TV tip
To hell with the forecasts: “I still have so much to do”
Annika rides her bike hands-free on a dirt road. photo
© Dawin Meckel/Ostkreuz/ZDF/dpa
Three young people have life-threatening illnesses. But they don’t let that get them down. An impressive report on ZDF.
Annika, Laura-Jane and Niklas are young, cheerful – and seriously ill. You dealt with this early in life have to deal with death. The report “I still have so much to do” shows how the courage to live does not disappear. The contribution from the renowned series “37 Degrees” can be seen this Tuesday (May 21st) at 10:15 p.m. on ZDF.
Three fates
Annika (15) plays field hockey with her sports prosthesis, which she has been wearing since her right leg was amputated in October 2020. At the age of eleven, the student from Hesse was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, bone cancer. Several chemotherapy treatments and operations followed, but the metastases in the lungs kept returning, and new ones appeared in the abdomen and on the spine. Even when there was talk of palliative care, Anni didn’t let it get her down, thanks in part to the help of her entire family and her friendship with her dog.
Niklas (17) would really like to get a pilot’s license so that he could fly himself – but unfortunately that’s not possible. Four years ago he had major surgery because a benign brain tumor was pressing on his optic nerve. Although his eyesight was saved, he suffered a stroke during the procedure and was paralyzed on one side for a short time. Today it has few restrictions. Niklas had to relearn a lot of things, he still has problems with his fine motor skills, but he does a fantastic job in his voluntary service with the fire department.
Laura-Jane (27) has lived with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic disease, since childhood. Today she is the coordinator of the “Green Gang”, the club of the Federal Children’s Hospice Association for children and young adults who have chronic or life-limiting illnesses. Niklas is also a member here and comes to the annual meeting. Laura-Jane has outlived all estimates of her life expectancy and says: “I think predictions can be thrown into the trash!”
They fight their way through life
The authors Annette Kanis and Anna-Lisa Gasteier have carefully accompanied their three protagonists, who are fighting for their lives in an admirable way, in their everyday lives, which are as normal as possible.
In some cases they tried to repress or ignore things or thought about dying, but basically for all three the only thing that counts is what is possible, the here and now. Of course, this also includes support from friends and families according to the motto: The main thing is together.
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