We have received confirmation that shattered our world—and at the same time brought a painful kind of clarity: Oliś has neuroblastoma. The word itself feels unbearably heavy, frightening, almost impossible to say out loud. We are devastated and terrified of what lies ahead, yet strangely relieved that the uncertainty is over. Now we finally know what we are fighting. And now, more than ever, we need support to save our little son.
Oliver has been diagnosed with a malignant tumor. Even writing those words feels unreal. No parent is ever prepared for a moment like this. Just when we thought things could not possibly get worse, doctors raised suspicions of metastases—to his bones, bone marrow, and even his left lung. Each new possibility felt like another blow, another reminder of how cruel and relentless this disease can be.
It all began so quietly that we never imagined where it would lead. Oliver complained of a stomach ache. He had always been a healthy child—rarely sick, full of energy and laughter. We thought it was something minor, perhaps food poisoning, something that would pass in a day or two. But routine blood tests alarmed the doctors, and we were sent for further examinations. The ultrasound changed everything. What appeared on the screen left no room for doubt: a tumor on his adrenal gland. In that moment, fear overwhelmed us. We rushed to the hospital, praying for answers, hoping for a mistake. Instead, this was where the first serious suspicions of cancer arose, and our lives took a turn we never could have imagined.
Chemotherapy began immediately. There was no time to process what was happening, no space to breathe. One moment we were parents worried about a stomach ache; the next, we were watching our child connected to machines, fighting for his life. The treatment plan ahead of us is long and overwhelming: aggressive chemotherapy, surgical removal of the tumor, a bone marrow transplant, and finally a vaccine intended to prevent the cancer from returning.
But there is a cruel reality hidden in that final step. The vaccine that could protect our son from relapse is not reimbursed. Knowing that such a vital part of his treatment depends on money is something we struggle to accept and understand.
Seeing your own child hooked up to chemotherapy is an image that never leaves you. Oliver is in terrible pain. He is frightened by this new reality—by needles, hospital rooms, unfamiliar faces, and constant discomfort. Each short trip home feels like a small victory. Yet those moments are often painfully brief, interrupted when his results worsen and we must rush back to the ward for blood transfusions.
With every passing week, we feel that Oliś understands more than any child his age ever should. He knows the hospital has become our temporary home. He recognizes the routines, the nurses, the endless procedures. And yet, he misses his normal life deeply. He talks about his friends, about playing, about simple joys that now feel impossibly far away. He keeps asking when he can go back to them. Each time, my heart breaks because I don’t know what to say anymore.
I hear my son cry every day. The sound of his fear follows me everywhere. Every night before bed, he looks at me with eyes full of hope and uncertainty and asks the same question:
“Mommy, will everything be okay?”
And every night, I gather all the strength I have and tell him that together we will defeat this monster. I have to believe it—because he believes me.
With all my heart, I wish this nightmare would end soon. I want hospital corridors replaced by playgrounds, IV poles replaced by toys, and fear replaced by laughter. But the truth is painful: we still have a long and difficult road ahead of us.
That is why we are asking for help.
From the depths of our hearts, we ask you to stand with us. Every gesture of support brings us closer to giving Oliś the future he deserves. Our little son is fighting with all his strength. With your help, we can fight alongside him—and give him a real chance to win this battle.
Please help us save our child.
Sasha’s Journey: Choosing Hope When Giving Up Was an Option
With heavy hearts, we share a new chapter in our daughter Sasha’s battle with cancer—a chapter no family wants to write again. The insidious disease has returned, this time spreading to her skull and pressing on her brain. In an instant, all the emotions we thought we had left behind—fear, helplessness, disorientation—flooded back, more powerful and cruel than ever. Yet, amidst that darkness, Sasha stands strong. Her courage shines through in a way that fills us with both heartbreak and admiration.
Once again, we prepare to leave our familiar home, to leave behind the little normalcy we have, to seek hope at the Cleveland Clinic. Ahead of Sasha is brain surgery, followed by additional radiation and chemotherapy. Each procedure, each infusion of medication, was a step into unknown territory—a place where nothing was guaranteed, where the line between hope and fear was heartbreakingly thin. This was a battle against a disease that had tested Sasha’s body and spirit far beyond what a child should endure.
Throughout this journey, we received countless questions from friends, family, and even strangers: “What can we do to help?” Therefore, we established a support fund to alleviate the enormous financial burden of the treatment. For those who wish to bring Sasha joy, contributions can be marked as “gifts,” allowing her to choose a present—a small but meaningful gesture, reminding her that many people believe in her and are with her on this path.
