By Marina Charalambous

OR Maria Kavouri“Symbol” of Skiathos as the island’s inhabitants are, she was born blind, but she never let the darkness stand in the way of her dreams. With courage and endless soul power, he managed to become an affectionate mother, to study psychology and to work in the island’s central pavilion, where everyday shares smiles and inspiration To those who meet her.

In 2018, she brought to the world a baby boy and a little girl, and from that time, as she herself in the skai.grher life changed radically. Although she had learned to face difficulties since her birth, her motherhood gave her new power and another reason to continue with even more determination.

“It was late at night when my mom felt the first pains. Unfortunately, there was no ship available to transport ourselves outside Skiathos, so my birth took place at the local hospital. There, a young nurse, with little experience as she was still in her practice, took over the process. During the birth, she hit me back in the neck, in an attempt to make me cry. Its movement caused damage to my visual nerve, leading to the loss of my vision. “

How was your childhood years? Have you ever felt that people treat you differently?

My childhood in Skiathos were beautiful. The bullying of other children of course and there was. I remember some kids not wanting to approach me because they were saying ‘They will get stuck in the illness I had’. But I don’t blame them. They didn’t know. Sometimes I cried, they were taking my glasses, throwing them down and tell me “find them”. But I went beyond it, I didn’t care. I had a lot of love from my parents and other kids who supported me and loved me. I was playing football with my neighborhood boys, they supported me. Even those who hurt me along the way became my friends.

Along the way Maria wanted to study psychology at the Open University of Skiathos with the Braille system. After Covid-19, however, he decided to work on the central booth of the island.

I like to get in touch with the world, to know people. On the stand, I am constantly learning. I learned to recognize the fake banknotes and put things in the same position to know where to find them. Of course there are some customers who are otherwise. If you want everything you can!

When and how was the desire to become a mother inside you? What difficulties did you face?

I always loved the kids. The booth often came to the neighborhood and always notice them, I gave them advice. I went to Athens, I did IVF and made my dream come true. My children are six years old and they know everything. I explained to them why they have no dad and why their mom doesn’t see. They take care of me a lot. We may walk the street and approach a car and my son will immediately pull me to protect me. When we go on a boat trip they hold me by the hand to take care of me.

What is the biggest power you think has led you here?

My greatest power is my friends and faith. With faith and power you can do everything. They can all change. My parents taught me to be strong. Racism, of course, exists but when you don’t pay attention to him, it’s like ignoring it, as if it didn’t exist for you. You may be the smartest kid again to find something to fool you. I never felt “different”. So we’re people. We want to deal with each other so as not to see our own mistakes.

If you could change something in Greek society to make the lives of parents with disabilities easier, what would it be?

In the past people were tougher. But because I live on an island that has a lot of tourists I feel how people are more easily trained. They are referring to take steps forward. Tourists always treat me with more empathy. They will help me on the road or wherever they meet me. Maybe they have another education. There are no right infrastructure for people like me, but I appreciate that there is an effort.

Her story Maria Kavouri It is not only a moving narrative of power and determination, but also a mirror of the pathogens of Greek society. As soon as her birth, the lack of appropriate medical staff and the absence of adequate surveillance led to a irreparable medical error that determined her life. Maria, however, shows that Human will exceeds any difficultyeven the greatest challenges.