“In the Children’s Oncology Department, I understood what the word “mother” means. In the maternity ward, when the baby is brought to you, you are called by your last name, usually the father’s last name. Everyone here calls you “mom”. “Mommy, are you okay?”, “Mommy, do you need something?”. I want all the mothers who are here today to see my child strong, after so many difficulties, and gain strength. My daughter Iro is my heroine. I admire her strength. And I want to say a big thank you to all the people of Nadezhda. There was no one who heard Eleanna Zicnia’s words and didn’t snort. Gerus’s mother (or rather mother), a girl now a kindergartener and in perfect health, was called to the battle of her life when her child was only three years old and diagnosed with sarcoma. Thanks to the struggle of doctors and nurses, everything went well, and today Eleanna and Iro were “present” at the most touching event for Mother’s Day, which took place last Friday in the Department of Oncology in the presence of the President of the Republic, Katerina. Sakellaropoulou and Marianna Vardinogiannis, President of the Elpida Association.

Along with Eleanna Zyknia, three other women spoke about their shocking experiences in the unit. Oksana Gobrichevskaya from Ukraine, who left her country at the height of the war in order to be able to save her child with cancer, came to our country and took refuge in the Nadezhda hostel. Her daughter is undergoing treatment today. Anna Panagopoulou, volunteer donor of the Vision of Hope association, who, not being a mother herself, was found to be compatible with a small child who was about to have a transplant. Without thinking twice, she gave him hematopoietic cells to save his life, and now she feels like his second mother. Kristina Wickili, the cured child of Nadezhda, now lives her own life, became an artist and created her own family with three wonderful children.

The report on the achievements of the department is impressive: “From the first day of operation of the only oncological hospital in our country, 41,792 hospitalizations, 186,941 day hospitalizations and a total of 1,424 transplantations have been carried out. Three out of four children are recovering, and thanks to the advanced and innovative methods of treatment used in our hospital, such as cell and gene therapy, everyone will be cured soon,” emphasized Marianna Vardinogianni, while the President of the Republic emphasized: “Who among us can think through what does a mother go through when her child has to fight such a battle? I am absolutely sure that today we should honor all of you. I wish you strength so that you all come out victorious. I’m sure you’ve already won because you’re strong enough to carry this burden.” The holiday ended with a wish: mothers and strong children will return home soon.