Tango with Can-"Sir"(Cancer) E-Book

Maria-Nefeli Nathanael

• Herausgeber: AKAKIA Publications
• Kategorie: Sachliteratur, Reportagen, Biografien
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 361

Beschreibung

Tango with Can-"Sir"(Cancer)

Leseprobe

Tango with Can-“Sir” - (Cancer)

My “DanceBalance” with Neurobehcet’s disease and not only!!!

Maria-Nefeli D. Nathanael2nd Version

To the friends of Maria Nefeli D. Nathanael

Dear friends, expatriates,

On behalf of Maria-Nefelis Demetriou, President of the Panchiakos Association of New York “Korais”, Mr. Panagiotis Gerazounis and myself personally, I would like to thank you for your generous participation in my appeal in order to raise the required amount for the translation of the book “Tango with Can-“Sir” («Ταγκό με τον Καρ-Κείνο») from Greek to English.

Maria’s love for all of us is touching and you will have the opportunity to see this when you read her book.

I would also like to thank the Panchiakos Society of New York “Korais”, who agreed to have their name used to collect the donations, because because it was impossible for me to accept them personally for a variety of reasons.

Through the “Korais” Society, we are given the benefit of deducting the amount from our taxes (we will all receive a receipt).

I also thank my friends Nikos Stamatakis and Dimitris Tsakas for the complimentary publication of the Helleniscope and Memories websites respectively.

With much appreciation,

Stelios Tatsis

P.S. - In addition, I would like you to know that the total amount raised is $4,600.00 dollars and the cost of translation is £3,188.00 according to the invoice of the London based company European Printers Ltd. At today’s dollar to British pound exchange rate it is approximately $4,350.00 US dollars. The amount raised will be sent in full to the translation company and any amount left over after exchange rate costs will be used for the shipping of 20 translated books. If anyone wishes to have it in Greek please let us know. The money was raised thanks to the love and charity of the following:

Alpha one

Athenian Society

Georgios Gialtouridis

Alex Koutsoubis

Vasilios Mataragas

Fotis Moutopoulos

Theodore Pavlakos

Prodromou Loizos

The sponge co

Christofer Stratakis

Steven Verveniotis

On behalf of Maria-Nefeli and myself personally, a BIG THANK YOU!

Good Health to You and Your Families and “HAPPY RESURRECTION” coronavirus-free.

I wish you all the very best of luck and good wishes for your health and well-being.

Best Regards,

Capt. Stelios Tatsis

To all of you who made one of my biggest dreams come true!

When there is a pure Will to Offer, then Faith becomes Love, an Embrace that offers Life!

I don’t know how to begin or how to finish. I wonder if a thank you is enough. Nope, I don’t think so and I am sure it is not and will never be enough.

But there is in my soul and my heart, this unfeigned love for Uncle Stelios, as he first told me years ago when we first met with the first edition of my book, as he was the most helpful of all, even though he was thousands of miles away... But those were other times back then when everything was easier... There is this unfeigned love for this adorable man who is not only an Uncle but is also a grandfather and a friend and much, much more... I could write forever how much more! In summary, he is everything to me...

I remember one of our messages where he has told me that if it wasn’t for certain people, he wouldn’t have accomplished anything on his own. I replied that if it wasn’t for him, the translation of my book would never have become a reality.

I have no more words. The rest is just a formality. It goes without saying that I am grateful for the pleasant developments that came, through the pains, to touch my own soul. Thank you all without exception. Even those who wanted to help and for some reason could not.

Thank you, Uncle Stelios!!!

Thank you all, one by one with a touch of my soul on your soul, to touch your heart, like an airy caress so you can feel the aura of my true love and faith!

I am essentially nothing deserving admiration, in front of all of you. I just have unwavering faith in God, stubbornness, and love. Otherwise, in front of you I am just a Maria-Nefeli passing through the threshold of your hearts to leave you that caress we just “mentioned” above. Perhaps you already feel it!!!!

