VI
EN
With a special affection for Vietnamese children who are unfortunately born with disabilities, two Italian volunteer doctors, Roberto De Castro and William Amighetti, wrote an autobiography titled "Il bimbo e le belve" (The Child and the Beast) to recount their volunteer journeys and the story of the boy Thien Nhan.
Dr. William Amighetti stated: “The novel is a story about Dr. Roberto De Castro's 15-year humanitarian mission in Vietnam, and also reflects my own journey helping children with disabilities due to birth defects or accidents in Vietnam and around the world.”
The autobiography "Il bimbo e le belve" (The Child and the Wild Beast).
The story of Thien Nhan – a boy abandoned in the forest from birth, whose genitals and one leg were eaten by wild animals, yet who still lived with immense resilience – is extraordinary, miraculous, and serves as the inspiration for the autobiography "Il bimbo e le belve".
Through "Il bimbo e le belve," the two authors reminisce about a years-long journey of volunteer work in Italy, England, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Syria, and Vietnam.
For Roberto De Castro, it was about sharing and implementing pioneering surgical techniques in treating birth defects and transplanting genitalia for boys and girls so they could live peaceful lives. For Dr. William Amighetti, it was about providing prosthetic legs and arms to unfortunate Vietnamese children with disabilities.
Doctor Roberto De Castro, a volunteer physician.
The author, Dr. Roberto De Castro, a compassionate physician, performed the genital reconstruction surgery for Thien Nhan on January 19, 2011.
Following their encounter with and treatment of Thien Nhan, Dr. Roberto De Castro, American philanthropist Greig Craft, and Ms. Tran Mai Anh, Thien Nhan's adoptive mother, decided to establish the Thien Nhan & Friends project to assist other children with genital deformities and related conditions.
"Little Tin Soldier" Thien Nhan and his mother Mai Anh.
Stories of dedication, hope, and resilient children will reach Italian readers on July 22nd. All proceeds from “Il bimbo e le belve” will go to the Thien Nhan & Friends and Give me a Hand programs, aiming to help children in Vietnam receive treatment for genital and prosthetic limbs.
