aircraft had to make a technical stopover in Canada for refueling.

Once he landed at Marconi airport in Bologna, Pietro was admitted to the Ospedale Maggiore in Bologna while his grandmother, with his uncles and other relatives, arrived from Genoa to wait on the track for the boy.

The 12-year-old, transported by ambulance to the Bolognese hospital, was admitted to the emergency spinal surgery department where he is followed by the team of specialists led by Dr. Federico De Iure who, from the first days, said he was willing to follow the complicated case .

The tragic event
The boy returned to Italy about a month after the dramatic event that occurred while the family was on vacation in Costa Rica. After being stabbed in the neck from head down, the 12-year-old was hospitalized for several days. of San José in Costa Rica until the Italian Embassy failed, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to organize the state flight for the repatriation of the boy, personally authorized by the premier Giuseppe Conte.

To unblock the case, some Ligurian parliamentarians and Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco were also involved.

Admitted to Bologna, the word to the doctors: "He moves, no operation"
He is hospitalized in good condition and mentions the first movements, Pietro the 12-year-old Genoese struck a month ago by a trigone around his neck. "The boy is in good condition and is having an initial motor recovery - explained Dr. De Iure, in a press conference to the Major - since he suffered the trauma he has had significant improvements". At the moment he still wears the collar but manages to move his arms and mentions some movements in one of the two legs.

The doctors, however, remain very cautious. "In six months we will make an initial assessment of the rehabilitation process - explained De Iure - and in 12 months we will understand what kind of recovery he has made". At the moment it is not possible to tell how long it will take to get back on track and if recovery will be complete, the doctor explained. However, Pietro has started the first recovery activities in Costa Rica and will soon be transferred to the Montecatone Institute , a specialized structure for intensive spinal rehabilitation in Imola, in the province of Bologna. It is not excluded then that in the medium-long term one can also try a cure with stem cells.

" Medicine is making great strides " said Dr. De Iure. The 12 year old is however "very willing and has a great desire to fight", which is positive because "50% of the work must be done by the patient. We all support him". However, surgery will not be necessary. As a result of cervical trauma, the doctors of the Maggiore Hospital in Bologna explained, the surgery is done "if there is a vertebral instability, if there is a direct compression of the marrow or in the presence of an infection "Fortunately, in this case none of these three conditions occurred and therefore there will be no intervention," said De Iure, "which in fact would slow down rehabilitation in this situation." The doctors have still explained that the sting of the sting has pierced Peter's neck, piercing the sixth cervical vertebra and causing a "quite significant" spinal cord injury. The prick was also covered with a poisonous substance, but in this case it was providential the intervention of the boy's father, who had two cortisone tablets with him and gave them to his son immediately after the puncture.