BANJA LUKA GIRL WHO BEAT LEUKEMIA PUBLISHES A BOOK FULL OF JOYFUL QUESTIONS

Moments of joy and happiness in the darkest times were the spark for little Sofija Stojnić from Banja Luka, who emerged victorious in her battle with leukemia. During her journey to recovery, she created a collection of humorous and imaginative questions, which her loving family turned into an engaging children’s book.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Titled "222 Crazy Questions", Sofija’s book features quirky prompts like, "What do elephants do when their trunk itches?", "Are ghosts afraid of other ghosts?", "Describe your favorite pajamas," and "Would you rather have a unicorn or a dinosaur as a pet?" These, along with many other lighthearted and fun questions, recently made their way into print, offering laughter and imagination to readers.

The idea for the book was born during Sofija’s challenging treatment journey, which included months of hospital stays, a stem cell transplant in Serbia, and strict home isolation to protect her fragile immune system. Creating these questions became her therapy and distraction, developed with the help of her younger brother and father through video calls.

Diagnosed with leukemia in December 2021, Sofija was just eight years old when the disease abruptly disrupted her family’s peaceful life. The stem cell transplant, which took place at the Institute for Mother and Child in Belgrade, was a life-saving procedure with cells donated by her then two-year-old brother, Stefan.

Despite the uncertainty and hardships, Sofija fought bravely for her future. Her father, Bojan Stojnić, shared with "Glas Srpske" how the idea of crafting questions came about. "We wanted her to have something to bring to her school friends when she returned from Belgrade. She came up with a kind of keepsake filled with funny and crazy questions," Bojan explained. "She spent months working on it with us, narrowing down around 500 questions to the 222 funniest and most interesting ones."

The family decided to publish the book after seeing the overwhelmingly positive reactions from Sofija’s classmates. The first edition of 300 copies, released two weeks ago, was distributed among friends, family, and the Roditeljska Kuća (Parents' House) in Banja Luka, which supports families of children undergoing treatment.

A second print run is planned for January, with many copies to be donated to children battling severe illnesses at the University Clinical Center of RS and the Institute for Mother and Child in Belgrade.

"Our goal is to bring joy to those kids and offer them a brief escape from their daily struggles, just as Sofija experienced," Bojan said.

The family also aims to make the book available for sale in bookstores, with all proceeds going to charity. "The funds will be donated to 'Iskra,' an association supporting parents of children with malignant diseases in Banja Luka," Bojan added.

Today, Sofija is an 11-year-old sixth-grader in good health. For the Stojnić family, this book represents unity and resilience. "Despite the difficult situation we faced, we managed to turn something so negative into something positive and meaningful," Bojan concluded.

Thanks to the support of the staff at her school, "Ivan Goran Kovačić," Sofija’s return to school life was smooth. "The teachers, school psychologist, and principal all helped prepare her for the transition. Before officially returning, she visited her classmates several times and caught up on fourth-grade material after missing an entire school year," Bojan shared.

Sofija’s story is a testament to courage, creativity, and the power of family, leaving a legacy of laughter and hope for children everywhere.