Publisher's Synopsis
The true story of a help relationship, mutually and intensely lived, between a young educator and an autistic savant child. Cesare and Giovanni first met in the ambulatory of a family counseling centre, in Genova. The proposal to try for three months home care becomes an occasion to put in contact two personalities in fully development and change who, entering in harmony, will live 15 unforgettable years... Preface letter "To suffer together" by Dott. Roberto Soriani, psychiatrist in Genova, ASL 3, mental health service. Introductive articles: ."The autism in my point of view" "What we mean when we talk about Help Relationship". Afterword articles "The fragile X syndrome" "Intellectual and relational disabled vs intellectual and relational-abled". Dear Giovanni, What a pleasure to hear from you after so much time!Even more so because I know that you are well and threw yourself headlong into a new venture!I must say that I'm not that surprised, because over time I've gotten used to the fact that you are an extremely resourceful man. Well, I wasn't expecting to meet you again as a writer even if, like you say yourself, you're a "writer by chance."I gladly accepted your invite to read about your project, your story with Cesare and...how beautiful! Congratulations, you were really great, as usual I could say...It was a pleasure to read Cesare's story and get a better understanding of what happened in that time and, thanks to your writing, also understand why it happened... First, and foremost, I must say that Iwas impressed by the simplicity and the clarity of thought and, at the same time, the depth of what you described: with few, simple words you were able to paint this world that still looks strange and mysterious, the world of autism.It was natural for me to wonder what had worked so well in your relationship and what had allowed you to reach this point.My first answer was EMPATHY!This is an odd word...abused at times, often misunderstood.Through the story you wrote, its meaning becomes more understandable, starting from its etymology: "Suffering together."Cesare allowed you to enter into his world because he felt that you had suffered as well and therefore you could understand what he was feeling.Then he "made you suffer," putting you to the test, challenging you to tolerate his pain also. Only after that could he trust you and, consequently, rely on you.The second answer was your "NO FEAR."Mind you, it's not courage.It's the fact that you didn't allow the monsters in Cesare's world to scare you. You faced them with him, showing him that they could be neutralized, if not defeated, forever. How could you do that?Some of it has to do with your boldness, due to your professional inexperience, but most of all you could do it because you were able to look inside yourself and discover that you had some monsters too and you had neutralized them...In the end, your intellectual and emotional honesty allowed you to reach the results that you obtained with Cesare.I'm glad I could work with you, I'm glad I could read this story again and write these things.Keep being yourself, keep having the same honesty and fighting the monsters that inhabit our world.Your dearest Roberto.Dr. Roberto SorianiPsychiatrist
