They discovered that the tremor in her hand when drawing was not due to inactivity to which she was forced by confinement. It was March 2020. It turned out that Ànnia had a brain tumor that needed to be urgently operated on. The operation was followed by very long chemotherapy treatments. Long and tedious. The clowns, the teachers, the groups of parents, any hint of joy in a space where concern was condensed, had disappeared.
During those hours, Ànnia painted and decorated the wall. The colors broke the monotony. Could she bring those sparks of life to every corner where there were children admitted? Yes, with her schoolmates. The director saw it clearly. A thousand children colored the stars of Christmas 2021.
Thus a choral story was built in which the school, the hospital, psychologists, therapists were involved…
The stars of Ànnia invited us to dream about the possibilities offered by the force of optimism, especially when living in a community that is sensitive to the ills of one of its members. This newspaper echoed this (12/11/2021) and the readers’ empathy was immediate.
From the stars to the mountains. Overcoming cancer is like climbing a mountain for the patient and his family. That was the image that the parents, Joana and Dani, used with Ànnia. It requires effort, perseverance, a spirit of improvement. Knowing that, sometimes, setbacks also occur, that you have to accept limits and endure the shadow of uncertainty.
Two chemo classmates, also fighters, left. In the book Els vuit mil estels de l’Ànnia they appear like butterflies fluttering around the protagonists, spontaneous mountaineers on Everest. Because, indeed, Ànnia’s story has become a story that wants to inspire other children with cancer.
And everything is in that adventure. There is cold and bad weather, accidental falls, vultures of bad omen. But also colorful banners, protective leopards on the snow and there are brave and generous children, armed with hats and flashlights, who manage to overcome setbacks together. The text (Meritxell Margarit) and the illustrations (Txell Darné) are very delicate.
The prologue is by Kílian Jornet, who learned about the move from his mother, a teacher. He wrote it from the Everest base camp and encourages Ànnia in her challenge, in trusting herself and the people around her.
A choral tale like the real story. Joana explained it this way on Wednesday, at the FNAC. One person alone cannot face it, she came to say. Even parents, who had the desire to transmit strength and positivity, needed friends. “It is hard to see your daughter, previously full of life, who cannot walk or speak. It’s hard for you to even recognize it after the treatments.” You see that life goes on outside the window, she describes, as if nothing were happening, as if only you were trapped in a black hole. But you continue to give him strength. “And then a friend looks at you and says, she cries, and you cry” and you start again. And one day you see that, thanks to the work of many, the girl takes a step, she utters a word, she smiles. And you smile.
They are now on the other side of the window again and, as seen in the photo, the girl has a smile and long hair. She supports the story whose benefits will go to Vall d’Hebron research. Now she has to deal with another type of obstacle: Ànnia has set out to climb a real mountain, in Norway. That’s what good metaphors have.
