Seventy-five years old...

It was the final days of November. Florence Nightingale At the main center of the Florence Nightingale Hospitals in Istanbul (Çağlayan), on the 8thfloor ofthe hospital,on the third day after my surgery, I was pacing in the hospital's comfortable, spacious hall while occasionally watching the outside.

After a 3-month break, I was in Istanbul again.I was with Prof. Dr. Azmi Hamzaoğlu and Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Azmi Hamzaoğlu and Brain and Nerve Surgery Specialist Prof. Dr. Thanks to the magical hands of my professors İlhan Elmacı and their teams, I first regained my health, and my finger movements began to improve.

While watching the outside, our famous writer and poet Orhan Veli Kanık came to mind. What was our poet saying,

"I am listening to Istanbul, my eyes are closed;

First, a light breeze blows;

Slowly swaying

The leaves on the trees..."

I, too, was watching the Abide-i Hürriyet park in front of the hospital and the trees around it from the window. In the blowing wind, yellowing leaves were falling from the swaying branches. Although the view was melancholic, it was pleasant. These were the final days of a yellowing autumn. Nature was preparing for change. Nature, which changes, will experience winter and reach spring once again. If nature is changing toward the future, humanity will change as well.

Change, change, change.

Who can stop the change in nature?

Our country is also moving from decay toward the end, and toward the light. The footsteps of change are being heard and seen. Sooner or later, our country will change too. It will become a democratic, happy, and peaceful country. I believe this with all my heart. We have no right to be pessimistic or to give in to the bad.

For the last quarter-century, there has been an attempt to move our country away from modernity and transform it into a reactionary structure. Even though there are those who claim this is a project,they will not succeed. I sincerely believe that democrats from all walks of life and all schools of thought in our country will reach a modern administration through the solidarity and inclusive policies led by the CHP and its Chairman Özgür Özel.

I mentioned 75 years old. My heart feels like it is 40-45, but one must accept the facts, even if it is difficult. We have to look in the mirror from time to time.

Three months after my first surgery, as a late complication that developed,Subdural Hematoma- Due to the bleeding and hematomathat formed between my skull and brain, I became unable to use the fingers on my right hand. I had to take a long break from my writing. You won't hold it against me, will you?

In the meantime, as we entered the new year, I learned through experience that the greatest wealth is health. Prioritize your health in the new year. The secret to happiness lies in being healthy.

By the way, if you will allow me as a physician, I would like to offer a small suggestion.

To be healthy and avoid illness; Olive oil, Keep lemon, black cumin, and garlic in the back of your mind and on your table..

To protect against cardiovascular diseases, olive oil (rich in oleic acid and polyphenols), olive oil,

To strengthen the immune system and protect against diseases (lowering cholesterol, protecting the liver, and preventing stomach ailments), black cumin,

To protect against cancer and brain tumors, lemon,

Keep garlic on hand and consume it regularly to protect yourself from infectious diseases. You already know these things, but I wanted to remind you nonetheless.

As we send the year 2025 with all its negativity into the depths of history, may peace, democracy, health, and happiness be with everyone in 2026.

Prof. Dr. Nurettin DEMİR