Dongdong Paolo Camanni is a Chinese-Italian Paralympic athlete who was rescued 18 years ago by the nuns of the Congregation of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, who gave him a second chance at life, as they have done with more than 600 disabled and abandoned children. in the Asian giant.
According to the agency FidesDongdong was homeless until he was two years old, when thanks to the sisters’ charity he found “affection, a home and a good life.” The boy suffered from bilateral retinoblastoma, a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the tissues of the retina, severely affecting vision.
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Years later, Dongdong was adopted by an Italian family. In the European country he began his sporting career, which would lead him to be crowned Paralympic youth judo champion, winner of a gold medal at the EPYG 2022 (European Para Youth Games) and a bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships in Birmingham.
The blind athlete is in Paris, where on September 6 he debuted in his first Paralympic Games.
“Participating in the Paralympic Games is the highest moment for an athlete, the arrival point of a long path that involved me and many people close to me. “I dream of a medal, it would be the culmination of my journey,” said Dongdong, according to the Italian portal. Always News.
“I’m going to Paris. Souls on fire, overflowing pulses and hearts full of desire to fight for a medal. “My heart is full of gratitude, to these incredible kids, to my technical friends from this strong nation, to the federation that made all this possible and to the president who has never stopped believing in us,” added the Paralympic athlete through his social networks.
The sisters of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus conveyed their best wishes to “their” Dongdong. In the diocese of Zhaoxian (Ningjin), Hebei province, they run the House of Dawn, where they have helped so many weak and sick children, including the Italian athlete.
One of them, Sister. Wang Qingfen came to express – Fides reports – about her life and the charitable work they carry out: “We feel honored because the Lord has given us this gift, to our Congregation and to each one of us… This place has seen it happen “So many miracles for the love of the Lord, which have benefited the entire society and so many people of good will.”
Andres Henriquez
I have been a writer for ACI Prensa and a correspondent for EWTN since 2023. Since then, I have covered events in the Catholic Church in Venezuela and Latin America. I have more than 5 years of experience in bilingual media. Additionally, in Venezuela I have worked with non-governmental organizations in favor of freedom and respect for human rights in the country. I have been a member of the Regnum Christi Federation since 2014.