How did Tereza prepare for the death of her five-year-old Kryštofek? And how did she prepare him?
Kryštofek had a clear diagnosis: DIPG. A brain tumor. In the stem. 100% mortality.
We thought about the story of Tereza and her son Kryštofek for a very long time because it left us with deep feelings of admiration and emotion. When Oleg first heard about him from Tereza over a cup of coffee, he said that such a story needed to be shared.
Because it's a story about a very brave little boy and two parents who went through hell together but came out on the other side. Kryštofek was only four when half of his body became paralyzed. Then came the diagnosis, radiation, a brief improvement, and a rapid decline.
His mother Tereza and father Dan stood by his side the whole time, holding his little hand until the very last moment, before he left in a black Hyundai van – which, as Dan joked in that tense moment, he would never have gotten into on his own because he didn't like that brand. What else could they do after tearful nights but find a bit of humor?
A story like theirs can help. Both Tereza, and you, who are going through a similar situation. Or someone around you. Or just to make you think about whether that argument with your husband about the unwashed dishes was really that terrible.
Can a relationship be 'fixed' by the death of a child?
How to talk to a child about their own death?
And does a ban on crying help?
With powerful stories like this, it's hard to advise what to do and not to do. And we don't really want to. We feel that we are only intermediaries through whom Tereza can share everything she went through, and yet she managed it, so that it might reach those who need to hear it.
We were truly honored that Tereza accepted the invitation to our podcast and talked about all these things. Straightforward, without sugarcoating. And you can listen to it on our Spotify.