With appreciation and love,

Maria-Nefeli D. Nathanael

Thoughts on Maria Nefeli and her book “ Tango with Can-“Sir” - (Cancer)

Dimitris Tselios was the reason for me to get to know Maria-Nefeli, her story, and her book.

Dimitris and I did not know each other personally. We just had online contact and mutual appreciation. As he told me he had promised to do an action in Cyprus to support Maria-Nefeli and asked me to participate. The result of this effort was a seminar in Nicosia in December 2017, entitled “Tango with Life”, in which we all participated voluntarily (including Dimitris Tselios and myself, we were joined by Natasha Kapitzi, Panagiotis Michael and as a presenter Christina Demetriou) and all proceeds were donated for Maria-Nefeli’s treatment needs.

On that day I picked up the book, as I did today for the new second edition of her book, which may also appeal to readers of the first edition, as it is a completely new updated book with interesting new material.

Maria-Nefeli is a girl who took her pain in her arms and made it her flag and banner. She took her pain in her arms and made it a shield to protect herself and others, from all that comes with illness.

It was clear that blaming was not in her repertoire. Self-pity and self-isolation would not help in managing her condition and Maria-Nefeli knew this very well.

So, she took her pain in her arms and danced a wonderful tango with it. We may not hear her music, we may not feel her emotions, but we enjoy her tango through the pages of her book. Each of its chapters a new dance move and each of its words a note that sometimes softens the soul and sometimes puts it in deep thought.

I will not attempt a “book review” because I do not have the skills and qualifications to do so. I am sharing with you my thoughts and feelings, both from my contact with this wonderful creature Maria-Nefeli and from the pages of her book.

The use of the simulation of dance and especially tango makes for a very interesting read, attracts curiosity, and facilitates understanding.

It is an easy-to-read book, even though it contains deep meanings and strong emotions. It is experiential and deeply philosophical with profound reflections, informed observations and suggestions for improving the quality of our thoughts and, by extension, the quality of our lives.

It is Maria-Nefeli’s soul testimony in a way that is authentic to such an extent that it is accessible to every reader who has the minimum of Empathy and the willingness to touch the author’s soul and his own.

This book can be a useful tool for any suffering person. I am not just talking about illnesses. I mean suffering in general. From unresolvable issues and dead ends, from imaginary and real problems, from imaginary and real enemies. Through the book you will learn life lessons. For every page is a unique lesson in pain, laughter, tears, joy and life.

This book is a hymn to life, and I strongly believe that Maria-Nefeli’s book should be taught in schools, colleges, universities etc. I make a public invitation to the officials of the Ministry of Education and Culture to read the book and I am sure that they will understand that it must be included in the Ministry’s programmes to help the new generation to reflect, to visualise, to understand how precious life is and how much more precious it can become if it is embraced with love, acceptance, and gratitude. To help students take their lives in their own hands, avoiding alibis and excuses for potential problems and turmoil and live life to its fullest.

With these thoughts I urge - I challenge you to put your hands on this book and soak up every word of it. In this way you will see your life in a different light and at the same time you will support Maria Nefeli’s efforts to improve her quality of life.

Lakis Argyrou

Communicator

Inspirational and Motivational Public Speaker

Personal and Professional Development Consultant

Certified Trainer

Certified Mediator.

For an Angel Nefeli

4 years ago, I crossed paths with the heroic soul Maria-Nefeli, I heard about her story from a mutual acquaintance of ours, and because we have natural remedies we rushed to help her, and indeed she saw a big difference in her health. In turn, she helped us in our first court victory, against the corrupt system, the Can-Society (Cancer-Society) as she has so rightly described it, by testifying her testimony, with our natural remedies.

This is how I met Maria-Nefeli, her experiencing her own drama, and I mine, and together we persevered to encourage each other, and to move on, to win despite the adversities of life, which we experienced in great intensity and extremity, although we are all ultimately, on some level, a painful story, full of trauma and drama.

