With this phrase, a mother, whose child had contracted a neoplastic disease, described her own life experience to the President of the Republic, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, on the occasion of today’s International Day against Childhood Cancer.
Mrs. Sakellaropoulou received in her office, at the Presidential Palace, nine children aged between 3 and 15 years who have overcome cancer, along with their parents, as well as the President of the Association of Parents of Children with Neoplastic Disease “The Flame” Maria Tryfonidis, in a meeting full of mixed emotions and strong symbolism.
The message of optimism from the children’s words was so strong, that it “exorcised”, if only for a while, the heavy shadow of childhood cancer from the conversation, proving their maturity and will to live.
As Mrs. Sakellaropoulou pointed out, these children, together with their families, were called at a tender age to fight a difficult battle, but they managed to come out victorious, showing admirable courage and giving courage to their parents, to endure this test.
According to the President of the Association “The Flame” Maria Tryfonidis, the children are the real “heroes”, since cancer forced them to mature faster and become stronger, while at the same time they faced the loss itself and the death, but emerging victorious.
However, he pointed out that childhood cancer is now curable to a very large extent as science has advanced in this area, but he pointed out that there is a big gap in terms of information and changing the mindset to demystify cancer and especially in schools, which could contribute decisively in this direction.
Citing their own experiences of childhood cancer, each of the children referred to the before and the after, underlining that for most the disease is a bad dream, they don’t want to think about it anymore and continue their lives normally, while underlining the help, which they received at all stages of treatment and recovery, from the Association “The Flame”.
Referring to the meeting, the President of the Republic emphasized in a post on Facebook that these children “fought cancer, and came out victorious. They fought a titanic fight against pain, fear, discouragement and proved that this disease is not invincible. Because the children who came today to the Presidential Palace, on the occasion of the world day against childhood cancer, accompanied by Maria Tryfonidis, president of the association of parents of children with neoplastic disease “The Flame”, a main pillar of support for the oncology departments of pediatric hospitals and a valuable helper of the families who are experiencing this dire adventure, they are fully healed.”
In particular, he emphasized that “Antonis, Myrto, Fotini, Dimitra, Eleni, Evangelia, Alexander, Angelos, Aikaterini-Kalliopi, now far from hospital wards and painful treatments, confirmed that the road the road to healing may be long, but it is not impassable.”
Speaking about the discussion with them, he emphasized that “protagonists of a hard story but with a happy ending, as well as so many other children who went through the same ordeal, gave us strength from their strength”.
Concluding, PtD emphasizes: “Their joy and vitality, the vigor with which they claim and reclaim their childhood now that their struggle has ended victoriously, offer an inspiring example of hope and optimism. And they validate the certainty of science, gained after tireless research and accumulated experience, that childhood cancer is curable.”
It is worth noting that the Association of Parents of Children with Neoplastic Disease “The Flame” was founded in 1982 at the General Children’s Hospital of Athens “Panagioti and Aglaia Kyriakou” by a few parents of children with cancer, doctors, nurses and psychologists of the oncology department and is a non-profit association character. Today, “The Flame” hosts, in specially designed hostels, families from the region for as long as they have to stay in Athens for their child’s treatment.
At the same time, specially trained nurses visit the children who live in Attica and perform simple medical procedures in their homes.
It also employs psychologists who offer free support to children and their families during and after treatment. It financially supports those parents in need, covering the cost of necessary examinations and providing free services.
It ensures the participation of children in special camp programs, at no cost to their families. It organizes creative work groups, excursions, theater performances, etc., so that the children can recover part of their childishness and the carelessness that the prolonged hospital stay and treatments deprive them of. It gives scholarships and awards to students who were diagnosed with cancer during high school.
It participates in international treatment protocols and finances needs of public pediatric hospitals, which are not covered by the State. Finally, he participates in the working group for the creation of a New National Registry of Childhood Neoplasms.
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