“I would repeat the same experience.” We talked to Jasmin, participant in the ‘No estás sol@‘ (‘You are not alone’) program
Jasmin is 18 years old and was 4 years old when she had a brain tumor operation. She is one of the participants of our program ‘No estás sol@‘ (‘You are not alone’) for young survivors of cancer who have suffered secondary effects due to the illness.
Jasmin defines herself as a girl “more solitary, shy; it takes me a bit to express my feelings in words”. In her free time, she likes to draw, sometimes inspired by the music she listens to or her mood. “Drawing helps me relax and feel good. With drawing, I can express what I’m feeling.” She believes that the Villavecchia Foundation’s NES program has helped her relate better to her peers, and to discover things about herself that she did not know. For example, that she can sing in public. “I sing when I’m alone. To expose myself makes me feel embarrassed. In one of the sessions they asked me, ‘Do you sing?’, and I said no.” But a few minutes later, Jasmin was singing a song in front of a group of people her age. “I don’t know what happened, I felt confident enough to do it.”
Her story, like many children and young people who have suffered from cancer, including moments of pain, loneliness, rage, uncertainty, social isolation…They are aspects that are worked through during sessions from the program ‘No estás sol@‘, directed by our psychologist, family therapist, and music therapist Mateu Ubach.
Out of all the sessions, the one on Lego building was the most fun for her, “maybe because I have always liked to build things and because it reminded me of playing with my little sister.” The group of adolescents have also shared cooking, music, and photography workshops among other activities. “I believe this program has helped me relate better with other people, and to better understand things I didn’t put before, as well as just helping me mature…”
A few days ago she received very good news: “I have been discharged from oncology.” News like these make us very happy. But Jasmin tells us that, unfortunately, a friend which she made at Hospital Vall d’Hebron died of cancer when she was only 12 years old. These are news that define us, especially when you receive them so young. However, “to a girl who is going through the same thing as I am, I would tell her that anything is possible, and it is important to think positive.”
“I would repeat the same experience participating in the ‘No estás sol@‘ program. Why can’t it last forever? “
Fortunately, the relationship between the survivors and the Foundation does not end with this program. Jasmin has already signed up for a make-up session which will take place soon and she will surely be able to participate in other activities organized by the Foundation. We hope you enjoy it, Jasmin!
► Help us maintain care programs like NES by making a donation or becoming a partner of the Villavecchia Foundation here.