A Glimpse into Luca’s Life

Luca was born on August 15, 1990 with Fallot's tetralogy, the most common form of congenital heart defect. At one and a half, his ventricular septal defect was corrected. Luca became infected with hospital germs. He had to be stabilized in the intensive care unit and stay in the hospital for another two months.

A short time later, his life was blessed with the addition of his little brother, and together with his family, Luca was able to experience a trouble-free childhood.

At the age of 12, he underwent his second operation, in which a bovine valve replaced his pulmonary valve. Even after this operation, it took time for Luca to regain his strength. But the new valve carried him through his youth without causing him any impairment.

At the age of 24, Luca went to Bologna on an Erasmus exchange to study geography. A completely different life awaited him there, with lots of new people and experiences. Right at the beginning, Luca got an infection, but he didn't pay much attention to it or give it much rest. It went on unnoticed for several months. Only then, when he noticed how exhausted and tired he really was, that he had lost a lot of weight, had lost his appetite and was developing a fever, did he contact his doctor in Zurich, who immediately called him home. He suspected endocarditis, an inflammation of the inner lining of the heart.

After a long and exhausting train journey, Luca arrived home in Switzerland, where his family welcomed him in shock. His condition worsened, but Luca did not want to go to the hospital until the next day. He found it difficult to understand and accept his situation, because everything happened so slowly and felt surreal. Now he stood there, as if torn from his life and suddenly confronted with death. He had to process this first. Because he knew that once he was in the hospital, he would not be able to get out so quickly. He mentally prepared himself for what was to come.

The next day he was admitted to the hospital as an emergency patient. His doctor's suspicions were confirmed. The doctors tried to avoid an operation. But it was not to be. After the operation, Luca recovered only slowly. However, after his discharge he decided to return to where he had been torn from. Luca went back to Bologna. There he successfully completed his exams.

This is just a short excerpt from Lucas' life. Behind all these experiences are many deep realizations that there is more than just the pain, the scars and the vulnerability caused by his congenital heart defect. As if after every operation and opening of the heart, an inner opening of the heart also takes place, an opening for the true self and an opportunity to rise from this state of being ill.

The heart is much more than just an organic pump that keeps us alive. The heart opens us to our true self and to love. To live love, to accept it, to be gentle and mindful of yourself and your surroundings and to live your very own rhythm of life. With all your heart.

Written by Stephanie Diener