According to a publication of Neos Kosmos, the life and daily life of the five-member family of Nelly Theodoridou and Christos Antonas flowed happily and normally, until the moment that the "Benjamin" of the family, 3-year-old Alexander showed symptoms of a virus that no one could explain.
Born in September 2011 on Father's Day, Alexander was a happy, very sweet and full of energy and humor child, who had the special ability to make everyone around him smile.
The adventure for the unfortunate little one started when one day in September 2014, without any warning or history of illness, he showed symptoms of a virus, such as dizziness, vomiting, lethargy and instability.
Despite the assurances of the physicians that the child was probably suffering from a virus, Alexandros was finally rushed to the Women's and Children's Hospital, where after an extensive series of examinations, the presence of fluid in the skull was found.
Alexander underwent surgery to remove the cranial fluid, which saved his life, but the family adventure did not end there.
"Every parent feels that something serious is happening when there is something really worrying that is bothering them but they do not want it to come true and even more so to face it.
It is like smelling the rain before it even starts and seeing the gray clouds before the rain breaks out. "But this was not a simple storm, it was a tsunami," Alexander's mother, Nelly Theodoridou, told Neos Kosmos.
THE DIAGNOSIS
After ten torturous days of waiting for the results, the nightmare came true.
The results of the biopsy showed that the 3-year-old patient was suffering from brain cancer (Medulloblastoma), one of the most aggressive childhood cancers.
Alexander's diagnosis changed the family life forever.
From the day of the diagnosis until the day when the always happy little one disappeared with the contagious smile, multiple surgeries were needed, which in turn brought about continuous and painful complications and side effects.
This period was very difficult for the family, but also for his two older brothers who loved, cared for and cared so much for their little brother.
"When our little boy was sick, but also after he left, I always thought to look around and say that I am not the only one who is in pain for my child. I reminded myself that I had to stay calm and strong until the end so as to give strength to our other two wonderful children and to my husband "confesses Alexander's mother.
"I thought that we are their model for how they should face those difficulties that life brings without putting it down and I tried to show them that even when we fall and hurt, we get up again and continue, although in this "When you are dealing with serious childhood diseases, it is very difficult because you see the absurd everywhere," says Ms. Theodoridou.
And how can one really explain to the suffering child but also to himself, and to his other children the absurd?
"We know that children are the personification of the joy of life, full of energy, appetite for play, laughter and scandals and suddenly instead, in the pediatric oncology room, you see pale, aching children everywhere with a pile of wires. A completely contradictory picture.
How to explain to a three-year-old baby that all this should not happen, that you suffer twice for what is happening and that you are not cooperating with the nurses and doctors who think they want to hurt him "says the 43-year-old teacher, which describes her experience as a very bad dream, a nightmare from which she could not wake up.
With the love and support of his own, Alexander overcame the complications and hard exhausting chemotherapy, spending countless weeks in the hospital, with his parents, brothers Antonia and Giannis, and his beloved relatives by his side.
"There really are two worlds. The "outside world" and the "inside world" of the hospital. Two parallel worlds that while communicating are not known.
For a year we forgot the outside world, it was as if we did not know him, because we were completely focused and dedicated to Alexander's treatment. "Fortunately, from the beginning we had the discreet but always substantial help of the CCA (Childhood Cancer Association) and other organizations," says the 43-year-old mother.
Immediately after Christmas and after celebrating his fourth birthday, Alexander's health deteriorated.
The brave little guy lost the unequal battle with cancer, on October 24, 2015, about a year after his diagnosis.
THE ANGEL THAT CARES US
"Our spiritual father Constantine after the death of our child, said something that describes very well such a painful situation, that is, when one partner loses the other there is the word widow, when a child loses his parents there is the word orphan, when but a parent loses his child there is no word to describe this fact because it simply should not happen "says Ms. Theodoridou.
"Even in the most difficult situations you have to keep your cool because the children should not understand you, neither the sick child nor the other two, and that was very difficult.
The only way to help is with your partner. It is very important that the couple has a good relationship and a solid foundation in such difficult times.
We were like a fist with Christos throughout this adventure. When one bent, the other did his best throughout the course of the disease. In our misfortune we had this luck "says Mrs. Theodoridou, who admits that apart from the obvious, it was very difficult to explain but also to be practically and qualitatively close to their two children, something that created unbearable regrets.
WHEN ANYONE IS WHOLE THE WHOLE FAMILY IS SICK
"As parents of two other older children, then 12 years old Antonia and 8 years old Giannis, we had to face another big and serious problem, that we could not be near them.
There were many complications throughout Alexander's treatment, so we spent many days and weeks in the hospital. This happens in almost all cases of cancer patients.
When one gets cancer, the whole family gets sick. Luckily here too we were lucky and had the help of grandparents who had actually moved into our house to care for their grandchildren on a daily basis. We had neither the time nor the courage for proper nutrition or proper sleep.
Also, this happens with almost all families within the Pediatric Oncology Department.
"When Alexander's adventure ended, we had to try to get back on our feet and look at our other two frightened children. I felt like a tsunami hit us as a family and shattered everything. This was very difficult but we always had the psychological support of the CCA. They helped us to gather our pieces and rejoin the "outside world of the hospital".
THE LESSON
"Surely we have gone through the worst nightmare of every parent that you do not wish even your worst enemy to go through.
I will always be hurt by the loss of Alexander and the pain that my child went through but I also learned great things from all this tragedy, such as that life changes in a single moment.
I learned that I do not want to be sad neither I nor those around me with miserable and meaningless things and that health, happiness, financial situation, everything should be enjoyed and appreciated when you have them because the next moment you may not have them you have, but even if that happens you will find the courage to try again at some point.
I also learned that there are two worlds and it is good for the "outside" to think of the "inside". Those who are "inside" need this very much. To learn to care about our neighbor, our fellow man, our neighbor.
"That no matter how dark things are at some point, the light will slowly come and the day will shine again, as long as you try and do things, walking, reading, hobbies. "Personally, after everyone got back into a normal routine, I looked for a part-time job just so I wouldn't go crazy, and I walked a lot because that was what I was advised to do and they were absolutely right."
LEMON
"I remember one night Alexander was sitting at my desk at home and playing. "Then we knew from the doctors that we could not do him well anymore, I was looking at him and at the same time I was looking at a photo of him I was holding in my hands and I thought that one day only this photo will be left by Alexander" says Alexander's 46-year-old father , lawyer Mr. Christos Antonas.
"It seemed very unfair to me, to lose a life so simply, and so I began to think about how as parents we could keep his memory alive and for what good purpose people would continue to know Alexander. That's how we got to the organization of an event which we named Lemon Tree ", says Mr. Antonas.
The name of the event was chosen after the family had the idea of Alexander planting a lemon tree in their house so that it would grow and bear a tree in its place.
"We are very happy with the result because we managed to raise about $ 35,000 which will be donated to the Childhood Cancer Association.
"Of course, nothing would have been achieved if we did not have the support, help and love of the family of Lambros and Christina Moutou, Irene Zenonos and the entire Port Adelaide Community.
"I am really grateful that we were able to get back on our feet with the help of the CCA and our wonderful friends. I believe that through this terrible adventure we learned the power of love, the will for good, the power and the value of friendship "concludes Mrs. Theodoridou.
Source: New world