Unique stories
Our daughter Elis – it’s a miracle that a little person can take it all in.
Özgür, Songül and their daughter Elis have come a long way together.
Özgür’s father tells KAKS their story.
We are touched by his honesty.
From the moment I was diagnosed, “everything” to do with my daughter was fraught with fear.
What will happen to my daughter?
How will she feel about everything?
How can I protect her?
What will happen to my daughter?
Will she suffer?
How much will she suffer?
Will she be in pain?
Has the cancer spread?
It was the worst time of my life.
It was unbearable.
My body and mind had capitulated.
I wanted to escape.
Paradoxically, Elis helped me out of that time.
She was the reason to stay “strong”.
She was the reason to fight, to see her through this time as a father.
She knew nothing of the gravity of the situation.
She was still the same.
She also didn’t know about the visual impairment that had already set in.
Her “being there” was the biggest motivation for me.
I still can’t explain how she managed it all.
All the appointments, examinations before the big operation, the procedure afterwards and everything was so much and so difficult.
The fact that a little person can accept all this is another miracle!
But the most important support was of course her mommy.
She is the greatest strength for Elis.
The never-ending support and love of her mommy were probably the biggest drive, support and anchor for little Elis.
I believe that an essential and important aspect of Eli’s strength is that we have always accompanied her together from the very beginning.
We attended all appointments together.
Unrestricted support and absolute security were probably of great importance.
We always made even the visits to the ocularist an event: these appointments were always associated with joy and love.
They were outings and never a burden.
Elis started school today and is an indescribably great child.
She has no restrictions and does everything she wants.
She is allowed to do everything she wants.
I believe, think and wish for nothing more than that she is doing well.
She is, but she is also only six years old and already so far and brave.
I feel much better now.
Of course – when you get as deep as you do with these questions, the most difficult days become very close again.
But I keep thinking how lucky we were able to recognize and treat it in time.
I think Elis deserves to share such a difficult time in her life with others.
She should be given the opportunity to show herself as she is.
She should do it with fun.
In order to reach other families with a similar fate and to support them, Elis has taken part in the new KAKS book: “Elis, Elba and Elli – How to see the world with one eye”.
