Author Sabine Gruber owes her survival to doctors and her mother's kidney

Author Sabine Gruber reflects on her life, attributing her survival to the care of physicians and a kidney donation from her mother. She expresses a desire to learn patience and French, while emphasizing her deep gratitude for the "clever and empathetic doctors and scientists" who saved her life. Gruber also touches upon the difficult comments she has heard, such as "I would kill myself if I were you," highlighting the resilience required to navigate such sentiments.

“

I would like to learn that. Patience. And French.

Gruber shares her appreciation for the German language, calling it one of the most beautiful due to its word-building capabilities and precision. She lists several fish names, including "Himmelsgucker" (sky-gazer), "Seeschmetterling" (sea butterfly), "Katzenwels" (catfish), "Silberbeil" (silver axe), and "Sternhausen" (star-haze), noting their inclusion in her new novel. She also quotes Patrizia Cavalli, suggesting that at a certain age, one should avoid appearing desperate, as there are too many reasons for it, risking "naturalism."

“

I owe my survival to clever and empathetic doctors and scientists.

Reflecting on her upbringing, Gruber acknowledges her parents' investment in her education despite financial hardships. She feels adult because she has always taken care of herself, living a self-determined and independent life, a freedom she once feared but now embraces. She confidently navigates driving in Palermo and Naples like a local and believes she could manage in Cairo. While she admits a weakness for fast, beautiful cars, she would never buy one due to ecological concerns.

“

I would have preferred not to know. What some people think/thought and also said out loud: 'I would kill myself if I were you.'

The most significant factor in easing her life, Gruber states, was her mother donating a kidney. She expresses disdain for "opinionated idiots" who never seem to disappear. She finds traveling alone in crisis regions daunting but manages by reading, drinking water, and looking out the window when unable to sleep. She believes the world will be destroyed by a lack of empathy, illiteracy, and the boundless greed of a few, but could be saved by wealth and inheritance taxes, fair distribution, renewable energy, efficient resource use, ecosystem protection, vegetarian diets, and biodiversity preservation.

“

The German language is one of the most beautiful languages at all due to its word-building diversity and precision.