From a Cancer Diagnosis to the Olympic Village

A cancer diagnosis turned Mauro and Petra's lives upside down. What followed was a difficult period filled with uncertainty and challenges. Today, five years later, the two of them are looking ahead with confidence. And Mauro would never have dreamed that he would one day be able to compete in the Winter Olympics.

Five years ago, I was in the prime of my life. My wife Petra and I had just gotten married and were looking forward to the future. I felt healthy, was physically active, and worked out regularly. There was no indication that I might be sick. Then came the diagnosis: lymph node cancer. It took us completely by surprise and turned our lives upside down from one day to the next. Uncertainty, anger, and sadness were with us throughout that time. But at some point, I realized that I couldn’t change what had happened. So Petra and I looked ahead and asked ourselves: How can we walk this path together?

Learning to Cope with the New Reality

During my treatments, I spent many days and nights at the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ). One of the biggest challenges was being alone. I had to learn to let myself feel my emotions—both the difficult ones and the hopeful ones. At the same time, I didn’t want cancer to dictate my whole life. That’s why I made a conscious effort to create special moments with my family or friends that brought back a sense of normalcy.

Another challenge was that I could no longer rely on my body. Before I got sick, I was at the peak of my physical abilities as a multiple Swiss American football champion. However, the treatments were very exhausting and left me feeling very weak. So during chemotherapy and after the stem cell transplant, I moved around as often as possible. That gave my daily life structure and helped me regain my confidence, step by step.

Petra and other companions

This story is also my wife’s story. She was by my side the entire time, cut back on her workload, drove the long distances to the USZ, organized our daily lives, and kept in touch with family and friends. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was often the only visitor allowed to see me. As a registered nurse, she was familiar with supporting patients in difficult situations. But suddenly, her own husband was the patient. Shared experiences, an outing, or a day spent in nature brought a sense of normalcy back and pushed the illness into the background for a moment.

Our fellow travelers also included the staff of the Leukemia, Lymphoma, and Myeloma Center at the USZ. For months, doctors and nurses were there for us through the ups and downs, answered our questions, and provided us with advice and support. Knowing that we were supported by an experienced team gave us a sense of security and helped us stay optimistic.

Back to Life and New Dreams

Today, five years later, I’m feeling well again and am considered cured. In the meantime, I was able to complete my master’s degree, which I had started shortly before I became ill. Sports are once again a big part of my life, and I’ve even discovered a new passion in bobsledding. I got into bobsledding more by chance: While training for my comeback after my illness, a bobsled pilot approached me and asked if I could imagine giving bobsledding a try someday. It turned out to be more than I ever could have imagined: In 2026, I had the opportunity to travel to Cortina d’Ampezzo as a pusher on the Liechtenstein four-man bobsled team. Just taking part in the opening ceremony and living in the Olympic Village were impressive experiences. I especially enjoyed soaking up the unique atmosphere and getting to know athletes from all over the world.

The illness was a painful turning point and completely threw me off track. But it has also opened up new perspectives for me and shown me paths I might never have taken otherwise. I am grateful for that and look forward to everything that lies ahead.