There are names we choose, and there are names that seem to choose us. For Romina Torio, the name Carlo arrived not as a preference but as a persistent presence, appearing at exactly the moment her family needed it most.

This is a story of faith, uncertainty, a providential prayer card, and a modern saint whose life continues to inspire young people around the world. Most of all, it is a story about discovering hope.

When Romina was pregnant with her third child, the journey was not without challenges. Having previously experienced the heartbreak of miscarriage, she and her husband were already carrying the hopes and anxieties familiar to many expectant parents. Those emotions were heightened when their unborn son was diagnosed with Down syndrome.

“It was a very uncertain time for us,” Romina recalls. “We were afraid he might have other health complications, and we didn’t know what the future would look like.”

Amid the uncertainty, it was Romina’s eldest daughter, Heart, who brought a different perspective.

At just 11 years old, Heart was not focused on diagnoses or what challenges the future might hold. Instead, she was excited about meeting her baby brother and already saw him as someone unique, loved, and special. She shared these thoughts with her parents.

“Her words really touched us,” Romina says. “We looked at things differently.”

Supported by family, friends and their faith, the Torios embraced the journey ahead. When Carlo was born healthy and without any major health complications, there was an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

“In hindsight, we truly believe the Lord had a beautiful plan for him,” Romina says.

 

A prayer card reappears

The inspiration behind Carlo’s name came in a way Romina never expected.

Years earlier, Heart had received a prayer card of St Carlo Acutis during her Reconciliation. At the time, it seemed like a simple keepsake among many others. But when Romina and her husband began searching for a name for their unborn son, that same prayer card appeared again.

“I happened to see St Carlo Acutis’ prayer card among my daughter’s things,” she says. “My husband suggested that Carlo would be a beautiful name for our baby.”

As the couple learned more about the young Italian saint, they felt increasingly drawn to his story.

Known as the patron of the digital generation, Carlo Acutis used his love of technology to evangelise and share his faith. Although he died at just 15 years of age, his witness continues to resonate with young people and families around the world.

"What makes St Carlo so special is that he was a young person who lived in the modern world, just like our children do today," Romina says.

“He enjoyed technology, had friends and lived an ordinary life, yet he still had such a deep and genuine faith in God.”

The connection became even more meaningful when Romina learned that St Carlo had died from leukaemia.

“When baby Carlo was born, his blood tests showed some abnormalities, which naturally made us worried,” she says. “We prayed and continued to place our trust in God.”

A repeat blood test at two months old brought welcome relief.

“We were so relieved and grateful to find that his results had returned to normal.”

Today, Romina sees the appearance of that prayer card as more than a coincidence.

 

"Looking back, it feels like there was a reason that prayer card came into our lives at that particular time," says Romina. 

An example to follow

For the Torios, choosing the name Carlo was never simply about honouring a saint. It was about embracing the values St Carlo represented.

“When I look at the life of St Carlo Acutis, I hope our Carlo grows up with the same deep love for God, kindness, humility and compassion for others,” Romina says.

What she admires most is the simplicity of Carlo Acutis’ witness.

“St Carlo Acutis showed that you don’t have to be an adult or do extraordinary things to make a difference. He simply lived his faith through the way he treated people and used his gifts to help others.”

It is a lesson she hopes her son will carry throughout his life.

“I hope our Carlo will grow up knowing that he is deeply loved by God and that his life has a purpose. I hope he will embrace who he is, be kind to everyone he meets, and use his own unique gifts to bring joy and hope to others.”

For Romina, the young saint’s appeal lies in how relatable he remains.

“I love that his example shows that being close to God doesn’t mean you have to live a perfect or extraordinary life,” she says. “You can find God in everyday life and use the gifts and technology around you for something meaningful.”

A name with meaning

One day, Carlo will inevitably ask about his name.

When that day comes, Romina already knows what she will tell him.

“I’ll tell him that his name was chosen during a very special and uncertain time in our lives,” she says.

She will tell him about the prayer card that reappeared when they needed it most. About his sister Heart, whose words helped the family see things differently. And about the saint whose example encouraged them to trust in God’s plan. Most importantly, she will tell him that his name is a reminder that his life is a gift, that his life has a purpose, and he was loved and chosen long before he was born.

A moment of gratitude

Recently, the Torio family had the opportunity to encounter the major relic of St Carlo Acutis as it journeyed throughout the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, a moment Romina describes as deeply emotional.

“Encountering the major relic of St Carlo Acutis was a very special experience for our family,” she says.

Standing before the relic, the family reflected on the journey they had travelled together, from uncertainty and fear to gratitude and faith.

“We prayed for baby Carlo’s health, his future, and that he would grow up with the same love for God, kindness and compassion that St Carlo showed during his short life.”

For the Torios, the experience was a reminder of how far they had come and the faith that had sustained them along the way.

“It was a moment of gratitude, hope and faith,” Romina says. “Something we will always treasure.”

In a world that often celebrates extraordinary achievements, the Torio family’s story is a reminder that some of the most powerful moments begin with something much smaller, like a prayer card. Years later, that small piece of cardboard remains a symbol of a journey marked by uncertainty, courage and grace. For Romina and her family, it is a reminder that God’s plans are often revealed not in grand gestures, but in the moments, the people and signs that gently guide us forward.