“Hello, I’m Lorena, I’ve recently turned 30 and I’m from Bari. I have a degree in literature and  my passion are dogs.When I was 9 I was diagnosed with a tumour to my eye. Just imagine what a trauma that was for a kid. I was always a cheerful, smiling girl full of beans. I remember that around the time of my first communion I had decided to let my hair grow very long: well, day after day, chemotherapy took it all away until I became bold. I remember feeling helpless, wanting to be out enjoying life, which for a 9 year old kid simply means going to school, doing sports, having fun and playing while I had to undergo therapy, blood samples, check-ups even if you don’t want because that’s for your own good. I underwent several cosmetic surgery treatments but none of them worked as radiotherapy had burnt the receiving tissues. That’s why I had to resort to wearing an eye patch.And that’s also the reason why I’d love pharmaceutical companies to produce colourful and fun hypoallergenic patches also for grown-ups, perhaps something with trendy prints and patterns to change and match to the outfit you are wearing. To me being a woman means not being afraid of knowing yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses, but rather having the courage to look inside. Always.”