Each of us has a story to tell, an experience that is interwoven with what lies ahead. I tell my story, my experience that is intertwined with the future that unfortunately I have to face.....every night I close my eyes thinking that 7 years and a little more have passed since that day that seemed as normal as so many others, but the pains that I had been experiencing for a few weeks became increasingly dense until I decided to go to the Emergency Department where, after an initial examination, they gave me a sad and unexpected diagnosis, which was confirmed by more in-depth diagnostic tests: "metastatic high grade malignant ovarian carcinoma".

Unfortunately I am still under treatment today... what can I say, I am still living with this monster: cancer.
But thanks to research, the skill of the doctors, and my strength of will it has still not managed to make me leave this wonderful world.
In these 7 and a half years I have experienced that cancer is not only pain; paradoxically, it has taught me many things, or rather, to value them:
Being positive all the time and to appreciate life much more;
Fight without ever losing hope;
Cry, yes, but immediately find the courage to smile and give smiles;
Pray with Faith and face every challenge with determination and stubbornness;
Over time, I learnt to accept my body being transformed by the devastating side effects of the therapies, and to make myself love the same without that all-encompassing smile of yesteryear.
And thanks to my willpower and also losing my job, I created ‘My Second Life’, which led me to meet new and wonderful people, and among the many, I met one woman in particular who was and is for me ‘Light’.

She gave me hope and strength, helping me both morally, psychologically and beyond. She believed in me and in my talent for crochet. In each creation of mine there is the suffering of each therapy, the agonizing wait for the results of the controls, a cry, the pain, and at the same time here comes the joy of her phone calls for her invitations making me realize that, even in the most violent storms, one can find shelter and I can only say ‘thank you so much Donatella’ for everything, thanks also to the staff of her creature ‘Women for Women Against Violence’ who took me into this wonderful ‘Family’ and I am honoured to be part of it.
My biggest dream? It is to be able to get up on that wonderful stage again with Donatella to announce my Victory over cancer, but if not, I am happy to continue the fight bringing with me wonderful memories of living together.
Thank you Donatella.