Amidst all the loss and anxiety, we also witnessed miracles unfold in unexpected ways. Sasha recently began an experimental immunotherapy treatment—a method never before used in the United States for Ewing’s sarcoma. Previously, this therapy had only been tested on a tiny group of three children in Europe, all of whom achieved a complete response and are now cancer-free. If this therapy proves effective for Sasha, her hospital will partner with the drug manufacturer to open a clinical trial in the U.S.—which could offer a glimmer of hope to many other children battling the disease.
But this hope doesn’t come easily.
This therapy is one of the most grueling challenges a child can face. The receptors the drug targets are not only found on cancer cells, but are also present throughout the body’s nervous system. For five consecutive days, ten hours each day of drug infusion, every nerve in the body can experience intense pain. One child who had undergone this therapy described the feeling as if “all the teeth in my mouth were exploding at once.”
Knowing this, we sat down with Sasha and gave her a choice—a choice no child should have to face. She could refuse further treatment, choose comfort and peace. After more than three years of relentless struggle, we knew she had suffered too much. But Sasha’s answer brought tears to our eyes. She said, softly but firmly:
“I don’t care about the pain. If this can help me, please let me try.”
The first day of the infusion was a nightmare. Sasha cried in pain, whispering, “I’ve never been in this pain, Mom.” Then she told the doctor, “I can’t believe humans have to suffer like this just to live.” Those words will forever be etched in our hearts—both painful and a testament to the extraordinary awareness and courage of a child.
But on the second day, a small miracle occurred. Sasha slept more peacefully. No more pain from the infusions. No more pain from the tumor. Just a brief, precious lull in the storm. To increase the chances of success, two chemotherapy regimens tailored to the tumor’s sensitive profile were added to the treatment plan. With this combination, we continued moving forward—clinging to faith, hope, and love.
We are incredibly grateful to the doctors, nurses, and researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center. They not only treat the disease, but also care for people. They seek hope when there seems to be no other option, and ensure that children like Sasha are not left behind. Their dedication is a miracle in its own right.
Sasha’s journey is a testament to the power of the human spirit. You are walking a harsh and exhausting path, but each day you face it with a courage that commands our utmost respect. Each infusion, each surgery, each treatment is another step toward life—fueled by the unwavering love of your family and community.
Come on, my dear.
Another day.
Another battle.
Another chance to live.
Your courage inspires us, moves us deeply. To me, and to remind everyone that even in the darkest moments, hope can still shine. Miracles—small or extraordinary—can still happen.
We ask everyone to continue standing by Sasha, sending love, prayers, and faith. Every act of support, every kind gesture means so much.
Sasha, our brave little girl—we are here.
Always.
Emma’s Light: A Little Girl Who Taught the World to Shine
In the sterile white walls of the hospital, where beeping monitors and hushed voices filled the air, a tiny girl named Emma faced challenges no child should ever have to bear. With each passing day, she endured more than most people would in a lifetime. Yet, through it all, Emma’s spirit never wavered.
Her tiny body bore the marks of countless surgeries — each one a testament to her fight for life. But her heart? Her heart remained unbroken. Even on the hardest days, when the pain became unbearable and the weight of her condition pressed down on her small shoulders, Emma found ways to smile.
Every morning, the nurses would enter her room, and Emma would greet them with a joke or a laugh, as if the pain didn’t exist. She had a way of lifting everyone around her. “I have a crown of courage,” she would say, pointing to the scars on her head. To Emma, they weren’t reminders of her struggle — they were symbols of her strength, and she wore them with pride.
Emma’s mother, who stood beside her every day, was amazed by her resilience. But there were moments when the weight of the situation became too much, and she would watch her daughter’s pain with a heart full of sorrow. And then, just when she thought she couldn’t take it anymore, Emma would look at her with those innocent eyes and ask, “We’re still shining, right?”
It was in those words that Emma’s light shone the brightest. She didn’t realize it, but her strength was a beacon for everyone who met her — from the nurses to the doctors, from her family to the other patients. Emma had a gift for turning even the darkest moments into something beautiful, simply by choosing to keep going, to keep shining, despite the odds.
One afternoon, as the soft sunlight streamed through the window, Emma asked for her favorite purple headband. “I want to look strong,” she said, her voice quiet but filled with purpose. Her mother gently placed it on her head, brushing her cheek with a soft, loving touch. Tears welled up behind her smile, but she held them back. Emma didn’t know it, but in that moment, she was already strong.
