“When you see her now, you wouldn’t think this girl has been through all of this.”
When our daughter Lina was four years old, we received the news that no parent is ever prepared for. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. At the time of diagnosis, the disease was already advanced. It had metastasized to her bones and bone marrow.
Uncertainty and the search for additional support
What followed was an intensive medical treatment process involving chemotherapy, a clinical trial with additional treatments, two high-dose chemotherapy courses with stem cell transplants, surgery, radiation, and immunotherapy. It was a period in which our entire lives were focused on survival.
As a parent, you sometimes feel completely powerless during such a period. You don’t know what is going to happen, and you want nothing more than to protect your child. For us, it was literally a matter of life and death.
Months before the diagnosis was made, I already had the feeling that something wasn’t right. Yet it took some time before it became clear what was going on. As a result, I began to delve deeper into medical information. I wanted to understand what was happening and maintain as much control over the situation as possible. I was a mother who stayed on top of everything.
Collaboration with Leonardus and a bond of trust
I had confidence in the hospital’s treatment plan. At the same time, I noticed how great the need was for personal attention and support during such a profound period. The doctors and nurses did their absolute best, but their role is simply different. They look at things from the medical side of the story.
During the immunotherapy, we came into contact with Energetisch Centrum Leonardus through my father-in-law. To be honest, I had never been open to that before. It was only when the complications began to mount and Lina’s situation became increasingly worrying that I decided to take that step.
In the beginning, Lina came for treatment three times a week. Later, this was gradually phased out. For us, these treatments were never a replacement for regular medical care, but an additional form of support during an exceptionally difficult journey.
Recovery, processing, and sharing our story
What has stayed with me most is not one specific moment, but the overall picture. Lina built a bond of trust with Leon. During the treatments, she was relaxed, felt at ease, and talked incessantly. That also gave me peace of mind as a mother.
When I look at her now, it is almost impossible to imagine everything she has been through. She is once again a cheerful child who plays, laughs, and enjoys the simple things. Of course, check-ups remain a part of our lives. Every few months, there are more scans, ultrasounds, and tests. That tension will probably always remain to some extent.
What I was perhaps most afraid of beforehand was how she would process this period emotionally. I anticipated a long psychological recovery process. Fortunately, so far, it seems to be going differently. Whether there is one single explanation for that, I don’t know. I can only share what we have experienced as a family.
During our search, what I missed most were the stories of other parents. I was looking for people who understood what it felt like to be in the middle of such a storm. That is why I would now like to share my own story. Not to push other parents in a certain direction, but to offer recognition and to show that every family finds its own way during a period when everything is uncertain.
For us, Leonardus has been a valuable addition alongside the regular medical care Lina received. Every situation is different, and everyone makes their own choices. This is our personal experience with a journey that has changed our lives forever.