The story of Francesco (on going)

by Luca Catalano Gonzaga
Part of ‘One of a kind’ (on going)
View project

Giovanni and Roberta live in Rome, are husband and wife and are both police officers. Their 8-year-old son, Francesco, suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Sotos syndrome that causes physical overgrowth and delayed development of mental and movement abilities. The child goes to school like all children, attends a music course and loves to go to the swimming pool. His life is slowed down by the the anti-epileptic drugs that have also conditioned his growth. Francesco is aware of his difficulties, but remains a sociable, self-sufficient and dynamic child. Over time, he has also learned how to relate to his peers, and has a small group of friends, but the effects of  his unusual gigantism are clear and it is hard to understand for people who meet him for the first time.

The photographer Luca Catalano Gonzaga will tell Francesco’s story through images in the project ‘One of a kind’ , with the aim of defeating the isolation of patients and their families, encouraging the detection of these similar rare cases around the world, so as to allow others with same characteristics to emerge from invisibility, to share common experiences and create a network with each other. (Text by Sebastiano Caputo).

  • Rome, Italy. Francesco goes to school like all children, attends a music course and loves to go to the swimming pool. His life is slowed down by the the anti-epileptic drugs that have also conditioned his growth.
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco being assisted by his instructor during the swimming lesson. Francesco has private lessons twice a week to improve his muscle development and his coordination. 
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco playing like all kids with the dividing element for lanes in the swimming pool.
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco being assisted by his instructor during the swimming lesson. Francesco has private lessons twice a week so to improve his muscle development and his coordination. 
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco at the end of his swimming lesson, as he is about to go towards the changing rooms.
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco, 7 years old, with his mother Roberta, after having finished his swimming class.  Francesco suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Sotos syndrome which causes physical overgrowth and delayed mental and fine motor skills development.
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco watching cartoons, his favourite are those where there animals as protagonists. His curiosity and desire to learn is always clearly evident.
  • Rome, Italy. Every evening Francesco listens to a bedtime story read to him by his mother Roberta from her phone.
  • Rome, Italy. Giulia Vittoria helps her brother Francesco tie his shoe laces. Francesco has trouble in coordinating  his fingers, this causes difficulty when writing too.
  • Rome, Italy. A moment of tenderness at home between Francesco and his mother Roberta.
  • Rome, Italy. Inside of the family home
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco has a snack at home, after school.
  • Palo Laziale, Rome, Italy. Francesco as he goes in the water. His relationship with water is very positive and useful for the development of his muscle tone and motor coordination.
  • Palo Laziale, Rome, Italy. An affectionate family moment during a sunny day by the seaside.
  • Palo Laziale, Rome, Italy. Francesco is thrilled by the presence of a dog on the beach, he is a little afraid yet at the same time very curios and drawn towards pets.
  • Palo Laziale, Rome, Italy. Francesco and his sister Giulia Vittoria as they start to play with the sand on the shore.
  • Francesco has a special connection with water, he spends entire days on the shore playing with the waves. Palo Laziale,
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco during a neuro-motor rehabilitation session, used to assess his psychological, learning and motor skills development. Francesco is aware of his difficulties, but remains a sociable, self-sufficient and dynamic child. Over time, he has also learned how to relate to his peers, and has a small group of friends, but the effects of his unusual gigantism are clear and it is hard to understand for people who meet him for the first time.
  • Rome, Italy. Francesco loves trains and spends part of his day looking at them from the Trastevere Train Station in Rome, not far from where he lives.
  • Palo Laziale, Rome, Italy. Francesco as he enthusiastically goes towards the beach.