Dominika

Every experience is an opportunity to blossom

Some stories leave a lasting impression. Some encounters change our perspective. When Dominika came into my studio to take part in the project Oltre lo Sguardo, I immediately sensed her energy. Strong and intense, yet incredibly gentle. Through photography, we told her story: a journey of questions, challenges and profound inner renewal.

An unexpected journey

A simple routine examination marked the start of a difficult journey for Dominika. A swollen lymph node after Covid, then the diagnosis: a tumour. “Where did it come from? What is it? Why me?” The questions mounted, leaving her suspended in a new and frightening reality. The final diagnosis was a brachial plexus schwannoma, a rare condition that could not be operated on without significant risks.

For someone like Dominika, who had always been on the move, from her native Kraków to university in Padua, this enforced stillness was an immense challenge. But she did not give up.

A glimmer of hope

The turning point came with Cyberknife treatment, an advanced form of radiotherapy that offered a new possibility. It was an intense experience, accompanied by Ed Sheeran and classical music, which transformed fear into a new awareness. A year and a half later came another obstacle: a second schwannoma, this time on her spine. But Dominika was ready. This time there was no fear, only acceptance and trust in the journey.

Celebrating life

After her second course of radiotherapy, Dominika chose to celebrate life. Every day, every moment, as a precious gift. Photographing her was a privilege: there is light in her eyes, and her expressions reveal the strength of someone who has emerged from darkness and begun again. Oltre lo Sguardo is more than a photography project. It is a way to give a voice to stories like hers and remind us that even in our most difficult moments, we can find our strength.

Thank you, Dominika, for sharing your story with me and with us all. May it inspire anyone facing a challenge, showing that there is always another chance to blossom.

Dominika took part in the project  “Oltre lo sguardo”