In a shocking post, Stelios Kympouropoulos stated, “Today I celebrate.” Exactly one year ago, he went into surgery not knowing if he would make it.
The former MEP for New Democracy talked about the 9-hour surgery he underwent on August 29, 2023, which had serious complications.
“Last summer was very difficult for me. Not because I had to undergo some serious surgery— it was just a gallbladder removal— but because, to do it, I also had to undergo a tracheostomy… My greatest fear!” he wrote.
“The surgery lasted about 9 hours because there were complications that could have been fatal if it weren’t for the excellent medical team at the public hospital ‘LAIKON’,” he added.
“So, today I celebrate… I dove into fear without knowing if I would succeed. I made a difficult choice, one I didn’t want to make. All I knew was that I was trying to move forward and get back to my dreams.”
Here is his full post:
Exactly one year ago in the ICU of Laiko Hospital. Today yes I’m celebrating because I am alive! Is there a greater blessing than this? Last summer was very difficult for me. Not because I had to undergo some serious surgery—a gallbladder removal—but because in order to do it, I had to undergo a tracheostomy… my greatest fear! My voice, you know, is my main tool, and if I lost it, what would I do? The fellow doctors were lacking data, as there were no similar reports in the literature for my case!
I spent a summer engulfed in fear, in sadness that after this surgery my life would end since the tracheostomy would be permanent, despite the multiple assurances from doctors that it would only be temporary. However, the fear remained dominant for more than 4 months! The day of the surgery, I didn’t want it to come because I wanted to have a little more life free, even with this overwhelming fear. Finally, the surgery started on August 29, 2023. The whole process lasted about 9 hours (yes, for a typical removal procedure) because there were complications during the surgery that could have been fatal if it weren’t for the excellent medical team at the public hospital “LAIKON.” When I woke up, the fear had vanished and reality had come alive… I had to take my first breath in a life I didn’t want. I breathe… by myself… from my throat now. My whole body hurts. I didn’t even know that I had been under for 9 hours!
I breathe and hear the first voices of the staff. Now they were familiar voices… for 4 months they had been by my side, talking to me constantly about this day, this moment. When I had woken up, the process had begun to transfer me to the ICU they had prepared. Before the elevator, we made a quick stop for my loved ones to see me very briefly. There were two people. My girlfriend, who throughout this time was my supporter in the unequal fight against fear, and another person I don’t remember. The only thing I could do was blow a kiss with my lips. Everything had gone well, and the journey to the Unit had begun… I stayed in the Unit for three nights, and this experience is one I must write a book about, a promise I have made to myself! So today I celebrate…
I dove into fear without knowing if I would succeed. I made a difficult choice, one I didn’t want to make. The only thing I knew was that I was trying to move forward and to get back to my dreams. Today, a scar on my neck reminds me of last summer! A scar on my neck is there to remind me that it was ultimately my strength and an inseparable part that I had to go through! Forever thankful to my brotherly friend Dimitris Schiza, Ms. Lampadariou, Professor Mr. Felekouras, Mr. Koutsoumpas, and their teams (residents and nursing staff), my personal assistant Dimitris, and my friend Katerina Linardakou for the battle they fought alongside me. For not being afraid for a moment! For the promise they gave me that everything would be fine! And it was!
I am here and I continue! Isn’t that life after all?
Exactly one year ago in the ICU of Laiko Hospital. Today yes I’m celebrating because I am alive! Is there a greater blessing than this?
Last summer was very difficult for me. Not because I had to undergo some serious surgery, a gallbladder removal was, but… pic.twitter.com/guUY2Ftixf
— S. Kympouropoulos (@Kympouropoulos) August 29, 2024
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