Our Inspiration: In the summer of 2004 Giorgio and I traveled to several different countries in Europe, visiting the realities of PWS within different cultures. While there we met a charming 11 year old girl, with PWS, named Annika. Her speech is seriously delayed and during the period of time we spent with her we only heard her express two words. Despite this barrier in communication, Annika gave us the strongest message of all. Tugging on our sleeves with persistence, Annika would periodically clearly say, “Ich auch!” (“Me too!”) In her sweet way, she always demanded inclusion during our discussions or activities.

Annika’s touched our hearts and left us with the strong memory of a child declaring, “Don’t forget me. I too belong. I’m part of this world!” Her simple, but insistent words inspired us and the look in her eyes made us all the more passionate about our work for IPWSO. 

Over the next few days as we traveled Giorgio, with a twinkle in his eyes, began to hum a beautiful melody and at the same time I began to write my thoughts about the touching story of Annika. At the culmination of our travels Giorgio, his family, and I climbed up into the magnificent dolomites and there in the beauty of nature, Giorgio completed his composition and I wrote the lyrics of this special song for Annika for “Ich Auch.” 

We hope that you are also moved by Annika’s spirit and reminder that our children also belong.