SOPIKO, Georgia

In February 2018, I already knew for certain that I had cancer. My oncologist Kakha Todua scheduled surgery soon after. No, he asked me and I answered - as quickly as possible!

I was still in intensive care when I asked: Am I worse than we thought? He replied that everything was exactly as we had expected.

When I first called Natia Panjikidze, it was the seventh, and there were no appointments until the 29th. She asked - "Should I recommend one of my golden girls?" I immediately replied - "No - I'm Sophie, 23 years old, I have cancer, and I only need you." Then there was a pause, then - "I'm waiting for you."

...Recent studies confirm that the most crucial phase for oncology patients depends on their psychological resilience. While receiving treatment in Israel, I discovered that there are many psychological rehabilitation services using modern methods that are not yet available in Georgia.

I was lucky.

Cancer is confirmed: malignant, stage three.

It's strange to realize that you're very ill, that you have a disease whose mere name strikes terror.

We humans somehow believe deep in our hearts that we'll never become seriously ill.

I want to remain a strong girl, I'm not thinking about giving up, though I just fainted earlier. There were moments between falling and losing consciousness when I felt how much I wanted to stand up but couldn't. That's how it is - my own body doesn't obey me and, unfortunately, I can't change anything.

Severe illnesses have one characteristic - loneliness. The feeling that "there are only two of you in the world" - you and it. Face to face.

For cancer patients, the path to victory very often goes through chemotherapy. Everyone knows that during this time you feel terrible. I met this stage of life calmly.

...Three courses later, when shoulder joint transplant surgery was already scheduled, my orthopedist, Giorgi Obgaidze, broke his hand. Kakha Todua decided that I should go to Israel.

This decision was very difficult to hear. I don't know what I felt at that moment. I just knew that I was going.

I arrived in Israel alone, confused, but not afraid.

The main thing I felt was loneliness, though whenever my condition worsened, my doctor Segal Ortal would appear. This person would bring me magical words - "Sophie, everything will be fine, you're doing well."

A port is a medical device that is placed under the collarbone, which I categorically refused. This made chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and dozens of other procedures more painful, but I didn't allow cancer to chain me to it.

Doctor Shamaia didn't pay attention to the words written in my medical history - "cancer-free" - and gave me three more courses of chemotherapy. In his opinion, this was necessary for prevention. To explain prevention more clearly, it means extending life by months.

After finishing the eighth course, I decided that I couldn't take any more, I had exhausted all my resources. I refused the ninth course infusion and returned to Georgia, though sometimes a few words change everything, not just that moment, but much more in life. Yes! I was lucky then when this person joined my list of doctors. It's Giorgi Obgaidze, I want every person as exhausted as I was to know these words.

"When you swim continuously for two days and see the shore on the third day, that's when you'll feel tired."

I returned to Israel and took the last course of chemotherapy at the appointed time, I didn't delay even by one day.

...Now, when all the exhausting procedures that were taking my life away are behind me, I don't know yet if they will return or remain just memories.

On January 2, 2019, an agreement was finally reached between cancer and me. This contract is final and will be effective for life.

My medical conclusion states that I no longer have cancer and am completely healthy.

However, I will need a very long time to process this.

At this stage of life, I'm slowly managing to process some things, but I don't feel like a healthy 24-year-old girl.

The illness hasn't passed without leaving its mark. Depression and fear of recurrence are the most important aspects of a long list, but I'm ready for everything now. I know nothing will happen again, but even if it does, I already have immunity. I learned to manage myself and pain long ago.

I've often thought these are the moments when a person has every right to fall completely, but don't stop moving, crawl until you can stand up and run again.

When God sends you such a trial, He also sends you the strength that will save you. I experienced this myself.

What do you think, how does a 24-year-old girl who beat death live? Or how do the rest, people of different ages, live? I don't know, I walk around and search for myself.