Local resident launches social media app following illness

A man living in Athlone has recently launched a new social media app, the idea for which he came up with after battling an illness.

Filip Sendziak, originally from Poland, but who has been living in Athlone since 2004, came up with the idea for 'emood' to connect people with the aim of striking up real conversations as opposed to searching for likes, shares and interactions.

Filip thought of the idea in January 2021 after spending some years in and out of hospital battling two brain tumours, the first of which he was diagnosed with in 2018.

"The first time there was something wrong was when I blacked out in Dunnes Stores and had an epileptic attack," Filip said. "I really didn't know what was going on."

He was brought to Beaumont Hospital, and within a few days was diagnosed with two brain tumours - one of length 4.5cm toward the front of the brain, and the other of 3cm length.

"Those first few days where I was waiting for a diagnosis were really scary," Filip said.

"The brain is the one thing that cannot really be replaced like other organs, so that was really playing on my mind.

"I really fell into a depression. I didn't feel sick and yet there I was in hospital being treated like a patient when all I wanted to do was to be treated like a 'normal' human."

Filip received his first surgery in January 2018 and remained in hospital for three weeks, which he describes as a "difficult and lonely time".

In June 2019, he underwent a more dangerous surgery, again leaving his wife and daughter for three weeks.

"I was alone again that time, and feelings of fears and stress and not knowing what would happen. You want to speak to your family about it, but you also want to protect them."

Following a third surgery in January 2020 which followed after an infection, Filip says that he realised how important it was to be able to talk to someone about not only how he was feeling, but about anything and with anyone.

"Meeting people on the ward and expressing things that sometimes even my family might not understand gave me a release," Filip said.

"In the hospital, I chatted with other patients about everything, not just about our illnesses, and I started to miss that careless talk when I left hospital.

"I had my phone of course, but social media is not really the place where we can start conversations with strangers. I think most people on social media platforms are just looking for likes or attention, but I just wanted to talk."

Having overcome his illness, Filip knew that he wanted to create a platform that would cater for what he wanted, and so in February 2021, he began to think of a mobile application that would connect people who are seeking real conversations and connections.

"If I posted a photo of myself after my surgery, I would have been treated more gently or with someone would feel sorry for me, which isn't what I wanted.

"I wanted a place where I would only be judged on what I say and who I am as a person, not the things I own or what I look like."

Filip then began to research how he could create the app as he had no experience in an area like this before and came across Ian Clevett from Zeal Creative Ltd.

Over the following nine months 'emood' was born - an anonymous app that connects people by language and interests and provides a platform for people to share their worries and thoughts, whether they be happy or sad.

The app also promotes safety as it does not allow for users to search for other users, in the hopes that everyone on the platform will be equal. 'Connections' can be made following chats where both users agree to remain in touch.

There are now three people working on the app, which was launched last week on both Android and Apple, and Filip hopes that the app will attract people who are genuinely interested in being part of a community that values connection and equality.

There are also plans for the app to expand and incorporate games and other options into the app.

"I really do believe in this app and I hope people who feel like they could make use of it will download it."