SLOVENIA'S 5 CORE VALUES

I felt a sharp pain in my right leg when I suddenly fell, but I stubbornly told myself that it would go away because it was just a bump. For two more days I forced myself to walk and work, although I was limping more than walking. Every step was like a knife reminding me that something was wrong. It was only my elderly daughter-in-law's patient words that persuaded me to take me to the emergency room. There I learned the truth: the Achilles tendon was completely severed, just above the heel.

The news hit me like a cold shower. I had to stay in hospital. I was operated on the same day. Everything happened so fast that I didn't even have time to get really scared. The next day I was sent home with crutches in my hand and forbidden to put any strain on my leg. I stood on three legs (crutches and my left leg) on the doorstep of my home, feeling helpless for the first time in a long time. But I was not alone.

My elder son and daughter-in-law walked me home, and soon my younger son and his wife came to visit. As if by agreement, all four of them made sure I was surrounded by care. My younger son's wife cooked meals for the whole week and put them in the freezer so that I always had meals to hand. My elder son's wife did the same. When I opened the freezer and saw the rows of carefully prepared dishes, tears welled up in my eyes. It was not just food, it was warmth, a token of love. My elder daughter-in-law is a nurse by profession. Every evening she came and gave me an injection against blood clotting because I could not give it to myself.

My niece Tatjana also came. She cleaned the whole ground floor of the house with enthusiasm and positive energy, so I could breathe in the fresh space. She also brought a freshly cooked lunch and we ate it together, because it's better for two. Sister Marjana quietly took care of my kittens and cleaned their toilet, watered the flowers and did all the necessary chores that I couldn't do on my own. She also sometimes brought me lunch that she had cooked at home. My younger son Miha took care of the laundry, and my older son and his wife regularly drove me to the hospital for check-ups. My friend was also a constant visitor and helped me as best he could. They all came together as if my pain was their own.

As I sat in the armchair with my leg on the cushion and my crutches leaning against the wall, I thought about how precious these moments are. Sometimes one wonders how much they really mean to their loved ones. In the rush of everyday life, there is no time to be sure. But now I had a clear answer - in a bowl of soup, in freshly washed laundry, in a smile at the door and in the warmth with which everyone surrounded me.

Then I felt something that went beyond the pain in my leg. I realised that they really loved me. And that feeling was stronger and more beautiful than any medicine.

                                                                    Justina Strašek, 15 Sep 2025