By now, it was official. The disease was no longer just news. It was real, and it was global. We even had to do some swab tests in the UAE, it felt weird.
Croatia started receiving help from the UAE. I watched a Croatia Airlines plane take off from Abu Dhabi airport, carrying medical equipment back home. I felt something deep in that moment. A strange mix of pride and helplessness. I was far away, but my country was in my heart.
Then one morning, I got a call from my father. It was way too early for a normal call. I picked up. His voice was shaken. There had been an earthquake in Zagreb. It was bad. Buildings collapsed. Streets were filled with bricks and dust. I didn’t know the full extent yet, but I felt this pit in my stomach, that feeling of being completely helpless.
From the other side of the world, I couldn’t do anything. I didn’t know if everyone was safe. I didn’t know what was next. That moment reminded me how fragile everything is and how important family really is. It shook me more than I admitted at the time.
Looking back, I think events like that hardened me. They made me strong, yes. Focused, maybe even fearless. But sometimes also emotionless. And that might be useful in business. But it’s not always good for a person.
Not long after that, I got another call. This time, from someone asking if we could join a project to build a ventilator, fast. There would be a huge need.
It became my most complex project ever. And I’ll share that in the upcoming stories.
