Anya Trishechkina: Our Heroine of May

Anya Trishechkina: "My Illness Gave Me a Chance to Begin a Different Life"

Anya, our heroine for May, spent a whole year in the hospital. Her treatment was intense—she was admitted to intensive care more than once. It was almost impossible to stay positive all the time. But she found strength in her grandmother, who supported her through everything, and in the volunteers and doctors who stood by her. After recovering, Anya says her life changed completely—and she considers that her greatest victory.

You graduated from university last year. What are you up to now?
I earned a bachelor’s degree in Labour Economics and now work at Russian Railways. The job is a bit monotonous, but I know why it’s important, and that motivates me to give it my all.

How did you find out about your illness? What was treatment like?
Like many children, I found out about my diagnosis—acute lymphoblastic leukemia—almost by accident. I had a persistent fever, but no cough or runny nose. After a few weeks, my legs began to ache. My grandmother finally took me to the hospital. They ran a blood test right away, and once the results came back, I was admitted immediately. First I was treated in Saratov, then transferred to the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital in Moscow, where I fought for my life.

At first, doctors said treatment would take a few months, but it ended up lasting nearly a year. My body took a long time to recover from each round of chemotherapy. I was terrified when I found out my hair would fall out. I remember asking my mother, “Let’s just go home. If I’m already losing so much now, what’s going to happen next?”

Saying I was suffering is an understatement. But honestly, it was even harder for my loved ones. Being with someone who’s seriously ill can be more painful than being sick yourself. You want to help, but often don’t know how without making things worse. My grandmother was by my side the whole time—we got through the illness together.

Did you find ways to support your grandmother too?
We were a perfect team. Even though she’s older, she’d take me out of the hospital for walks around Moscow. She didn’t let me spiral when I was feeling low. And I helped her, too. She’s prone to panic, and I could calm her down.

What was your mindset during treatment?
When things were going okay, I just went with the flow. But twice I was in intensive care, and that was really hard—I burned out emotionally. That’s when I leaned on friends, loved ones, and especially the volunteers.

I became close with one volunteer, Lyusya. She once told me, “What are you doing? Snap out of it. Your life’s not over—you’ve got everything ahead of you. Right now, the most important thing is to beat this and get healthy.” Her energy was contagious. We’d talk for hours about anything and everything. With her, I didn’t feel like a patient—I felt like myself again.

How did you learn about the Podari Zhizn Foundation?
Through Lyusya. She told me the volunteers were backed by Podari Zhizn. I learned that the Foundation supports children like me—and our families too. They never let people face their hardships alone. They give hope.

What was it like coming home after being discharged?
While I was in the hospital, I dreamed about reuniting with my friends. But when I got home, nothing turned out the way I imagined. I couldn’t return to my old life. No one wanted to be around me. I don’t know why. Maybe they were scared, or didn’t want illness to touch their lives. They just disappeared.

That hurt deeply. I’d told myself they were just busy and would reach out eventually. But they never did. I retreated into myself. Now I understand—we were on different paths. I was focused on surviving; they were focused on fitting in and starting relationships. Until I graduated, I felt like I was living on a deserted island.

Did your life change when you moved to Moscow for university?
Absolutely. Before my illness, I was like most teenagers—superficial and careless about the future. I thought I’d study in Saratov and return to my hometown of Rtishchevo. But everything I went through changed my priorities. I applied to university only in Moscow.

During my first year, I brought my student record book to my doctor, Nadezhda Vladimirovna. She said, “I want this filled with nothing but As.” In that moment, she gave me a goal—and believed in me. That support meant everything. I poured all my energy into my studies and graduated with top honors. I also found friends among my fellow students. But I’ll be honest—I still carry a bit of resentment toward my old classmates.

How has your experience shaped who you are today?
During treatment, I often asked, “Why me?” But now I think, “That’s just life.” I see my illness as a second chance—a chance to live differently. To stop sweating the small stuff. I do forget that sometimes, especially after a tough day at work. But compared to what I went through, my life now is amazing. I can walk, breathe without a mask, and my hair looks great. I have no limits. I’m alive!

What would you say to kids currently going through treatment?
Be patient—that’s the most important thing. Don’t cling to the past; it can drag you down. Everyone has their own path in life. Don’t give up. Keep moving forward toward your goals.

All the interviews for the calendar that marks Podari Zhizn 10 anniversary were prepared by Zhenya Vaneeva, who is also our cancer survivor.