Grief… what a strange thing. A week ago, I lost my mom.

My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2016. She was treated by the great Professor Scambia and his colleagues. Thanks to the exceptional medical team that cared for her, and her own fighting spirit and immense hope, she survived for nine long years and made the most of every moment, even though the illness never truly left her.

At the time of her diagnosis, she didn’t yet know she carried the BRCA1 mutation.

With her tireless determination and unshakable hope, I always believed my mom was immortal. Just like in every other aspect of her personal and professional life, she faced her illness with courage and strength. She had absolute faith in scientific research and its progress, and up to twenty days before her passing, she was still looking for clinical trials she could join.

My mom deeply believed in healing. And even when that was no longer an option, when it was only possible to slow the disease’s progression, she continued to believe in the importance of quality of life and the treatments that allowed her to stay with us a little longer. Simply because she had an immense love for life.

My mom doesn’t leave an emptiness behind. She leaves a fullness — a fullness of love, energy, example, and strength — that now fills the hearts of everyone who misses her and grieves her loss.

Until her final moments, even when her voice was so weak, she kept reminding me of the importance of prevention, and not to wait too long before removing my ovaries. In her passing, my mom didn’t just leave me a small but mighty mutation — she left me her strength of character, her determination, and her unwavering belief in the future.

My mom will always be the reason I founded this association, and she will continue to live on through everything we do ❤️.

Martina – Founder and president BRCA+ Network