He is a man with A capital, say his friends, relatives, fellow villagers and everyone who knows his story. He is the man who knows well what absolute devotion, love, dignity and embrace means. He gave her his best and while he knew the chances of her living were slim… he married her.
Kyriakos Kofteros was born in 1966 in Achna and is a cook. He went through and is going through very difficult times. Cancer was constantly in his house, destroying every moment, haunting his whole life. Today, he talks about his shocking story in Ant1.
"After my divorce, I closed myself off and wanted nothing new in my life. But in 2009 I met an amazing woman, very tortured but very optimistic and with incredible positive energy. I remember how much I was impressed by her smile…
Raluca was from Romania but also her husband who worked in Cyprus. She came to the island twice, the second time, in 2009, she wanted to surprise her husband and came with their 2-year-old boy. But he had rebuilt his life. She, with little money in her pocket, slept for days with her child, sometimes on benches and sometimes on the beach in the Larnaca area. She only bought a few bananas and fed her child. A couple of acquaintances of mine, saw her wandering in the area with the child and with a suitcase, realized that she had nowhere to go and asked her if she needed any help. When they heard her story, they felt sorry for her and hosted her in their home. They showed her love and offered her child what she needed. In fact, they helped her find a job so that she could raise money and return to her country.
So I happened to meet that couple and meet Raluca. I saw the sadness in her eyes that she was trying so hard to hide, but I was very impressed by her smile, her positive energy. He was a very optimistic creature in good manners. The truth is, when I heard her story I was moved. In the beginning we became friends and after a while a couple. A little later I asked her to live with me.
In the beginning we had a very difficult time…
We had a lot of financial problems because I did not have a job. But then, with the help of a good friend, I got a job and everything went better. But in 2016 κα I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I did 3 surgeries and chemotherapy. The only thing that made me happy was the fact that Raluca was pregnant.
Fortunately God did his miracle and I was well! Of course, I take exams every year. In February 2017, our little boy, Alexander, was born. We started dreaming! We also left the rent, took a small house in the village and built it ourselves. With a lot of love and passion we made it a small palace. We thought then that everything would go well now and our life would go well but unfortunately…
Ralouka's son was always with us and he was now my son. I never separated him from my other children. In fact, we started the adoption process. We were really happy!
In June 2019…
The woman who made me see life again with optimism and joy, the woman who stood by a rock next to me when I was sick, got sick and in fact very serious…
At first she had a problem with her waist and the doctors told us she had to have surgery. The operation was performed and while we were confirmed that the operation was successful, Raluca continued to be in pain. Most of the time the pain was unbearable and he could not walk normally. No painkiller relieved her… Most nights she cried because she could not stand the pain. We went to too many doctors, we did too many tests but they could not find what he had.
The last blood tests were very bad, the girl at the chemist told us "it's like she's dead". After some more tests, we learned that she had a serious problem with her kidney but also had cancer that was growing on the outside of her cervix. The doctors first spoke to me and told me that the chances of her being cured were slim. They told me: "It is one of the most difficult and painful cancers, there is no hope…".
I did not let them tell her the truth…
I told her that everything would be fine, that's what the doctors told me and that I wanted to get married. In March we started the treatments at the Oncology Center of Bank of Cyprus. He had to be hospitalized for 6 months and in June the first cycle of treatments ended. At the end of July, the doctors told me that she had only 6 months to live. I did not tell her… I did not want her to suffer more.
I wanted to see her happy and I told her every now and then "we must finally get married". I wanted the issue of adoption to be settled, I did not want our boy to be taken from me. Honestly, I never, ever, ever separated him from my other children and he feels the same way when someone asks him: "how many brothers do you have?" answers: "I have 3 brothers" (both are from my first marriage).
Our wedding took place on August 22nd
She wanted to look happy in her simple white wedding dress, but the pain was visible in her eyes. Although it hurt - it was with morphine - it smiled and that gave me joy. She was so strong and so optimistic, imagine, she gave us courage.
Two months after our wedding he passed away
A week after our wedding he was hospitalized again. On the night of October 12, I took her to the hospital and on October 13, she passed away forever.
It was as if he knew…
He called me at 6 in the morning but could not speak to me clearly. I only understood that he said to me: “When will you come? You are late, I am waiting for you ". I told her that I would take our children to school and go to her immediately.
I could hear her moaning from the hallway…
I went next to her and took her hand. She started talking to me but I could not understand what she was telling me, she could not speak clearly. I caressed her hand and told her 3 times "Do not worry about our babies, I will always be by their side". A few minutes later, he closed his eyes forever.
He did not manage to rejoice in anything…
Our children, our family, our home, our love. There was always the shadow of a hospital and then. Death.
I know that the death of a parent causes a void that we can never fill. Every absence or separation becomes a source of pain, which no one has taught us to face or manage. What I say to my children is that we can learn to live with this void in our hearts and ease our pain with good memories, photos and all that love he left us, our greatest legacy.
There is no greater blessing than family to remember!
No matter how much money one has, how many friends, how many cars and houses, only with the family one feels really good. Enjoy your family! Only the family can offer true happiness, peace and tranquility to the soul ".
Article: Christiana Dionysiou / Source: Ant1