After a long day of examining patients, I feel drained, yet at the same time, I feel satisfied, fulfilled and elated. These emotions consume me at the end of a typical day in my office. They are incredible emotions to experience every day. I realize I am fortunate and a very lucky man to live in America, which was my parents’ dream.

When I become disappointed with myself and begin to whine about how difficult it is for me, I look at the photo on my desk of my nonni. One look at that photo is all it takes to bring me back to reality, and for me to realize that I have no reason to complain! Every day, as I pass by their photo, I thank them for the heroism and courage they had, as they transplanted their family from Italy to Chicago.

As I continue to concentrate on my efforts to obtain an Italian medical license, I feel myself begin to weaken in my resolve. I look back to when I first started on this journey to fulfill my dream.

Even though it has been over 10 months already, it seems as if I am still at the beginning of my journey. Fortunately, I have been able to get help from a cousin in obtaining the correct documentation that I need to satisfy the Italian government’s bureaucracy. This has been a perfect example of “the spirit of the Italian family.” We help our family members in their time of need by giving of ourselves and our resources. This “spirit” of help is what I draw on when there is no more fight in me! Since I started this journey, I cannot and I will not give up on my dream. I have my own and my family’s pride to honor and protect. My hope is to obtain my Italian medical license in the next few months — “Buona fortuna!”

As with all dreams, mine started out small and then began to grow, just as I’m sure the dreams of my parents and grandparents did. I continue to challenge myself, questioning why my desire is to fulfill this dream at this stage of my life. Part of the drive that I feel can be attributed to pride in myself, pride in my family, but also, pride in my Italian heritage.

I would like to see a new practice of exchanging doctors between America and Italy. This would encourage and promote new experiences, both medically and personally, for doctors and patients alike. I would also like to create a new medical center in Southern Italy, where I can help the Italian people with our American medical expertise. I would also like to learn about new medical devices and surgical techniques used in Italy and throughout Europe. Many of these medical advances are not yet FDA approved in the United States. My dream includes bringing my skills and knowledge that I obtained in Italy back to Chicago so they can be used as soon as the medical advances become approved in America.

It saddens me that my parents and their friends are slowly departing from us, to return home to God. As they leave, they take with them a piece of our hearts. Their presence is no longer in our children’s and our grandchildren’s lives, but we must always remember to share memories of our fun-filled days with them. The familiar sound of broken English, so easily recognized when spoken throughout the Chicago area, will be silenced forever. This thought also drives me on my journey to fulfill my dream, of creating a medical center in Southern Italy. This center would have medical, social and other outreach programs to keep our Italian heritage alive. This dream will hopefully bring me to new places, allow me to meet new people, and provide enriching interactions that will continue to allow me to grow as a person.

I plan on expanding my eye care practice to treat patients with the best of each country’s medical and surgical expertise, not only in my Chicago office, but in Southern Italy, as well. I am NOT retiring my eye care practice in Chicago, but rather, EXPANDING my practice to include Southern Italy. This is my personal challenge and desire to help “my people” (Italian and American) with the best medical and surgical advantages from each country.

I want to thank all of you for reading my articles over the past few months, and I appreciate those of you who have shared your own warm memories of your immigrant parents and grandparents with me. My hope was to not only evoke a strong sense of cultural pride in all of you, but to motivate and help you restore your heritage and traditions before they become extinct.

Continue to dream out loud so others can hear and help you make your dreams come true.

Additional Articles in this Series

Return to the Future- Newsletter 1

Medicine, Italian-style- Newsletter 2

As My Father Did Before Me- Newsletter 3

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