Victoria - A victory of hope over suffering.

[Eva Libre]

I photographed Victoria two weeks ago in Chisinau, Moldova. Her name means victory in Romanian, the language of Moldova. And her own life is a victory of hope over suffering.

Victoria was born with a disability and spent most of her childhood and adolescence in hospitals. When she was home, other kids were making fun of her by stealing her crutches. All those years were only about suffering.

At 21, after a successful prosthetic implant, she learned to walk without crutches, for the first time in her life. For Victoria this was the happiest moment after years of darkness. But she still felt ashamed about the prosthetic and she was always hiding it.

In time things changed. Through therapy and self-learning, Victoria learned to love every inch of her body, including the prothesis. She even made a tattoo on it, with a blooming flower called peony, to celebrate the beauty of life.

In the meantime, Victoria also found the love of her life and in less than a month she will become a mother. A happy, confident and victorious mother.

~ Mihaela Noroc (The Atlas of Beauty)

[John Savlove]

Thank you for posting this inspiring portrait of victory!