I saw myself in Maria-Nefeli, a Soul Sister, struggling to win, to claim life, despite the pain, despite the incredible difficulties, the lesson that this Angel truly gives us is to never give up, no matter how hard life turns out, because everything can change with our will, and with our faith in the Divine, but also having beside us, few but true companions.

I was happy that Maria-Nefeli felt better, and her life changed drastically, but unfortunately, she is again in a worse condition, because it is a disease that relapses, like life itself, we need to constantly try, especially when our soul, is so sensitive and feels the darkness of the Can-Society (Cancer-Society).

The Gift that Maria Nefeli offers us is invaluable because she is a rare fighter who constantly wins despite incredibly adverse circumstances. We need all of us to support her Struggle for Life by buying her book, written with the sensitivity of her beautiful soul, and which we also have available in the Rose Garden www.rodokipos.com, so that we can all help her to live without suffering, to give her some love and beauty, because she deserves it.

I make a public appeal to the responsible persons of the Ministry of Education and Culture of Cyprus, to read this book and to incorporate it into the programs of the Ministry so that it can be taught in schools of higher education, schools and universities, to help the new generation to be grateful for what they have and for what they don’t have, as this Angel teaches us every day, with her own attitude of life.

Thank you for existing. We love you, may you always be well, happy, joyful, and we will always be by your side, supporting you in your Struggle for Life. You will succeed again and again because you are a gifted angel who came to teach us

Marina Tontis

President of AMKE

“The Rose Garden of the Philosophers” - Thessaloniki

17/1/2022

Soul Deposit

Maria-Nefeli once again deposits her soul in the significantly modified and supplemented second edition of her already known book “ Tango with Can-“Sir”, a best seller with its appearance. The view of the young woman, who suffers and is in constant pain, is transformed through her writings into a book of solidarity for fellow human beings who are suffering or who do not yet know what they or their loved ones are going to suffer. This is a work that concerns us all, as we do not know what the next day, the next moment, will bring, and it is good to be relatively prepared to face any adversity. Human and perfectly ordinary things...

It is strange, but Maria-Nefeli is constantly teaching through her own example. Having suffered unimaginable hardships since she was fourteen years old, she reports them in detail, revealing her incredible strength and her willingness to live and grow in her own way. It is precisely this courage that she has conveyed from an early age to her loved ones who stand by her as much as each of them can. Her mother, her sister, her brother and, her soulmate, her husband, are constantly close to her and suffer with her, trying to ease her pain, to take care of her. Near her there have been and still are many friends who were touched by her special case and tried to help her. And so, I too, who was informed - coincidentally, as I thought at first - about the phenomenon Maria-Nefeli and stood by her, undertaking the not so simple editing of her book, both the first edition and the second.

It was not, however, coincidental that we came into contact. Through endless hours of phone calls, after significant chat conversations, I benefited substantially, as I got to know both Maria-Nefeli and her family quite well. We may not have met in person, but I have already gained qualitative benefit, which fortunately is not measured in money. This young woman has a lot to offer to anyone who wants to be called “human”. She carries her cross with dignity and seeks to better herself. She became a scholar because she wanted to and put in the effort to achieve it, her education is no accident.

Maria-Nefeli draws her strength from her faith, which is evident on every page of her book and is pure, unadulterated, without whining or complaining. She stoically accepts her state of health, asking the Creator only for strength to endure the adversities that constantly arise. Nowhere in her written or spoken word is there the relentless question “Why me?” which is all too common in human nature. I do not know - nor have I ever dared to ask her - how this situation came about. What I do know is that there is no cure, no hope for a reversible condition. Only patience and courage on her part are needed, while constant medical monitoring is required, and she must be given the care she needs.

The only thing that concerns Maria-Nefeli is to live decently - not in luxury. To be able to enjoy, like any normal and healthy person, the special moments of life, without being possessed by stress, without worrying daily about the necessities of her living. I firmly believe that she is not asking for much; life must see to it that she is granted an allowance that covers her. What she is provided with may have been essential for earlier times, but today - with the huge increase in the cost of living - it is not enough to cover her needs, which are greatly increased, as she needs money for rent, careful nutrition, medicines, and treatments.

The only thing we, her ordinary friends, can easily do is to obtain and promote her book. Anyone who reads it will benefit; it has been created spontaneously and directly from the soul of a young woman and is addressed to people who feel and want to know human nature in depth. I hope that Maria-Nefeli decides to systematically engage in writing, because she has a lot to offer us! I wish her this from the bottom of my heart and I will make sure to edit it together with my cousin Gilda Garzoni-Tornazaki.

My wish and my request is that this book will finally get into schools and higher education. I think it is imperative!

Dr. Mitsi Sk. Pikramenou

For a Strong Warrior Fighter

I read the first book by Maria-Nefeli D. Nathaniel, from the first pages and I felt like I took in my hands the key of herself and I was opening doors. Each page, a door and a teardrop, a teardrop that joined her own teardrop where it grew heavy, but did not fall to the floor but separated and fell and touched our souls.

And know that the touch of the soul is the driving force that awakens the brain and becomes its guide, that charts its course towards kindness, towards embrace, towards the magical feeling of love that when it overflows is not lost but transformed into selfless giving.

Reading her book, I met her, lived her and embraced her without having met her in person, since we are separated by thousands of miles (Cyprus-America). Emotion, when it is beautifully kind, is an invisible kind of expression that cannot be defined or photographed in words.

I am absolutely certain that her second book will be more successful, and success depends on us reading it. Success is in reading it, putting ourselves in Maria-Nefeli’s shoes and doing what we would like others to do for us or our children and grandchildren.

Maria is not a beggar, she is a remarkable person who in her journey, dark clouds fell and she became Nefeli (Cloud), and with the dignified pen of her soul, and with God’s help, she struggles and tries to push away the dark clouds, find sunshine and live humanly.

By reading books like those of Maria-Nefeli, we become more human and ornaments of society, but let me confess to you that I personally have not read in such depth such a statement of soul with such meaning, with words, sentences and whole texts that not even a University lecturer could think of, because as you understand, the greatest University is life itself, it is Maria-Nefeli herself.

I wish you from the depths of my soul good luck in your new second edition of your book, my girl.

With much love,

Captain, Stelios Tatsis (your uncle as you call me)

Best Regards,

Capt. Stelios Tatsis.

Tango with Can-“Sir” - (Cancer)

The book “Tango with Can-“Sir” (2nd edition -AKAKIA Publications, London 2021), is a fascinating sharing of Maria’s soul with the reader. It uniquely exposes her bizarre health adventure without it locking her into any kind of defeatism. She doesn’t even limit herself to the plea “let me live”.

Instead, she effortlessly sensitises the reader, moving us gently, evoking our positive reflections.

It is not so much an autobiographical spar, as a quirky philosophical essay. Along with her incredible experiences, she raises profound ponderings, and raises valid doubts. She leads us to important conclusions.

She repeatedly denounces the hypengyophobia of doctors, as well as the indifference - of doctors and (her own word) ‘Can-society’ (Cancer-Society). She is not being vague. Can-Society (Cancer-Society) describes a society whose individuals behave identically to cancer cells.

Nefeli is making dramatic appeals but also proposals of substance. She raises, in a beautiful and apt way, major tragic problems of our time. She looks to the future with courage and fights for it. For her future and for the future of all of us, I must emphasise.

She philosophises prolifically, giving lessons in penetrating realism even to philosophically sound people.

Frankly, it would take a whole dissertation to comment on all of this - mostly with decoding, answers, and implications.

Above all, though, I feel the need to help with what is perhaps the author’s most unpleasant problem. I refer to the suspicions of some that she is posing as a sick person. She herself writes that it is inconceivable to them that such a seriously ill person is so dynamic. Not only that she lives, but also moves so dynamically.

Unfortunately, my dear Maria-Nefeli,

In this day and age, papers and police investigations are not convincing. There’s always an imaginative theory to disprove everything. Your attitude towards life is indeed so unbelievable that everyone’s mind is searching for an easy interpretation. It is not enough to simply observe the greatness of soul of many other seriously ill people.

I propose, therefore, a subversive view of the phenomenon Maria-Nefeli D. Nathaniel: She is not who she is EVEN THOUGH she is seriously ill, but she is who she is BECAUSE she is SO seriously ill.

This - undoubtedly unique - personality of hers, she confirms it quite naturally. Both with her book and in live communication. And this is able to support a large movement of practical support for her struggle. She certainly deserves it, even if we do not consider the possible wider ambitions of such a movement.

Friends,

Beginning here and now the practical support for her struggle, I am issuing this unsigned recommendation-appeal for ALL my friends - especially those online - to buy her book. And help her find a volunteer to translate it into English, and as soon as possible.

Maria-Nefeli needs our practical support. It’s a chance for a strong start this year with the pandemic. To see the pandemic as Maria-Nefeli sees her uncanny ordeal.

Give yourself the gift of the book “Tango with Can-“Sir”. Give it to a doctor you appreciate for his or her humanity. Notify your friends, too. Along with a few words of your own.

Happy reading with health to all!!!

Bi-monthly 29 November 2021

Kostas Tzanavaras

Consultant Engineer - Author

We all know that tango is a dance for two.

I was asked “Why this title? Since your book has to do with your health…you write about the essence of your soul and, in general, your pain and the bad experiences you’ve been through”. I never gave an answer, but simply replied “I know what I wrote, and I know why I gave my book this title”.

Let me explain myself. Tango is indeed a dance for two.

My life, my soul.

I dance with my life.

She educates me, teases me, sometimes with beautiful moments and other times (usually most of the times) shetortures me slowly and steadily, hurting me horribly.

I take care of her, I hug her and we dance, life, death, and me.

So, there is a bittersweet war between me, life, and death

.

It’s a title that says it all. It doesn’t just speak about cancer. Nor about my autoimmune Neurobehcet’s disease, nor about epilepsy, nor even about horrible pains.... The title also addresses the Can-Society (Cancer-Society) that is diseased. Think “ TANGO WITH CAN-“Sir” “ (where tango automatically makes us think of two, as I mentioned above). Sadly, it is not so. I am not only dancing with disease but also with the State of can-society (Cancer-Society), with those in general who try to cut the thread of my life without any doubt. It means one less allowance. One less disabled person. We are all one number to the can-society (Cancer-Society). Then there is the can-society (Cancer-Society) of the world in general. The provocations from the world, the opposition, the questions of “but why are you still alive and how is this possible?” (And yet it is possible, because I have something you never believed in. I have FAITH IN GOD, and an unshakable family). That doesn’t mean that at some point I won’t lose my life. But to live still means there is a purpose. So as you understand, I wish I was fighting just cancer and my very rare diseases.

In a different type of tango of my soul with Can-Society (Cancer Society), through the shattered bittersweet paths.

***Remember – nothing is more dangerous than the apathy that plagues people!Even if you own nothing, you have more to offer than you can imagine. -

Maria-Nefeli***

Crises

Foreword by Dr Mitski Sk. Pikramenou, Editor, 2015:

You will read here the thoughts of Maria-Nefeli. You entered her soul and you found out that although she’s a young woman now, she has kept the freshness and purity of her adolescence. She is spontaneous and candid. Her feelings and reactions remain those of a 14-year-old child surrounded only by the clothing of maturity. It is as if she continues to live with the characteristics of the moment in time when she was afflicted with the disease. She never matured normally, to move in society and to acquire experiences that would have made her stronger. Not that she did not face difficulties during all this time. As you can understand, putting aside the health problems, she found herself in front of a variety of obstacles: financial troubles, self-doubt and abandonment from people who had become close to her, being some of the most challenging.

Let’s see:

Her afflictions are not just one or two. As you will find out from her mother’s letter published here, Maria-Nefeli has been hit by many blows, each of which separately would be enough to make her seriously ill. Even then the girl continues to use the only thing left untouched: her mind.

She thinks with great clarity, is fully informed about everything, and endures her torment. With unimaginable courage, she hopes for a better future, something that she has never given up on. The hope that she will have a better quality of life and not feel isolated from society.

Her personality is inviolable. Despite everything that has been going on, she managed to study Psychology. In addition to her two undergrad degrees, she also finished her master’s degree. Commendable of course, but her quality as a person was not taught at the university, it is a result of her upbringing and her character.

In her writings she expresses several complaints about her family, her neighbours, and her fellow students without giving details or names or any specific details that could be used to identify them.

Her attitude towards authority is also perplexing. She loves God very much; she constantly emphasizes it and essentially her faith in the divine is what supports her. But where is the formal clergy in the drama she faces? With the connections she has to the Greek Diaspora, she could have been supported decisively. Her mother speaks only about the help of certain Cypriot Government officials.

Social problems – the case of the health of Maria-Nefeli is a big social problem – are solved only with the good cooperation of everyone and the State. The support of individuals, especially in times of crisis like the one we are going through today, can not offer what is needed.

Society’s reactions towards the phenomenon of “Maria-Nefeli” are varied. Most appreciate her for her courage and are willing to support her and strengthen her as much as possible. Some doctors monitor her without being paid, some even help her with her medication. There are Government officials that ensured she was sent abroad to get an accurate diagnosis for her terrible pains, the bleeding and the diarrhoea that have been tormenting her.

However, there are those who did not show due diligence. You will also find out, by reading the book, some unacceptable mistakes that have been made. Some doctors who were criminally indifferent to her state of health, others who turned their backs ostentatiously, perhaps even ignoring the symptoms, I say, but what do I know.

A doctor friend of mine explained that Maria-Nefeli does not belong to a family of status.

There are also the cynics, who doubt her state of health. Individuals who showed that they were unaware of the matter expressed their doubts creatively, even preparing videos. Of course, they did not realise that negative mention also served as an advertisement.

Maria-Nefeli continues to spend her time creatively when she is sober from all the medication. Because she can’t always get out of bed or stay seated, she uses her time productively, writing. I think we can wish the best for her, to be able to give us even more valuable lessons from what has been offered to her by her experience.

Today, May 2021, while we are obliged to comply with the pandemic measures to avoid COVID-19, Maria-Nefeli got in touch with me. We had rarely spoken all these years, sometimes when there was a need, her mother Koulla-Michail would call me.

I found myself in front of a different situation. The first thing I noticed was that Maria-Nefeli was more talkative. The realisation came instantly. The health issues remained unchanged. But, she had met the love of her life, George Nathanael, a man that provided her with happiness and what she was missing, companionship with someone that appreciates and loves her. Their marriage had already happened, they are a couple in life and in pain, they both have serious problems. Maria-Nefeli, however, is no longer alone. Apart from her wonderful mother, sister, and brother, who had always stood by her, she now also had a husband!

I have not spoken with him, but I found out that he, too, carries his own cruel torment. Perhaps it is lighter than Maria-Nefeli’s, perhaps not. I am not a doctor, and I do not intend to pretend I am an expert on subjects that I am unaware of.

The fact is this. And that’s what counts. In front of us, is a couple with serious and daily health problems.

Really serious.

We are in the presence of two of our fellow human beings who cannot work, who live in Cyprus on welfare benefits, which are unfortunately not enough to cover their daily needs. Furthermore, their income is not enough to cover the medical treatments that are necessary to keep them in a tolerable condition.

