Mom’s Smile, Beyond Glioblastoma
A few days ago, I received an email from Gianmarco, who wanted to share with me the story of his mother, Lina, and a particularly moving and personal memory.
I decided to publish his testimony immediately and in its entirety, because I believe that some stories need no commentary: they simply deserve to be heard and shared.
Enjoy reading.
My mom’s name was Lina. She was 64 years old, and until just a few months ago, I could never have imagined finding myself telling her story on a website dedicated to this terrible disease.
It all began on June 11, 2026, when Mom was admitted to the hospital and, following the initial examinations, a brain tumor was discovered. I remember perfectly the overwhelming sense of confusion during those days, the fear of facing something we knew nothing about, and the hope that the situation might be less serious than the doctors seemed to suggest. Until then, the word glioblastoma had never been part of my life, but within a very short time, it would become a constant presence in my thoughts.
On June 19, Mom underwent neurosurgery in the left frontoparietal region of her brain. We had placed so much hope in that operation, imagining it as the first step along a journey that would certainly be difficult, but that might still give us more time together. Unfortunately, when she woke up, Mom had significant difficulties with speech and movement on the right side of her body. Seeing a woman who had spent her entire life taking care of her family suddenly unable to perform even the simplest tasks was an experience I will never forget. Mom had always been a strong, proud woman, with a determined character and immense dignity. Finding ourselves having to interpret her looks or trying to understand the few words she managed to say made us realize just how profoundly the disease had already changed her life.
*When the definitive diagnosis of glioblastoma arrived, I began searching everywhere for information about the disease. I read scientific studies, statistics, testimonies from other families, and news about possible treatments, hoping to find something that would allow me to look toward the future with at least a little confidence. Above all, I searched for stories of people who had managed to live longer than
