Series “Foster family” was broadcast from 1999 to 2009. The series was about Anna and Jacek Kwiatkowski (Gabriela Kownacka and Piotr Fronczewski), who raise two children – Majka (Monika Morozowska) and Filip (Sergusz Żymełka). In the first episode, they take in Romek (Aleksander Ihnatowicz), Eliza (Aleksandra Szwed) and Zosia (Misheel Jargalsaikhan). When they move from a block of flats to a housing estate of single-family houses, their neighbors become wealthy Alicja and Jędrzej Kossoni (Joanna Trzepiecińska and Tomasz Dedek). A frequent guest in their estate is a well-intentioned but not very volatile policeman (Jarosław Boberek).
In 2004, Kownacka learned that she had breast cancer. After undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, she appeared on the set of the series in 2005. The disease recurred in mid-2008. She left the cast then “Foster family”. The actress died on November 30, 2010 at the age of 58.
“When Mrs. Gabrysia fell ill, I remember that the character of Anka was often sent on various business trips” – recalled Żymełka, pointing to various methods used by the scriptwriters to justify the absence of Anna’s character in subsequent episodes.
The actors believed that Kownacka would overcome the disease. “We were absolutely convinced that since she came back to us (in 2005) in such fantastic condition… Maybe she wasn’t telling us everything, but I don’t think so. She looked great and had plans for the future” – said Dedek. “Then she bought a Mercedes. (…) She became so greedy for life” – added Trzepiecińska.
“A few years later the disease attacked again. (Kownacka) fainted on the set during the shot” – said Boberek, pointing out that the character of Anna Kwiatkowska never returned to the series.
“We believed until the end that she would recover” – Trzepiecińska confessed.
The actors who played Anna’s children were very saddened by her departure. “We all cried very much for Mrs. Gabrysia. It’s like losing a parent” – said Żymełka.
“I still feel it to this day because it was a person who was a member of my family” – added Jargalsaikhan.
“In this situation, when Gabrysia left us, there was no point in continuing this whole game. This series made no sense without her” – concluded Dedek.