Thousands of people gathered yesterday in the district of Sancaktepe, on the outskirts of the Asian side of Istanbul, to fulfil the dream of a three-year-old child who, after a long struggle, has managed to beat the cancer he was diagnosed with when he was just a few months old.
The story, which has been reported by the main media outlets in Turkey, is that of Ali Asaf Demir, who was diagnosed with leukaemia at just 8 months old. After a long and intense treatment lasting about two years, which included chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant, his fight against the disease paid off and doctors confirmed that the little boy was cancer-free, sparking joy among Ali’s family.
To share such a special moment, his father Samet Demir posted an emotional message on social media explaining that they wanted to organise a small event to release balloons and fulfil Ali’s dream: ‘We don’t know many people. My son beat cancer and wants to release balloons,’ said Samet, inviting others to join in the moment and share their happiness.
Against all odds, the father’s message went viral on social media and spread rapidly, sparking a wave of support that reached the Sancaktepe municipality itself, as well as artists and, of course, thousands of anonymous people, who finally gathered on Sunday for a large event organised in this suburb of Istanbul, where there was even a concert. Among those in attendance, a newlywed couple caught the attention of many: after their wedding ceremony, they did not want to miss the event and went straight from the wedding to show their support for little Ali.
‘Thank you for not leaving us alone on this special day.’
After the concert, Ali and his parents took to the stage where the district mayor, Alper Yeğin, draped a red cape over the boy. Shortly afterwards, Ali’s greatest dream came true and hundreds of balloons were released into the sky in a very emotional moment that moved many of those present, including the boy’s parents, who could not hold back their tears.
Speaking to journalists, Samet was both grateful and deeply surprised by the number of people who had attended: ‘We didn’t expect all these people to come. I thought only a few people would come. Thank you to everyone who didn’t leave us alone on this special day.’ The boy’s mother, Esra Demir, encouraged parents of children with cancer not to lose hope in difficult times: ‘Children only have their parents at times like these. Let’s not let them lose hope.’
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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