A talented artist has died months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour. Lazaros Sofikitis was months into beginning a full-time career as an artist when he was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the age of 32.
His mother Chrisoula Konstantakou, known as Chris, claimed when he first went to see a doctor he was offered antidepressants for his headaches, eye pain, and lethargy. She claimed Lazaros’ brain tumour was missed and she wonders at how much more time they may have had with him if it had been caught when he first went to the doctor. He died in November – just eight months after he was diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma.
She said: “His life cycle was smaller but he kept telling me: ‘Mom, it is what it is. We will all one day return to Mother Nature. It’s just that I have to return earlier.’”
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His family and friends spoke of his great love for nature. Natasha Triantafyllidou, referred to as a “second Mom” by Lazaros and his sister, said he was fascinated by the beauty of his birth nation of Canada, The Cardiffian reported.
Natasha also said that he slept in caves around Crete, where he grew up, on a solo trip at the age of 19. He wanted to enjoy the beauties of the landscape as authentically as possible.
He went on to study forestry at Bangor University. His resting place reflects his fondness for nature and the environment – he is surrounded by trees, meadows, and wildflowers in Beacons Park natural burial ground in Bannau Brycheiniog. Mum Chris, of Cardiff, said: “He always reminded us: ‘Don’t pick the flowers, don’t step on the insects, we don’t need another pair of shoes.’”
