Tatiana Andia, 44, has decided to write and talk about the decline of her life. She was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive lung cancer; that is, terminal. She had to face reality: the end is near.

She has written and given many interviews in the Colombian and international media about her experiences dealing with her new situation. Death is apparently winning the fight.

But it is not the way she has taken on this challenge. Whether as a professor at the University of the Andes or as an expert in the health system (she was an advisor to Colombia's former Minister of Health, her friend, Alejandro Gaviria) or as a wife, daughter, aunt or whatever role she plays, life is the greatest experience for her.

Instead of complaining, Andia took this chapter of her existence as a great and wonderful farewell, surrounded by her family and closest friends.

Otherwise, he has given us all a gift: his beautiful and profound reflections on everything. Here are some thoughts on how to live and die and be happy as permitted and commanded.

On cancer

“Cancer, like life, in the end, shows you that when you already thought you understood everything or, at least, when you already thought you had learned to deal with everything, what you understand and what you don't, everything can change.” Opinion column September 1, El Espectador newspaper.

On farewells

“I've spared no hugs or goodbyes and I'm sure everyone who has stopped by to greet me has realized what this is all about. It's been beautiful, transparent and peaceful.” August 4 blog post from her in Razon Publica website.

On treatment

“The last few days I feel very strange. It's an almost psychedelic state of consciousness, like that experienced under the effects of LSD or hallucinogenic mushrooms. It changes a lot. It's difficult to report the transit to death.” On August 21, in a BBC interview.

On starting to write

“All my life I thought I'd go into it when I was old. I told myself that, for now, my thing was to do. I thought that when I was 60 I'd start writing everything I'd ever done. Of course, I've already realized that I won't make it to 60.” Los informantes. Colombian television program on investigative journalism, broadcast on June 23.

On the Colombian health system

“President Gustavo Petro: I am a terminal cancer patient and I have dedicated my life to study health systems and access to medicines worldwide. I am treated in the best public hospital in the country: The National Cancer Institute, where I share with patients from all regions and all social classes. No one has had to pay a single peso for procedures or medications. Some of us are contributory, most of us are subsidized. We do not have the same EPS (insurance company) and, although some work better than others, we all have access to the same. I voted to see a lot more of this with better primary care. I am seeing neither. You don't need to get into watching videos from Canada on TikTok. Just look at what we have painstakingly built together in the country. Reinforce the good and correct the bad. It's not that hard.” X thread on September 9 responding to a post by Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

Andia lives her life with integrity. According to her writings, she does her best to do what needs to be done in such circumstances. Total admiration for her!