The Story of Greta Onnis, Factor J Ambassador
“In the most difficult moments, having people around me who showed no doubts about my recovery gave me hope.”
Greta Onnis is 19 years old and lives in Milan, where she has just started studying medicine, a choice that is not random. Her personal experience in a hospital, where she met sincere and helpful doctors, convinced her to undertake medical studies with a very specific goal: to become one of those doctors who do not limit themselves to communicating in a one-way way fashion, but who also consider a patient's point of view. “I want to be like the doctors who have been by my side in the difficult moments of my life,” she explains with determination. This interview reveals her story: an example of how personal experiences can positively influence career and life choices.
At the age of eight, Greta was diagnosed with having a neuroblastoma, a tumour that forced her to undertake a long and difficult therapies until she was ten. Despite the challenges, Greta always tried to maintain a positive mindset. It was this attitude, fuelled by the unconditional support of her family and the doctors who assisted her, that reinforced her the belief that science could make a difference. For a long time, Greta did not talk about her illness because she was too young to fully understand it. Even after the therapy, her parents, in an attempt to protect her, tried to focus on the good moments and move beyond the painful past. However, as she grew up, Greta felt the desire to know more about what she had experienced. So, first alone and then with the help of her parents, she retraced the events of the past.
Greta began writing a diary to preserve her memories, emotions, and thoughts of the most difficult period of her life. Her passion for writing has been a tool to vent, allowing Greta to retrace her entire history, from the discovery of the disease to her recovery. This exercise in personal growth culminated with the publication of a book entitled “It’s just a moment.”
Through the pages of the book, we perceive Greta's growth. Her experience, although painful, helped her to develop a positive mentality. At the beginning, it was not easy for her to deal with the disease, but she chose to face it with positivity: "even in the most difficult moments, you can choose how to react to events. I am convinced that good things, like writing, can also be born from bad things.” The desire to retrace her past came in parallel with two events that changed Greta's life.
In 2022, in fact, Greta had the opportunity to participate in Factor J, an initiative promoted by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine Italia. This project represented a key moment in her life: "projects like Factor J help create empathy amongst young people and raise awareness on important issues. Participating in the project helped me to understand that sharing my experience could be helpful not only to me, but also to those around me, too.”
Today, Greta has become an ambassador for the project, proving that “even obstacles can help us find our way. Being an ambassador for the project means transforming something terrible like illness into a beautiful opportunity, like spreading awareness and serving as an example to those who are going through similar experiences. In a world in which science and technology may seem distant or inaccessible, I hope that stories like mine can help people believe in the power of research and medicine.” Also in 2022, Greta began participating in the Youth Project at the Tumour Institute in Milan (where she was treated). Together with a group of girls and boys, both cured and/or still in therapy, they meet weekly to share their experiences. “Knowing that you are not alone in your illness is fundamental.”
This support network has allowed her to build meaningful relationships and find a sense of community in a time of great vulnerability. Her passion for life and determination to make a difference are an inspiration to all of us. Indeed, Greta Onnis’s story is a powerful reminder to trust science and the power of community, a beacon of hope for anyone facing similar challenges.
Report by Alberta Testa, Social Media Manager
