Leonardo BonUcci shared, in an episode of the podcast "Il Fienile", the terrible experience he lived in 2016 with his son Matteo, who had to face emergency surgery. The former Juventus and Italian national team defender recounted how the family found themselves faced with a life or death situation, describing in detail the fear and hope that accompanied that period.
According to BonUcci, the affair began during a holiday in Formentera. The young Matteo, then only 11 years old, began to show signs of malaise: he was "a bit absent" and one morning he emitted a whitish liquid. After a second episode, the mother called the doctor, who suspected meningitis, although without the presence of fever. Emergency surgery in the emergency room led to a more serious diagnosis: an eight-centimeter mass located near the cerebellum, "the size of a cup."
The father recalled the anguish of that moment, adding that the operation was supposed to last three hours, but it lasted for over seven. “I punched the wall in desperation,” BonUcci said, describing the uncertainty that accompanied the procedure. After the operation, Matteo had to undergo two more operations to regularize the flow of spinal fluid, but the final result was positive. Today, despite some limitations regarding contact sports, Matteo feels well and plays tennis.
The experience had a profound impact on the BonUcci family, who had to face not only fear but also the responsibility of ensuring the health of their son. Leonardo's story, although personal, was shared with a tone of gratitude towards the medical staff and support team who made Matteo's recovery possible. The story, despite having originated in a family context, was made public thanks to the podcast platform, where the player was able to express his closeness towards those facing similar situations.