A haven for families with breast cancer

Due to the high workload in hospitals and chronic staff shortages, cancer patients often feel left out in the cold. Thanks to the work of volunteers, they are able to turn to walk-in centers that play an important role in the care of cancer patients. Walk-in centers are freely accessible meeting spaces where cancer patients and their loved ones can drop in whenever they need a chat, a break or just information, in a relaxed homelike atmosphere. Most drop-in centers organize workshops, massages, outings and other initiatives that patients and their families need. In this way, these volunteers take on part of the care of cancer patients and their loved ones.

Last vacation

Often the initiators of open houses have a special story themselves. This is also the case for the Limani open house in Maasmechelen, founded by Foffi Mavrakis, a Flemish with Greek roots. 'I was 35 and a mother of two when I was confronted with cancer,' she told Pink Ribbon. 'The doctors gave me a 50% chance of survival, so we went on our possible "last vacation" together as a family one last time. It weighed very heavily on us. In addition, I was advised to find out who could take care of my little ones as a guardian, should I not make it. For Foffi Mavrakis, the latter was simply unthinkable. She wanted to be there for her children herself. She, who had always cared for others, could not assign anyone to take over the care of her children. Mavrakis fought like a lioness, overcame the cancer, went back to work too soon and relapsed. 'With cancer, you also lose an income. We had a mortgage loan like so many young couples. You simply don't have the time to recover.' Because of the pressures and because of new health problems and complications from cancer treatment, she lost her job and the family languished in poverty. 'Our children very quickly became caregivers, because I fainted regularly,' she recounts that period in a trembling voice. 'They knew which pre-programmed button on the phone to press when the time came again.' Over time, Mavrakis' husband could no longer handle the situation and left the family. Once again, poverty lurked around the corner.

Many people go through that.

Foffi Mavrakis did not stop at nothing. She became a care volunteer at the hospital, trained as a teacher and started teaching full-time. She was asked to speak about her issues in colleges as an expert by experience. Eloquent as she is, she began giving lectures on the effect of cancer on your family, your children and all aspects of your life. 'The response was overwhelming,' she recounts. 'I came in contact with people who were in great difficulty because of cancer. They were going through similar things and needed a compassionate conversation.'

Thus, the idea of an open house matured. Mavrakis found a team of volunteers, sought the necessary sponsorship and, in October 2018, opened the doors of Inloophuis Limani in Maasmechelen. 'Limani means "port" in Greek and Turkish,' she explains proudly, 'The purpose of the drop-in center is that you can come here to rest, take a break and come for a talk if you feel that need. We offer care massages and various workshops, organize affordable and accessible play days for family caregivers and weekends by the sea where the family can catch their breath. We do this for all family members facing cancer. She herself is very involved in the drop-in center. 'I received a lot of support from unexpected quarters during my cancer process and afterwards. People who came my way and spontaneously offered to help. That is priceless and I want to do that for others now together with the staff and volunteers of Limani.'

Information about Limani can be found here: www.inloophuislimani.be, or on Facebook and Instagram.