Exactly one year ago, I left the hospital after many days spent in intensive care, which taught me the true value of time and life. That period—without Christmas, New Year’s Eve, or Epiphany—left an indelible mark on me.
I vividly remember the first hug from my four daughters on Epiphany Day: a long, emotional embrace, a moment I will cherish forever.
During those challenging days, I saw Jesus and thanked Him for keeping me alive. Since then, I ask myself every day: Have I earned this extra time Christ gave me? Have I done enough?
Probably not, because one can never truly do enough to deserve the gift of time. But one thing is clear: to truly live, we must love our dear ones more and learn to say “NO” to what doesn’t matter.
I also want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the doctors who saved me and guided me through that difficult journey:
- Dr Marco Rossi, Head of the Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy Unit at San Donato Hospital (marco.rossi@uslsudest.toscana.it), for his accurate analysis and diagnosis.
- Dr Marco De Prizio, Head of the General and Emergency Surgery Unit at San Donato Hospital (marco.deprizio@uslsudest.toscana.it), for the brilliant surgical procedure.
- Dr Raffaella Pavani, Head of the Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit at San Donato Hospital (raffaella.pavani@uslsudest.toscana.it), for the exceptional care I received in intensive care.
Their dedication, professionalism, and humanity made all the difference.
To them, I extend my eternal gratitude.
***
I had a health problem that had become acute over the years. It is called diverticulitis.
I travel a lot, and every year I go around the world five times. I suffered from excruciating pain and I had reached a situation of great difficulty, incompatible with the intensity and frequency of my business trips. I had very invasive tests but without a solution.
Having made London my second home, I was able to turn to the most highly regarded doctors in the London City area for a diagnosis and solution. However, in the United Kingdom, hospital facilities, including the best private clinics, were not equipped with surgical robots and the operation I was supposed to undergo would have been performed with traditional and therefore invasive methods, with a long post-operative recovery period.
After various searches, I discovered that the highly innovative surgical technique was operational at the San Donato Hospital in Arezzo, Italy.
The appointment with Dr Marco Rossi, head of gastroenterology at San Donato, helped me understand the seriousness of the situation I had reached and the urgency of surgery in the face of a clinical picture that was now at risk.
There was no time to waste and I, as a good manager, organised my agenda and everything to undergo the surgery urgently.
Usually, I spend Christmas with my family. I decided to undergo the operation during this period also taking advantage of the fact that my international work has to stop for the holidays. I also hold the position of governor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), so I had to choose a period that would allow me to best manage my commitments.
I chose San Donato Hospital “precisely for the highly innovative surgical technique” that guaranteed greater precision. The meeting with my surgeon, Professor De Prizio, opened up a world to me, as I discovered the high number of surgical interventions performed with robotics every year and so I decided to have the operation in my hometown, Arezzo.
At the same time, I realised that the negative stereotypes about the Italian healthcare system are unfounded. Like everyone else, I followed the standard process—from visiting my family doctor to scheduling appointments—and was given an appointment within a month. Finally, the day of the surgical intervention arrived.
I remember it as it were today. “Five hours in the operating room because the internal picture was very compromised. Professor De Prizio performed a miracle. Everything went well, four days of hospitalisation were expected! But on the second day I got COVID, I was intubated and ended up in intensive care”.
I was hooked up to the machines and around me, I saw a team of professionals who took care of me with great compassion and professional dedication. I will never forget it. Dr Pavani brought me back from the brink, and I owe my life to her and Professor De Prizio”.
***
Gratitude is the keyword and the corresponding action that I took the very next few days after I left the hospital. I wrote to President Mattarella, the Local Mayor and Prefect, asking for recognition for the healthcare professionals of San Donato Hospital, not only for having saved my life but because they save lives every day.
***
I thank God for the gift of time and, at the same time, I learned not to waste it by saying “NO”.
Saying “NO” is not selfish; it’s an act of self-preservation and a way to focus on what truly matters. There’s no need to explain, justify, or apologise.
As French philosopher André Gide said, “It is better to be hated for what you are than to be loved for what you are not.” Saying “NO” is an assertion of authenticity and a pathway to a better life.
“NO” is an act of love towards one’s own life and values. It is a fundamental step to live with authenticity, gratitude and full awareness of the time that is given to us.
My favourite quotes about “NO”.
Pablo Neruda: “I like people who can say ‘no’ without feeling guilty.”
Steve Jobs: “Say no to a thousand things to say yes to the one that really matters.”
Mahatma Gandhi: “A ‘NO’ said with deep conviction is better than a ‘YES’ said only to please, or worse, to avoid problems.”
Anne Lamott: “No is a complete sentence.”
Paulo Coelho: “When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself.”
Epictetus: “He who cannot say no to others, cannot say yes to himself.”