Anna Harouvis, the owner of Anna in the Raw, is scheduled for surgery to remove one of her lungs. In light of her upcoming procedure, friends and supporters have rallied around her to provide assistance during this challenging time.
For over 25 years, Anna Harouvis has been a dedicated figure in the realm of healthy eating. Her establishment, Anna in the Raw, has been a staple in downtown Cleveland, where she caters to athletes with her nourishing juices and ensures customer satisfaction through her attentive service.
Now, after years of paying it forward, she’s getting it back from some of the same community she delivers to.
Reflecting on the outpouring of support, Harouvis expressed deep gratitude for the kindness shown to her. She was moved to tears by the heartfelt gestures, realizing the true essence of the bonds people form and the unwavering support they provide in times of need.
Harouvis tells 3News she has been diagnosed with a rare lung cancer.
“A year and a half ago, I started having trouble coughing. And you know your body — something was just not right,” she said. “They said I’m very lucky I caught it in time. It’s a kind that radiation and chemo won’t work, but they’re just going to remove the whole lung. Is that insane?”
Worried about the medical bills, the self-employed chef says she was in danger of losing her car, her home, and her life.
“I laid in bed and stared at the ceiling and cried, cried my eyes out,” she recalled. “You don’t think you’re going be dying at 50. I haven’t eaten fast food in 30 years, I haven’t had as many fries as I wanted to. Like, I tried to be healthy. I didn’t even take aspirin, and cancer does not care.”
So Harouvis’ best friend started a GoFundMe to help her recover, and within days, the donations poured in. 3News cameras rolled Tuesday afternoon as some stopped by the cafe to wish Anna well, and she says she’s grateful and plans to fight.
“You guys saved my life,” she said of those who have had her back. “I’m not a very emotional person, but it’s very humbling, and it just hope it proves that there’s so much more good in the world than there is bad.”
Harouvis says she will undergo surgery to remove her lung on Wednesday, with several of her friends offering to help her run Anna in the Raw while she recovers.
