Journalist's Emotional Birthday Tribute: 'When I'm with you, I'm not afraid'

Former investigative journalist Ivana Paradžiković has shared a heartfelt message celebrating her son Hugo's 20th birthday. She recounted a difficult period when she faced intense media scrutiny and sought to shield her son from the negativity.

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When they kicked me, slandered my name and honor in the media... I didn't know how far they were willing to go.

Paradžiković explained her initial decision to send her son away to his father, wanting him to avoid the unpleasantness she anticipated. However, her son's response provided her with unexpected strength. He reassured her, "Mom, when I'm with you, I'm not afraid," a statement that deeply moved her and remains a cherished memory.

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I told him to pack his things and go to his dad. I didn't want him to see what was coming.

Reflecting on the challenges, Paradžiković stated that she would willingly repeat all the hardships, including poverty, worry, uncertainty, and fear, if it meant she would ultimately have her son. She concluded her tribute by wishing him a happy birthday, calling him "20 years of pure pride."

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Mom, when I'm with you, I'm not afraid.

The article also briefly mentions a past personal incident where Paradžiković defended her boyfriend in a street fight, resulting in a concussion and a broken tooth, and a recent revelation about a secret she kept for 20 years.

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And that's why I would repeat everything to you. The poverty, the worry, the uncertainty, the fear... if I knew that at the end of that rollercoaster I would get him.