When someone we love deeply dies, everything continues. So when my mother died I soon realised that the sun would continue its normal course and that the earth would continue to revolve around it. And so it was. Today marks a perfect and complete return to the sun (yes, it's been a year!) since the day my mum was admitted to the Palliative Care Unit at the IPO in Porto, where she died with dignity, humanity and serenity, surrounded by the love of her family and the care of incomparable professionals. The building that houses the palliative care and long-term care services at the Oporto IPO was built and survives mainly on donations. When my mum died, we made a donation to the professionals, but I always wanted to do something more for the service. That's why I've decided that I'd like to hold this fundraiser every year, so that on my birthday I can put all the love you want to vote me into funds that will be used by people at the end of their lives, so that they too can have the conditions that my mum had.

For all the gratitude I feel for the Palliative Care and Continuing Care Service at IPO do Porto, I would like to extend a request to you: this year, on my birthday, don't buy me a present. Instead, help me to give meaning and significance to the first year of my life in which I didn't have a mum, because as you know, my last day at the age of 31 was also the last day of my mum's life. Because that will never stop being my story, but above all because it doesn't have to be just sad and inert, let's give love, care and human dignity.

Thank you so much ❤️

Sara

Viva la vida