Ana Obregón has called a massive press conference – more than one hundred accredited – this noon to present El chico de las musarañas (Harper Collins), the book that Aless Lequio began to write and finished herself. The interest was maximum, since it was the first time that Ana faced the media after the controversial adoption of her daughter, born from a surrogate in the US through Aless’s own sperm. She had not been in front of a camera or a microphone since she presented the Aless Lequio Foundation in February.

And as usual, Ana has not disappointed. This is a selection of her best phrases:

It was August 2018. We were in New Jersey and Aless was undergoing a very aggressive chemo and radiotherapy treatment […] I heard him typing at night: ‘Mom, I’m writing a book’

My son couldn’t finish this book because of bloody cancer

Everything you do in this life with love has an echo in eternity

I saw the incredible talent that my son had to write and what the hell that cancer took away that bright future because being a writer was one of his dreams

It is a work written by a mother with a mutilated heart and blood red ink

This work is a song to life and a song to death

I have known two worlds: that of the oncology plants or where the terminally ill are. Then there is another world, that of complaints, where we complain about everything, criticize and judge and do not use something as beautiful as love.

I am excited but above all, for my son; wherever he is sure that he will be happy

I came from burying my son and I did not want to live

I have read a lot about souls, that the soul is eternal, the human being is energy. If the human being were condensed in energy we would occupy what a pin point; we are energy and energy never dies, it transforms. souls are eternal

Seeing is believing? You believe in love, yes? Can you touch it, smell it? No, therefore it is not in the dimensions. Why don’t we believe that we are eternal souls, that there can even be a reincarnation? It is that if not, this does not make sense

I highly advise that you read books on near-death experiences, for example. I have studied all religions and deep down they are the same: it is an energy and we are all united. But we are getting intoxicated with so much judgment, criticism and crap. We have forgotten what love is

During the meeting, I wasn’t convinced to write, I didn’t know if I would have the strength […] I put the mobile on the table and it starts ringing. On the screen the call was from Aless. So I said ‘this is a sign’. That was what gave me strength, I have to do it, it’s what my son wants

I notice many things. When I was writing there were moments when I felt Aless’s voice, it guided me, my hands, thoughts… And it’s like that

I have been in mourning for three years, in black and white, the one I decided on and today I am wearing flowers because I am fulfilling her three wishes: to have a daughter, to have her book published and to make a foundation with her name

On the arrival of Ana Sandra by surrogacy: “When you have buried your only child, any criticism I hear tickles me”

Ana Sandra is what my son wanted the most, he asked Alessandro and me two weeks before. It was his wish forever

Alessandro, your granddaughter is waiting for you at home, because she is your family and she is looking forward to meeting her grandfather.

Anita is going to receive all my love, that of her uncles, who is twelve and come home every second to see her niece, that of her cousins… She has a huge family and when I’m not there, she’s going to be more protected than the rest. Robert de Niro’s daughter