Starting to go to Paralimni to meet a 40-year-old cancer teacher, I confess that my feelings were mixed. On the one hand, there was an increased journalistic interest, because her story, as it was conveyed to me, seemed to have many different peculiarities. On the other hand, knowing that you will meet a person who is in the fourth stage of cancer, and therefore at some point will not avoid fatality, the stomach inevitably becomes a knot.
Read the shocking interview with Phileleftheros:
It was raining hard when I arrived at the house of teacher Maria Kitsiou, a single parent with five children. He was waiting for us at the entrance when we arrived with my mutual friend, who contacted me and accompanied me. It was the first surprise. I saw a woman, with an image that in no case showed cancer in the fourth degree. I was not even sick with a simple cold. She welcomed us cheerfully. Very kind, sweet and with a wide smile on her face. This was the second big surprise. For a person who has to deal with such a serious health problem, as much as possible, you expect to see in his face and behavior the signs caused by the disease.
I asked Maria with some hesitation to tell me about her adventure with her health. It is not easy, even for journalists (and let them consider us cruel and ruthless) to ask someone to tell you about the disease that threatens his life.
In the same simple and sweet way, Maria began to describe the events to me, removing all my hesitation. Her adventure began in April 2017. She was in terrible pain and her hemoglobin was falling to a point where she needed blood transfusions. After some fainting incidents he was admitted to Famagusta Hospital. He went through a lot of exams. On May 11, 2017, the ugly manta sounded. He was diagnosed with colon cancer, while the MRI examinations showed that there was already a metastasis to the liver.
Without delay, she was sent to an oncology department. At the age of 40, she had to start chemotherapy immediately and at the same time be taken to the operating room for removal of the tumor.
The normal panic that caused the sudden problem, also brought spasmodic movements in the procedures, which would be followed by Maria and her family. The investigation into the surgery led to two options. Either in the General Hospital of Nicosia (where it would have an external bag) or in a private hospital (where nothing would be seen). However, due to an emergency problem (obstruction), Maria had to be operated on immediately without, however, the authorities being able to guide her properly on the procedure to be followed and that she had to be referred to a private hospital for approval. When it came time for the operation at the private hospital, they realized that the cost would be borne by her. And it was very big! On the one hand there was time for surgery due to obstruction and on the other there was no time to follow the prescribed referral procedure. Many friends, organizations and charities were mobilized then throughout the province of Famagusta. Solidarity won once again. The money was raised and Maria proceeded with the operation. Successfully. Both in the large intestine and in the liver.
Source: Liberal