Safiye Soyman: My face is smiling, but my heart is burning

A memorial service was held at the Gündoğan Cemetery in Bodrum for Harun Akaröz, an MS patient who lost his life due to respiratory failure in the Ağlasun district of Burdur in July last year.

The ceremony was attended by his family and close friends, led by his mother, Safiye Soyman. Prayers were recited at Harun Akaröz's graveside, and lokma (traditional fried dough) was distributed.

"THE PAIN IS AS FRESH AS THE FIRST DAY"

Experiencing the pain of losing her child, Safiye Soyman said the following in her statement after the ceremony:

"It has been exactly one year, but I still haven't gotten used to his absence. It feels like I lost him yesterday. My son Harun did not die; he lives within me. I never hid him; I always talked about him, I always kept his memory alive. Turkey cried for him. Now, I will have 100 saplings planted in his village in his name. As those saplings grow, I will keep my son alive. This brings some comfort to my heart, but it does not ease my pain."

Unable to hold back her tears from time to time, Soyman said, "He enters my dreams. He tells me, 'My mother shouldn't be sad, shouldn't cry, continue your stage performances.' He loved watching me very much. I know he is watching me from the sky now. May God not let anyone experience the pain of losing a child. There may be smiles on my face, but my heart is burning like embers," she stated.