ITALY 
When Giuseppe Penello started a new teaching position,
he thought connecting and motivating his students would
be his biggest challenge. He soon found out, however, that
his greatest challenge lay ahead when he was diagnosed with
rectal cancer.
Giuseppe learned that he needed surgery and felt anxious
and nervous about his future. However, after chemoradiotherapy
and ostomy surgery, he was ready to return to his daily activities.
“In about a year, so many things happened in my life,” Giuseppe
recalled. “I got a permanent teaching position; I discovered I had this
illness, I had it treated and I beat it; I didn’t lose my faith in God and
in myself; I met people who gave me their friendship and love.”
Wanting to encourage and inspire other ostomy patients,
Giuseppe decided to write a book about his experience called,
“The Penny Drops—Diary of an Ostomate.”
“I wanted to give shape to my experience and pain, to externalize my
feelings and share them with other people,” said Giuseppe. “I tried
to tell my story with humor and a light touch, almost as though I’m
laughing at myself and this illness.”
Giuseppe, 52, is devoted to raising awareness of ostomy surgery
and currently serves as vice president of Friuli Venezia Giulia FAIS
(Federation Association of Incontinence and Ostomy). In his spare
time, Giuseppe enjoys gardening, cycling, bricolage, reading and
taking his students on trips abroad.
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