“I’m Aysenur – but you can also just say Ayse!”

My first encounter with Ayse describes her lovely nature perfectly. I’ve just had my very first day of the trial week (was clearly nervous), she comes into the studio like a ray of sunshine and just hugs me. As a little “Dorfi”, it was very frightening and unusual for me at first, but the next moment I was immediately enchanted and drawn into her Ayse spell.

And before I knew it, she wrapped her “wing” around me and pushed me to my limits every day – of course in a positive sense. Because Ayse is a person who sees the best in you and definitely wants to bring that out.

Well, the next few months with Ayse were anything but boring. From pasta with tomato sauce for lunch, to countless telephone training courses, to the funny, shared S-Bahn ride every evening. We often had to close the kitchen door because she loves her bread so crispy toasted that none of us would touch it and the beguiling scent spread throughout the studio. 😀

Eventually THE NEWS came: Ayse is pregnant!! What amazing news!! Micha and I were in the middle of the training – and Ayse was our mentor. So we enjoyed the months before maternity leave and parental leave with her even more. When we celebrated our 20th anniversary, she was about to “burst” because only three days later her first son was born! (Of course he immediately enchanted us all – like mom, like son)

Then at some point the time had come – Micha and I had an exam phase. Ayse wouldn’t be Ayse if she didn’t keep an eye on that too. She actively supported us and helped us to pass :)) Shortly thereafter we received the wonderful news that Ayse is pregnant for the second time – we were totally over the moon again and were looking forward to the second sweet Catik bundle of joy! <3

And then came the diagnosis – stomach cancer. But after a day or two, Ayse only saw the whole thing positively and radiated so much positive energy that you just had to be infected by it. To get to the point, Ayse gave birth to a healthy boy in the last two weeks and had the cancer operated out of her body. AND SHE SHINES AND SHINES AND SHINES!!! If someone takes cancer as it comes and makes the best of it, it’s probably only our Ayse. And I’m so grateful to her for letting me be a part and documenting the whole thing – not a matter of course. Ayse always emphasizes how important it is to her to encourage and inspire others with her story – that’s why we share her story with you on our blog. Here you go: