Limassol, Cyprus. Yianoula Kyprianides and her husband Kyriacos say a six-year medical ordeal changed them both, making them stronger and more sensitive to the difficulties others may be facing. Speaking in Limassol, the couple reflected on how the experience reshaped their outlook and relationship.
Changed by hardship
Yianoula said the experience made her stronger in the sense that she now feels able to endure difficult circumstances.
Kyriacos said it had made him more resilient, describing his ordeal as having gone through “hell and back”. Yianoula said the experience also made her “softer”, explaining that she now tries to consider what other people may be going through before judging their behaviour.
She said people often do not know when someone is dealing with serious difficulties, adding that both she and her husband had experienced that lack of understanding during the most difficult periods of their lives.
Life today
The couple spoke while sitting with their eight-month-old son at Limassol marina. They now appear to be an ordinary young family, but their discussion focused on events that took place before their child was born.
Limassol was a meeting point for them between Nicosia and their home in Peristerona near Polis. Both families are originally from Neo Chorio. Yianoula grew up in Johannesburg, while Kyriacos was born in the United States, in Sterling Heights near Detroit, and returned to Cyprus at the age of eight.
Kyriacos is 31 and Yianoula is 28. Both described themselves as active and outgoing. Yianoula said she enjoys clubbing and that both of them like going to the gym. Kyriacos said he has long been interested in nutrition, cooking and sports, both as a spectator and participant.
Yianoula said she grew up taking part in outdoor sports in South Africa, including wakeboarding and jet-skiing, and spent much of her time riding quad bikes.
Studies and interrupted plans
Yianoula studied accountancy and later worked at Deloitte, but said she had to leave her job because of the circumstances they faced.
Kyriacos studied medicine and this week is receiving his degree after finally qualifying following six difficult years.
As the couple recounted that period, Yianoula became emotional on two occasions, both while remembering moments of hope rather than despair.
She recalled that when Kyriacos became ill for the second time, his mother asked her whether she wanted to reconsider the relationship, saying that such a future was not what a young woman would have expected.