There are many beautiful moments in life, but sooner or later there will be other phases as well. During these storms, it is important to have the right equipment in order not to fall into some bottomless pit and completely despair.

At the age of 32, for the first time in my life, a real storm swept into my life. My wife was expecting our first child, and we were both very happy. However, a few weeks before the birth, I was suddenly having a difficult time remaining excited. I was experiencing severe pain. Ten days after the birth, after several misdiagnoses, I was diagnosed with a serious malignant tumor. My world few apart. A thousand questions ran through my mind all at the same time. I thought about my son. I imagined that I would never be able to watch him grow up. I thought about my wife, both of them alone without me…

I started to understand the true meaning of life, which we often miss because of our meaningless worries. I started asking myself: “For whom have I been living up until now? To whom have I dedicated my time? Have I only been thinking of myself?”

Suddenly I found myself looking at nature with completely different eyes; even a simple blade of grass seemed amazing. I also began to appreciate the mountains of my wife’s hometown, which had previously made me feel like a caged bird. From that moment on, whenever I look at the Alps in their majestic size, I am reminded of a Psalm from the Bible: “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

These words were a source of comfort for me.

The medical treatments were very aggressive. Thanks to God’s help, the disease could be reduced until it finally completely disappeared. In the meantime, I have also developed a love for the mountains, which would have been previously unimaginable.

David Savino