Anna Akatova is a nurse, and she knows how difficult it is for patients to endure pain, fear, and hopelessness. That is why she decided to take part in the
Project “I Will Live!” — to support those who are fighting illness right now.
I am 26 years old, live in Moscow, and work as a nurse at an endocrinology center. I love my job very much. I enjoy communicating with patients and helping them.
In 2024, I became a patient myself: I was diagnosed with idiopathic aplastic anemia. At first, I started getting various infections—skin issues and problems related to my teeth. I began to realize that something was wrong with me. I had a blood test done. It turned out that I had very few neutrophils—these are the blood cells responsible for immunity. We started investigating what was happening to me. I had never heard of this diagnosis before. I had heard of leukemia and lymphomas, but I encountered idiopathic aplastic anemia for the very first time.
What scared me the most was that the diagnosis is not fully understood. No one knows exactly where it comes from or why this malfunction occurs in the body. Of course, it was very frightening, frightening because of the uncertainty. My parents, friends, colleagues at work, and of course, my doctors, helped me cope with this fear. It felt like I was constantly under a protective dome. They instilled confidence in me that everything would be fine and that we would get through it all together.
It took us a very long time to figure out what was wrong with me. One infection kept catching on to the next. After each examination — there was a period of waiting. Everything was very drawn out. Initially, we wanted to start treatment with cyclosporine, but that was impossible because I couldn't shake off the infections. We came to the conclusion that I needed a bone marrow transplant. The doctors made the decision; I just had to accept it.
The treatment stretched on for months. First, two months in the hospital, because we had to address the necrosis. Then came chemotherapy and the transplant.
I tolerated the chemotherapy quite well. I was even surprised—I wouldn't say I felt very bad or had any particular difficulties. I was very afraid that I would be nauseous, or that there would be infectious complications. But there was only mild weakness, and overall, everything was fine.
I even made some girlfriends while I was in the hospital, as well as many good acquaintances and friends. Friendship in the hospital is an invisible form of support. You support each other, motivate each other, and hold together as one unit. You believe that everything will be fine. You are there for one another. You believe more in the other person than in yourself that everything will be okay. There were four of us in the ward, and then I was moved to an isolation room, where I spent a whole month—first with my dad, then with my mom, and towards the end, I was alone. I received tremendous support from them. To keep from getting bored, I painted paint-by-numbers pictures, listened to music, and watched various videos.
They were waiting for me at work. They were really waiting for me, and I am very glad that they did. I returned to my department. I try to surround my patients with care and the confidence that everything will be fine, that you are safe, and that we are with you throughout your entire journey. This connection is very necessary. Before my illness, I worked 24-hour shifts, but now I work a 5/2 schedule (five days on, two days off).
I love spending my free time with friends, and I also participate in a book art club—I really enjoy that too. We read different genres: classics, something related to psychology, or just something light. I think in difficult situations, literature can support and inspire you.
After everything I've been through, I want to live more day by day. That means not thinking about what happened yesterday or what will happen tomorrow. You need to live in the present, in this moment, and get the best out of it. But of course, I do make plans for the future too. I want to grow in my career and start a family.
I decided to participate in the Project “I Will Live!” to motivate and support patients who are currently going through such a difficult journey.
For me, the art of living means living a healthy, free, and fulfilling life. Free, above all, from illness.
The “I Will Live!” exhibition will open in September 2026 at the Winzavod Center for Contemporary Art.
We thank makeup artist Nadezhda Shegai and hair stylist Anna Kasparova for the wonderful looks of our heroines!
Our partner: the decorative cosmetics brand ART-VISAGE.
