Associazione Battiti expresses its deepest condolences and most sincere closeness to the parents of little Domenico, struck by a tragedy that leaves one speechless and touches every conscience deeply. In the face of such great pain, every word seems insufficient. We stand with respect and compassion alongside a mother and father who have faced an unspeakable ordeal with a dignity that deserves everyone’s silence and attention. As a community composed of families who experience the journey of pediatric heart disease, we feel this event as something profoundly our own.

From a clinical perspective, we are faced with a case of extraordinary rarity and complexity, making it extremely difficult to evaluate the case for us who are inexperienced in this matter but also, paradoxically, for the most experienced. We are certain that the competent authorities will be able to shed full light on what happened, so that every useful element can contribute to further improving the safety and effectiveness of care pathways.

At the same time, we feel it is our duty to remember that Monaldi Hospital has represented for years an absolute excellence in the field of pediatric cardiac surgery. Thousands of children and adults, including our members and our children, are alive today thanks to the tireless work, the competence and the dedication of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who operate daily with professionalism and sense of responsibility, often under conditions of great complexity. In this context, we cannot help but express strong concern about the increasingly harsh tones of the narrative that, in recent weeks, has been affecting the entire hospital system, fueled by media narratives and by a public opinion understandably shaken but sometimes led to generalize.

This approach risks causing profound damage not only to the image of healthcare facilities, but above all to patients, families and an entire territory that finds in these institutions a fundamental bastion of care and hope. A single error, however serious and painful, cannot and must not obscure the value of a hospital reality that for years has represented an essential point of reference for the entire South of Italy.

As Associazione Battiti, we will continue to stand alongside families, supporting every child’s right to safe and highest-level care, while promoting a culture based on trust, transparency and respect, in the conviction that only through balanced and responsible dialogue can we truly protect everyone’s health.

Fly to heaven, little Angel, and continue to shine from above on those who loved you. Your memory will be eternal in our hearts.