Story highlights Alessandro Rampazzo documented a mother's devotion to her disabled daughter

He photographed other families as well for his ongoing project, "When we are gone"

(CNN) A single photo assignment for a newspaper in his hometown of Padova, Italy, opened photographer Alessandro Rampazzo's eyes to the story of a mother's devotion to her disabled daughter.

Maria and her husband, Antonio, were deeply in love. She called him Toni as an endearment. They tried to live their dreams in Switzerland, but when it didn't work out, they returned to their home country of Italy and started their family together.

But things didn't go according to plan. Antonio grew ill and died a few months after their daughter, Tonina, was born during the 1960s.

Maria was left to take care of three daughters by herself. And by age 3, Tonina was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy.

Alessandro Rampazzo

In January 2015, Tonina wrote a letter to the newspaper when the public transportation she used to reach a recreational center in the city suddenly stopped. It was where she could do activities with other people who also had muscular dystrophy.

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