22 October 2020

Giacomo Gigliotti tells us about his disabling illness and how support from his colleagues gave him a sense of purpose and made him feel part of a team

2:00 Min

My name is Giacomo Gigliotti, I’m 50 years old, and I work at the Credit Hub Underwriting, Lombardy. Today I would like to share with you my story:

 

“I have lived for eight years with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a severe neuromuscular disease for which there is currently no treatment available with a very low life expectancy. It is a highly disabling condition that steals everything away from you: passions, interests, leisure activities, and sometimes loved ones, leading to the risk of losing control of your life.

 

‘Suddenly, I became “different” from other people. But in reality, we all are different: each of us has distinctive personalities, qualities, and traits.

 

“Over the years, I had to rebuild myself to face the growing difficulties, but at the same time, I wanted to keep being my own hero.

 

“Life is a great gift that must be appreciated and fully enjoyed every day.

 

“Disability and illness often create anxiety and distress, but I deal with it by living in the most normal way possible. Even if I need to make sacrifices, I am encouraged by the gift of life: perhaps this is the real key for social inclusion.

 

“In my situation, I believe I’m fortunate to be still able to work and go to the office, to feel like part of a team, and to embrace professional opportunities. I understand that this may seem obvious for most people, but it represents a powerful healing message for those who are ‘different.’

 

“I work in a company that focuses on every type of diversity, promoting inclusion as a cornerstone for sustainability, ethics, and respect. I would like to thank UniCredit for the chance to share my story, which I hope will raise awareness.

 

“Since the onset of the first mobility difficulties that prevented me from using a keyboard, I have been equipped with professional software for voice commands and dictation, as well as an optical pointer program that I can use as a mouse.

 

“Of course, these are fundamental aids; however – as I mentioned before – what helps me each day is the feeling of normalcy in my personal and professional relationships. I am grateful to my closest colleagues, and more generally, to our bank, which has not given up on my skills and competencies, allowing me to continue to carry out duties with a sense of purpose and responsibility.

 

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge all our colleagues across the Group to tell them that no matter how many difficulties and sufferings life may bring, there is always something we can do to be helpful.”

"I would like to acknowledge all our colleagues across the Group to tell them that no matter how many difficulties and sufferings life may bring, there is always something we can do to be helpful."