Losing a family member is one of the toughest and most trying times in one’s life. While some take it heavily and become discouraged, others see hope. Anastasia Vernikou is a case in point.
For Anastasia inspiration came from her sister Emma, a Pierce graduate (2010) and a Deree student, who received a bone cancer diagnosis in 2011. After a brave struggle, she eventually passed in October 2016.
Wanting to help those in need, Anastasia co-founded PAMEMMAZI, a newly established non-profit organization that aims to improve the psychosocial care of cancer patients in Greece and to promote the importance of a well-rounded approach in cancer treatment, using empathy and communication as tools to increase patients’ quality of life. Her mother, Eleni Tzavara-Vernikou (P’81), Executive Director and Board Chair at PAMEMMAZI, is also on Anastasia’s side in this attempt.
Between 20-21 October, PAMEMMAZI’s first forum titled “Psychosomatic Care in Cancer. Empathy, Understanding and Communication” took place at the American College of Greece. On October 20, 300 participants attended a panel discussion among oncologists and psychiatrists from Greece and the US, psychologists, patients, survivors and families. On October 21, the 4 workshops which took place during the day attracted more than 120 participants.
After the event, we caught up with Anastasia Vernikou to interview her on her involvement with PAMEMMAZI and to say a few words about Emma – what she stood and fought for.
TB: Can you tell us a few things about yourself?
AV: I am studying Law at the Athens University and I am pursuing a minor degree in International Business at Deree under the Parallel Studies Program and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Scholarship. I am also the co-founder of PAMEMMAZI, a non-profit organization established in Emma’s memory, by her family and friends, aiming to realize her dream to improve the quality of life of people affected by cancer in Greece.
From a young age I aspired to have an impact on vulnerable groups through my work […] and I am still inspired by individuals’ stories of resilience in the face of extreme adversity. […] If I could sum up my goals in one sentence that would be: to represent in the best way possible our school’s motto: “Non ministrari, sed ministrare”.
TB: What is and what is your involvement with – “Scars and Scarves”?
AV: “Scars and Scarves” started out as a personal blog of light stories about living with cancer at a young age that my sister Emma created in March 2016. Its goal was and still is to eliminate stigma towards cancer patients in Greece […].
Today, “Scars and Scarves” falls under the umbrella of PAMEMMAZI and it serves as an online platform where patients, survivors, family members and caretakers share their stories and experiences as well as tips to get through treatment and provide peer-to-peer support.
Since Emma’s passing, I am managing the blog – in other words I read and select which stories capture and represent the blog’s values as well as convey Emma’s message, that “life does not end with a cancer diagnosis; instead it becomes worth living.”
TB: Can you tell us more about PAMEMMAZI, its activities and your involvement?
AV: Emma envisioned to create a non-profit organization that organizes programs in hospitals to engage oncology patients in meaningful, creative and educational activities. Her aim was to boost their sense of productivity and normality, to encourage them and their families to have a positive outlook towards their disease and to improve their overall quality of life.
PAMEMMAZI’s initiatives include:
- Creative activities in hospitals.
- Forums, discussions, educational workshops, seminars and events aiming to increase understanding of the importance of psychosocial care.
- “Patient voices”, a section of PAMEMMAZI’s blog, Scars and Scarves, where stories of patients, survivors, families, caretakers, physicians, nurses are featured, to help destigmatize cancer and spread the message of hope.
TB: Is there anything you would like to say about Emma and PAMEMMAZI?
AV: I would like to quote Emma by using a phrase she wrote in one of her stories. “It’s okay not to be okay”. Being able to give yourself a break, in other words, to allow yourself to feel sad or disappointed sometimes and to fully realize that this is absolutely normal and acceptable, is the first step you need to take in order to be able to handle every hardship that comes your way with a rational and positive approach.
On a personal level, accepting a painful event, such as the loss of a loved one – no matter how hard it is to do so – and then focusing on doing the best I can in the situation I am in, gets me going. After all, we can’t control what happens to us, but what we can control is how we react to the events of our lives.
At PAMEMMAZI we believe that living with cancer doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stop living. On the contrary, people affected by cancer are entitled to having quality of life and PAMEMMAZI envisions to provide that through engaging them and their families in meaningful activities, which serve as a tool to express their feelings, to make the most out of the time spent in the hospital and to lead a normal life.
