Gabriele was born in May 2005 with a very rare malformation called bladder exstrophy, in which the front wall of the bladder, the corresponding abdominal wall and the urethra is missing.
At birth Gabriele underwent numerous operations to reconstruct and recover the normal functionality of the urinary tracts. To date he has made good progress, although the treatment is not finished.
Given the rarity of this malformation and the multiple forms it can take, it is very important to be treated by a hospital that has extensive experience of many cases. One of the best centres in the world for the treatment of bladder exstrophy is Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore in the United States.
Since the surgery is very costly and repeated operations are required at least until adulthood, the goal of the Association is to ensure that Gabriele can continue his treatment at Johns Hopkins Hospital, the leading healthcare structure in treating this illness.

TIMELINE:

• May 2005 – at birth: surgery to close the bladder and the abdominal wall performed by Dr. Selvaggio at the Buzzi Children’s Hospital in Milan. During the operation the Sponseller procedure was also performed to bring the pubic bones (pubic rami) closer together.
• March 2006 – First visit to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. An operation was scheduled for July 2006.
• July 2006 – Surgery performed by Dr. John Gearhart at Johns Hopkins Hospital to correct epispadias.
• July 2007 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• July 2008 –Surgery performed by Dr. John Gearhart to correct a fistula.
• January 2010 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. A complicated bladder neck reconstruction and ureteric reimplantation operation is planned for Summer 2011.
• January 2011 – Surgery to reconstruct the bladder neck and reimplant the ureters is performed by Dr. John Gearhart and his team at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Voiding Improvement Program continues.
• June 2011 – Intervento chirurgico presso il Johns Hopkins Hospital ad opera dell’equipe del Dott. John Gearhart. Viene ricostruito il collo della vescica e vengono reimpiantati gli ureteri. Prosegue il programma del “Voiding Improvement”.
• August 2012 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Gabriele continues with a revised Voiding Improvement Program.
• January 2013 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
• August 2015 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Voiding Improvement Program continues.
• August 2016 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Voiding Improvement Program continues.
• August 2017 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Voiding Improvement Program continues.
• December 2017 – Surgery performed by Dr. Selvaggio to correct a fistula.
• August 2018 – Medical examinations and check-ups at Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Voiding Improvement Program continues.