Article: Christiana Dionysiou
Eleftheria is one of those people you rarely meet. Benevolent, smart and dynamic. But he experienced many adversities. Her life was turned upside down many times. She had to be deprived, to leave people she loved, her dreams, to forget who she is, to sink into sadness, to feel helpless. However, the difficult changes did not manage to immobilize her, lessons were learned and brought her closer to self-awareness and the meaning of the effort. As life cuts and sews on its behalf, it continues with strength and faith.
Eleftheria Tsoukka reports on Ant1.com.cy:
"I was born on 16/4/1997 in Avgorou (a village in the province of Famagusta) and I had 3 brothers. My childhood was very difficult. Unfortunately, they still had the smell of death.
When I was 7 years old, I lost my sister to cancer. She was a beautiful little girl just 12 months old (she had a brain tumor). A few years later, I lost my favorite cousin to cancer. He was a wonderful little boy just 3 years old. Then I lost my grandfather (my paternal grandfather) from the same disease. When I was 17, I lost my father to cancer, too. Hereditary cancer, what else to say…
My mother lost all strength, all hope…
In fact, my grandmother Eleftheria, my mom's mom, raised me. I have been living with them for 7 years. I always remember finding a way out of reading .. Of course at some point I was closed to myself. But I was always fighting inside, I wanted to be well. I tried and I succeeded! I was trying to do things that I enjoyed, such as traveling and motorcycle lessons.
A life dream for me has always been to study Medicine.
For 6 years I dreamed of studying Medicine because I wanted to help people. And I did it! I went to Medicine in Germany and I was very happy there. But I did not stop for a moment to think about the others, especially my brothers. I knew that if I continued, there would be no money left for them to study. So I decided to drop out. But I gave Cypriots again and for millimeters I did not undergo medicine. But I ended up as a nursing student. After that, if God claims me, after they recognize my degree I will go to Greece.
But life decides to play its own hard game on me…
About 4 months ago…
I was diagnosed with Grade IV or glioblastoma (a very aggressive form of astrocytoma). Let me also tell you that most tumors in the brain are not diagnosed until the symptoms appear.
I was at TAEP Famagusta and at the same time I was working on rapid tests. At first I had headaches but I suffered, then I had an issue with speech (I lost my words) but also memory loss. I was saying it is probably overwork. At some point, however, I had a seizure.
On my birthday I had surgery. I felt like fate was laughing with me, playing with me… This so strange game. I lost those I loved so much with cancer and right now… I am fighting my own battle.
I finished my chemotherapy on June 19 and the only thing that unfortunately bothers me is the issue with my speech, I still have difficulties. But I'm fine, thank God!
I continue to live but also to dream! I keep telling my family that I would like to become a doctor at some point and that I want to travel around the world with a backpack.
For people who have the courage to shine through hardship…
"The word 'I can' exists for one reason only: 'To face their demons with a wind of optimism and to refuse to let pessimism overwhelm them.'