At 15, Stefano has a lively gaze and an intense love of hockey fuelled by the great games colourfully commentated by Pierre Houde. In fact, Stefano’s dream is to be a sports announcer like Houde. And while he may not be able to skate like the athletes, he experiences every goal, every pass, every match with the passion of a true player.

At birth, Stefano was diagnosed with two rare conditions: congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) and Hirschsprung’s disease. These two complex disorders caused him to spend his first year of life in intensive care, undergo eight surgeries, and live with a tracheotomy. Even today, Stefano can never be left alone; during the day, a nurse accompanies him to school, and another keeps watch over him at night.

But none of this has kept him from becoming a bright, funny, and passionate teenager. He may not be able to dive freely into a swimming pool or be on a sports team, but he plays hockey in his yard, likes to shoot hoops, and dreams of taking a trip to Switzerland to tour a chocolate factory and a cheesemaker’s shop.

His motto is simple, a source of quiet strength: “Always try to do your best.”

What makes him special is not just his medical condition; it’s his big heart, his flair for the written word, his impressive resilience. And his parents, Rosa and Vito, along with his twin sisters Maria and Victoria, provide a daily life that’s adapted to his needs but never restrictive.

Stefano grows up, moves forward, and inspires others.