You are not the only one and have to endure, be strong: President Armen Sarkissian hosted the ten-year old Romik Arshakian

President Armen Sarkissian hosted today at the Presidential Palace the Arshakian family.

Residents of Aparan town of Aragatsotn marz Samvel and Arpik Arshakians’ son, the ten-year old Romik has been diagnosed with leukemia and poliovirus. Currently, the boy is in the remission stage.

February 4 is celebrated as the World Cancer Day, while February 15 is the International Childhood Cancer Day and is aimed at bringing the attention on the children who have problems associated with this disease.

President Sarkissian conversed with little Romik and his parents, inquired about the kid’s medical treatment. The President said that it is very important not to despair and take all treatment phases with hope and faith.

Romik told that on March 6 he would be 11 years old. He goes to school, has friends and hobbies. The President of Armenia encouraged him, told that he too, went down that difficult and tough road. “You are not the only one in the world and have to endure, be strong. Later, God knows, maybe 20 years from now you will be president. You want to be president or a football player?” When little Romik responded that he would rather become president, President Sarkissian said, “All right, it’s a deal, you will get well to become president. It will be tough, unpleasant, but it will pass. Be strong. See, your mother and your father are strong, you too, be a strong boy. What you love to do, what else you would like to do beside becoming president?”

Romik told the President that he would also like to become a rescuer, just like his father. “Because they save people. Doctors heal people but rescuers save them.”

The boy’s attending physician, who was also present at the meeting, informed that
Romik was undergoing conservative treatment which would last for another year. At the moment, the primary disease of the boy is in remission. “You get better, then you visit my every year, I will teach to how to become president,” President Sarkissian said and urged Romic to smile. ‘You must smile, show that you are strong, that you will overcome this illness.”

“You are your doctor number one. No matter how your parents and doctors try, it is you who must not stop believing that you will overcome all this. Life is beautiful and it is beautiful first of all because of kids like you,” President Sarkissian told little Romik.