Marcella and the Professor
“Once you’ve tasted paradise, hell no longer appeals.”
Marcella is the wife of a professor — a surgeon and gastroenterologist who served for years as head of department at the renowned Le Scotte Hospital in Siena. They have a beautiful home in the city centre, and their children and grandchildren live close by.
When the professor developed a debilitating illness, he could no longer operate. He fell into a deep sadness that detached him from the world and made him increasingly dependent on his wife.
After two years spent caring for him, Marcella longed for lightness, smiles, and a bit of joy — for herself, and above all for him. She came to us, accompanied by their son, to see whether we could help her breathe again. For her, feeling serene had become a family mission.
Marcella and the Professor were supposed to stay for a 15-day trial. They stayed a month… then two… and now they no longer want to leave. Because today the Professor is doing better. He takes part in the community’s social life. He is coming back to himself. And Marcella is blossoming alongside him.
The turning point came when they went home for a single day to meet a handyman. At one point the Professor asked Marcella: “Shall we go home?” She replied: “But we are home…” And he said: “No… the other home.”
Marcella smiled: “Do you like it there more than here, now?” And the Professor answered with a line we should all tattoo on our hearts: “Of course. Because once you’ve tasted paradise, hell no longer appeals.”
For those who love a life full of affection and connections — just like Marcella and the Professor — Guild Siena offers countless opportunities to socialise: Pilates and yoga classes, friendly Burraco tournaments, monthly showcooking events, and local markets to explore with old and new friends, while hunting for unique gifts for loved ones.