When someone we love deeply dies, life goes on. So, when my mother died, I quickly realised that the sun would continue on its usual course and that the earth would keep turning on its axis. And so it was. Today marks a full year (yes, a whole year has passed!) since the day my mother was admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at the IPO in Porto, the place where she passed away with dignity, humanity and serenity, surrounded by the love of her family and the care of incomparable professionals. The building housing the palliative and long-term care service at the IPO in Porto was built and is maintained largely with money from donations. At the time of my mother’s passing, we made a donation to the staff, but I always felt a desire to do more for the service. For this reason, I decided that I would like to organise this annual fundraising campaign so that, on my birthday, I can gather all the love you wish to show me and convert it into funds that will help people at the end of their lives, so that they too may have the same conditions my mother had.

Out of all the gratitude I feel for the Palliative and Continuing Care Service at the IPO in Porto, I would like to make a request: this year, on my birthday, please do not buy me a present. Instead, help me to give meaning and purpose to the first year of my life without a mother, because, as you know, my last day as a 31-year-old was also the last day of my mother’s life. Because that will always be part of my story, but above all because it doesn’t have to be just sad and lifeless; let’s give love, care and human dignity.

Thank you so much ❤️

Sara

Viva la vida