I appreciate and like them both.

I want to stand by them. Not to pity them, but to actually help them.

The idea came to me today, Sunday, May 2, 2021.

A day of love. And it is immediately feasible.

Let me explain myself. Maria-Nefeli loves the camera very much and takes pictures of everything. I suggested to her to prepare a photo album, consisting of her photos. I will edit it myself, it will be digital and it will be embedded on my website, https://mitsihappy.eu.

Anyone who is interested in acquiring it, and sends me a message will be connected to Maria-Nefeli’s bank account; and also to her, who will be sending her friends the books.

We will find a way so that the albums can also have personalised messages.

My only benefit will be that the numerous friends of Maria-Neffeli’s will see my website and its traffic will increase.

I hope that all goes well, in all aspects and especially that these two worthy young people are helped in their daily lives.

Elita Michaelidou is a renowned reporter and above all else a person with a heart of gold. In 2015 she wrote:

Maria-Nefeli is an angel. I believe she came into this world as a test for us, to expand us, and the low levels of love that we possess for our fellow humans, to tame the suspicions of the people that attacked her, to cancel the indifference of those that turned her back to her, to smooth the grief of those that believed they had a problem, to open our eyes so we can understand one thing: We are one.

And that what concerns a child, concerns all of us…The day she told me that she believed in me and I turned my back on her, I was shocked…

Many incidents where I saw one thing and my colleagues saw something else. Maria-Nefeli, according to their assessment, was a suspicious case. So difficult that it created doubts. We let it go. She also let go of her faith in me.

A year later, there was a knock on my door with a message. I called. This time, I spoke with her mother. Once again there were doubts in our team…I didn’t back down. This time I didn’t leave it, I did my research. I saw doctors, I read files, I looked into records. Maria-Nefeli, this child, is in a situation so serious, perhaps even more serious than what our minds can comprehend.

My little darling remains in her bed, with only a view of a painted pink wall. I am in a position to say, some two years after our acquaintance, that she isn’t a simple person. On the contrary, I have the conviction that I have met an angel in the flesh, that simply, from its pink wall, is testing our humanity, is struggling to improve the system, to overhaul our rigidity, to end our indifference, to reset our ego…

Maria-Nefeli wants to live. But I assure you that she lives more fully than me and you because a paradise of great love beats in her heart. Even if she is the child who doesn’t walk, doesn’t sleep and doesn’t wake up, doesn’t have dreams for even the simplest of things, except perhaps, for a sterile room in a hospital bed where she is ensured “no more pain”.

I would say with certainty that my/our Maria-Nefeli, without her knowing, without her understanding, just by existing, makes the possibility of us living stronger. Even if she is expelled and wronged. Maria, thank you for having me deemed worthy to be somewhere in your life. And thank you to all of us who fight in your name, so darkness can be defeated by the light that you and other children like you deserve…I adore you my darling!

Panagiotis Michael, two-time cancer survivor, founder of the non-profit organisation Be Strong, and author of the book “We Are Tourists” wrote in 2015:

For my Maria-Nefeli

In 2008 or 2009 and while I was on my way to a hotel, various thoughts were passing through my mind while having many emotions at the same time.

I was very happy that I would be meeting face to face my online friend “twetty”...but at the same time, I was feeling very nervous meeting her in person. What was I going to say to her? How could I support such a wonderful person, with such serious health issues that were life-threatening I wondered? My anxiety was at its peak…

I finally made it to my appointment and I was greeted by her mother in a dark hotel room. She couldn’t handle the light, she told me, her head hurt and she had given her painkillers to help her manage the pain. As soon as she opened, with difficulty from the sedatives, her half-open big eyes and saw me, she opened them wide open…The room lit up with her huge smile. I was in awe of her, but at the same time, I had the feeling that I knew her for a long time. I had only known her for two months from her personal blog, where she was sharing her health adventures. It was a psychotherapeutic process for her.

