Maria, 12 years old: A radiant life ends in the fight against leukemia

Maria, 12 years old: A radiant life ends in the fight against leukemia

At just 12 years old, the talented Maria lost her battle with leukemia. Her parents describe their daughter as exceptional, able to use scissors, brushes and paint before she learned to eat with cutlery herself. Maria grew up bilingual, preferring to speak English before choosing German. At the age of one and a half, she was able to learn the alphabet first in English and then in German. Her open and warm nature attracted many people, but her perfectionism and stubbornness also sometimes weighed on her.

Maria fought against the insidious disease three times and was victorious twice. Her third and final fight ended in Singapore, just five days before her 13th birthday. Her parents emphasize their daughter's courage and fighting spirit, which has touched many hearts. They try to keep the beautiful memories of Maria alive instead of mourning the loss, like 5min.at reported.

Coping with grief in young people

Processing grief is challenging, especially for young people who have lost siblings or friends. In order to offer support to these grieving young people, the Children's Cancer Foundation is organizing a seminar from May 30th to June 1st, 2025 at the Hotel FIT in Much. The event offers a platform for discussing grief and loss as well as the opportunity to share memories and express emotions. Participants can find support and comfort in both quiet, reflective periods and active times. Information and registration options are available via email seminare@kinderkrebsstiftung.de as well as by phone at 0228/68846-21, like kinderkrebsstiftung.de communicates.

It is important to understand that children experience the death of a loved one emotionally, regardless of their age. Often adults believe that children do not grieve or do not understand the situation, but the loss has a profound impact on their daily lives. Children are also sensitive to changes within themselves and those around them. Support for grieving children begins with serious awareness of their feelings and their life situation. Children need care and affection to cope with their loss family manual.de.

Important aspects of coping with grief

Open conversations about the deceased are crucial to children's grieving process. Children should have the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones and express their emotions. Creative activities such as painting, writing or crafts can support the grieving process. However, it is equally important to maintain everyday structures and rituals, even after the loss of a family member.

It is important that the social environment is informed about the death in order to provide appropriate support. Grieving children need time and space to grieve, even for long periods of time. Support from grief counselors or support groups can also be beneficial to make dealing with grief easier.

Maria will live on in her family's memories, and her story reminds us of the importance of taking grief seriously and offering support, whether through personal contact or special events for those grieving.