Andromachi, lovingly known as Machi, was born in Athens on 7 April 1949. She was just 68 years old when she passed away from Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer, only six weeks after being diagnosed.

 

She was a devoted Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother—a true pillar of strength, resilience, and love. To me, she was not only my mother but also my greatest role model. I don’t think I have ever known someone so hardworking, so selfless, and so deeply loved. She never gave up, no matter how difficult life became.

 

In 1972, she immigrated from Greece to South Africa with my father. She entered a country where she didn’t know the language, had no family support, and faced the challenge of starting life anew. Yet, through determination and faith, she built a home and a life for her family in Johannesburg. For 46 years, she supported my father, stood by her children, and worked tirelessly to provide and protect. Whether in business ventures—successful or not—she never wavered. She fought for us, for our survival, and for our future.

 

Her bravery defined her. Even in her final days, she never showed her pain. Instead, she kept her smile and reassured me with words I will never forget:

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“Evy, don’t stress.”

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Those were her last real words to me, a reflection of her courage and love, right to the end.

 

Her name itself carried strength. Andromachi is an ancient Greek name, derived from “andros” meaning “of a man” and “machi” meaning “battle.” It translates to “the battle of a man.” True to her name, my mother fought every battle life placed before her, with dignity and strength.

 

On 4 February 2018, World Cancer Day, I lost my beloved mother. It was the most heartbreaking experience of my life. On 27 December 2017, she fell suddenly ill. At around 11pm that night, I rushed to admit her to a well-known private clinic. But because she did not have medical aid, I was told I needed to pay a deposit of R390,000—impossible for us to afford.

 

The only option left was a state hospital, where I carried the costs of her medical and wound care on my own. On 18 January 2018, she was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. The disease had already metastasized, and no treatment was possible. I was told to take her home, provide palliative care, and “get her affairs in order.” Two weeks later, she passed away in my arms.

 

That experience—our family’s “six weeks to live”—changed me forever. It left me with a deep yearning to tell our story, to raise awareness about the signs and symptoms of cancer, and to ensure no family feels as helpless and alone as we did.

 

This is why I founded the Machi Filotimo Cancer Project—to honour my mother’s life and legacy, and to help change someone else’s. My mission is to ensure that awareness, education, and access to care can save lives.

 

Awareness of cancer is my goal.

 

With love and purpose,

Evy Michalopoulos

Founder & CEO