Yes, my friend is Maria-Nefeli, actually something more than just a friend, even to this day, where a strong family friendship connects us. After all, how could I not connect with such a girl? A young girl, who has a sparkle in her soul with such terrible pains, with so many monsters in one little body, and she faces them with courage and her love of life, with faith in all of us…

(For the rest of us that go through cancer, compared to what this angel is going through, makes our cancer look like simple flu and I am telling you this with full knowledge and awareness of the truth, and with my own experiences on the path with cancer.)

In addition to the monsters in her body, this young child has to daily face the untreatable monsters of a sick society, she has to face the damaged people that continuously doubt and mock her, but she still remains strong, brave, and courageous, this young child called Maria-Nefeli. A beautiful soul, inside out.

A truly rare person, who despite all the difficulties of life, stands up to any problem and is not afraid to face them head-on, because simply she is obsessed with life… Her book is an inspiration of strength and hope for life. A heartbreaking testimony of the soul, a punch in the gut for all of us. A punch that helps us to see things that happen to us from a different perspective.

My Maria, my beautiful soul, I am proud to have met you and to have you in my life to remind me every day with your attitude, not to look for perfection in life…because life itself is PERFECT! Be Strong…

I dedicate my book

To those that I adore and who adore me,

And especially to Koulla Michael,

My mommy, who without her care,I would not exist now.

Thank you for everything

Mom, I dedicated this to you some years ago and occasionally I dedicate it to you again and again. It’s something for the two of us especially, that couldn’t be missing from here. I love you, mommy, thank you for being my mom!

Because you are my best friend, my sister (after all, you’re only 18 years older than me). The best mom. You are my smile! You’re also a father at the same time! You are everything. You spread your wings and cover me.You cover us mom.

I love you.

It is yours with all the love I have, without you I would not exist. I’m all yours, mom, and you’re all mine!

Thank you for everything! For everything, Mom,

I saw the light through your shining eyes when you first saw me.

I felt the affection in your arms.

I took the first nourishment from your body, which was the most powerful nourishment you could give me.

I felt the tender caress of your hands!

You held me tightly to make me feel secure so that I could take my first steps.

How can I thank you, Mom?

I don’t want things to go badly, I want to make you proud, I wonder if I can do it? If I don’t, I am sorry Mom!

You, of course, are satisfied with me.

You’ve always spoken to me tenderly. You made me feel I lived in a fantasy world, a world where there were only fairies.

I used to hide in your arms whenever I was scared, something I still do every time we stay at the hospital and I either have surgery planned, a difficult test, or I simply have to stay in because I don’t feel well.

You gave me the right ammunition so I can stand on my own two feet!

You held my hand when I was writing my first letters…although you didn’t have much trouble teaching me, as you said.

You cried with me when I was in pain, and continue to do so now that things are difficult!

You played with me during my free hours. How can I thank you, Mom?

You lied awake on my headboard when I was sick, as you do now. You always tell me words enriched with vitamins to make me feel better!

Your tears are medicine, but I can’t watch you cry, it hurts more!

You are a lion when I was wronged, and when someone tries to take advantage of me!

How can I thank you, Mom?

You agonize with me for every difficult fight I face. We are together for another battle won, even if that battle was short and temporary!

Your face lights up with joy when I received my first degree and my awards, and that I am still going strong and I am graduating on June 13, 2013 with my second degree and many more awards, which I have managed to accomplish despite everything!

You shined even more, when I managed to survive after tough battles with the various parties over the years.

Your shining, unique, velvet soul was illuminated, when my George came into my life, and we finally got married.

Thank you, Mom, for everything! I’m sorry you had to and still have to suffer so much with my situation, my beautiful and unique Mom!

I wish everything was different, but together we have already accomplished so much and will continue pushing through everything.

Introduction

A restless mind