This is the story of Mariana, 32, born in Ukraine, near Kiev, a land ravaged by war. At the end of last July, she underwent surgery to reduce her obesity. She chose Brotzu Hospital in Cagliari, the bariatric surgery center directed by Giovanni Fantola. Mariana is now doing well. "I've had to deal with obesity since I was a child. After the birth of my son, my condition worsened. Various diets proved insufficient. Even daily exercises at the gym didn't yield the desired results. I was disappointed and depressed. Then I met a friend who had undergone stomach reduction surgery in Germany. I saw the results. And at that point, I decided to talk to my mother, who has lived in Sardinia for 16 years."

The first step – Mariana took the first step, contacting the Arnas “Brotzu” facility, a center of excellence with over 200 bariatric surgeries each year, a third of which are robotic. “Doctors and nurses,” she explains, “welcomed me with so much affection, patience, and kindness. I remember Dr. Fantola’s calm voice. He asked me my age. I told him thirty-two, but to be sure, I showed him the number with my fingers. The thing that scared me the most was going into the operating room without my mother because I don’t speak Italian very well. I also had to overcome the language barrier, but the healthcare workers helped me.”

The horror of war – Giovanni Fantola recalls another moment from his first meeting with Mariana in the hospital: "She burst into tears when she heard the 118 helicopter landing on the hospital's helipad with an injured person on board. She associated the noise with the drones that cause death and devastation in her country. For her, it was a real nightmare." The wounds of the conflict never heal: "The war has affected my life; it took my partner away from me," the young Ukrainian woman tells us, her voice tinged with sadness. "It was an immense pain, indescribable. A suffering that creates a great void. War has no mercy for adults or children. So many of my friends died. A lost age. We grew up together, we shared games, dreams, and hopes, and now they are no longer here." Mariana cannot forget the horror she experienced, but she wants to think about the present and the future. "On the day of the surgery, there were angels in white coats by my side, speaking English. And that's how we understood each other. Now I'm following a strict diet, following the necessary rules. I'm watching my weight. I can't wait to go to the beach with my 11-year-old son. I'll be returning to Ukraine soon. I hope to find a job that will allow me to raise my child in the best possible way."

Teamwork – Giovanni Fantola clarifies that a multidisciplinary team treated Mariana. "A splendid team effort included dieticians, nutritionists, psychologists, gynecologists, specialized nurses, and cultural mediators. It's a proven system, drawing on the experience gained over recent years in the specialized management of these patients. We are witnessing a story of health and solidarity within the Sardinian regional healthcare system. The young woman turned to the "Brotzu" hospital seeking treatment for obesity, a condition she has suffered from for many years and which, as the latest data confirm, must have played a significant role in the development of another disease she suffered from: ovarian cancer. This experience, which has had very positive outcomes so far, demonstrates how the synergies and capabilities of our healthcare system, when used appropriately, are perfectly capable of providing the most appropriate solutions even to patients with complex needs." Obesity is a highly prevalent disease on the island. "One hundred thousand Sardinians suffer from it," says the surgeon, "10% of the population. Diabetes and hypertension are closely linked to the disease."

"A heartfelt thank you" – The final chapter is dedicated to Mariana's thanks. "A heartfelt thank you to the people who supported me. My dear friend Emanuele Liggi, my mother Raissa, my sister Ivanna, the hospital doctors, surgeon Giovanni Fantola, dietitian Martina, nurse Giulia Murenu, and so many other doctors and nurses. They have given me great strength. They have rekindled my hopes. I feel stronger. I am ready to take my life back, despite the grave problems my country is facing. For this, I feel deeply grateful to them."

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