The purple headband wasn’t just a piece of fabric to Emma. It was a symbol — a symbol of everything she had overcome and everything she would continue to fight for. She wore it like a warrior, ready to face whatever came next with the same courage she had shown from the beginning.
And yet, Emma’s true strength wasn’t just in her courage or her smile. It was in the way she made everyone else feel. In the way she taught the nurses to find joy in the smallest moments, how she reminded her family that there was always hope, even in the darkest times. She made the ward brighter just by being there. Her spirit was infectious, and her fight was a quiet declaration that light could still bloom, even in the most hopeless of places.
Emma’s journey wasn’t easy, but her story is one of beauty, grace, and relentless strength. She reminded everyone who met her that courage isn’t just about fighting battles. Sometimes, it’s about choosing to smile through the pain and continuing to shine, no matter how dark the world may seem.
Today, Emma’s light continues to shine. It’s in every nurse who remembers her smile, every doctor who was inspired by her bravery, and every family who met her and learned what true strength looks like. She may not have known it, but Emma’s life, her spirit, her unwavering courage — it changed the world.
And as her mother always whispered to her: “Yes, sweetheart, we’re still shining.
Brody’s Brave Fight After a Devastating Firework Injury Threatened His Sight Forever
Yesterday began like any other day for Brody and his family, filled with the usual routines and laughter. Little did they know, a moment of celebration would soon turn into a life-altering emergency.
Brody, a curious and adventurous little boy, had always approached life with wide-eyed wonder. His parents had never imagined that an ordinary summer day would bring such fear and uncertainty.The accident happened in the blink of an eye. What seemed like harmless fireworks turned into a catastrophe, leaving Brody with a severe injury to his left eye.His mother watched in horror as he cried in pain, her heart breaking with every tear that streamed down his small face. The panic was immediate, the fear overwhelming, as they realized the gravity of the situation.Brody was quickly lifelined to the hospital, the emergency team moving with urgency and precision. Each passing minute felt like an eternity to his family as they followed, hearts racing and minds flooded with worst-case scenarios.Upon arrival, the doctors assessed the injury with the seriousness it demanded. Brody’s eye had suffered a 7mm laceration through the cornea, a wound deep enough to threaten permanent vision loss.The ophthalmologist, with calm professionalism, explained the procedure needed to save the eye. He would have to stitch the delicate cornea, a painstaking task that required absolute precision and skill.Even as he spoke, the gravity of the situation hung heavily in the room. Brody’s mother clutched his tiny hand, trying to steady her own shaking heart while her son looked up at her with trust and fear.The surgeon delivered news that was almost too much to bear. Brody would likely be blind in that eye for the rest of his life, though every effort would be made to prevent total vision loss.A chilling possibility was also raised. If an infection were to take hold, the doctors might be forced to remove the eye entirely, a thought that made Brody’s mother’s stomach turn with dread.Despite the devastation, the medical team worked tirelessly, focusing on each step with care and expertise. They carefully cleaned the wound, prepared the delicate sutures, and ensured Brody was as comfortable as possible under anesthesia.Brody, brave beyond his years, endured the procedure with quiet resilience. Even under the sterile, bright lights of the operating room, he never ceased to trust those around him.His mother stayed nearby, holding his hand as long as the surgical environment allowed. Each second apart felt unbearable, each heartbeat a reminder of how fragile life can be.The surgery lasted hours, each moment a test of patience, faith, and courage. The ophthalmologist worked meticulously to stitch the cornea, understanding the fine line between saving the eye and risking further damage.When Brody finally emerged from surgery, the relief was palpable but tempered by uncertainty. The stitches were in place, the eye stabilized, but the prognosis remained guarded.Doctors monitored him closely, checking for signs of infection, pressure changes, or complications that could worsen his condition. Every blink, every tear, and every pulse of the eye became a data point for the medical team.Brody’s mother never left his side. She whispered words of encouragement, stroked his hair gently, and tried to infuse comfort and love into a situation filled with fear and uncertainty.In the ICU, time moved slowly. Each hour felt like a day, each observation a mixture of hope and apprehension.Nurses checked on him regularly, providing medication, comfort, and reassurance. They explained procedures to his mother, helping her understand the delicate balance of care Brody required.Brody, despite the trauma, exhibited moments of normal childhood curiosity. His small hands reached for his favorite toy, his tiny feet kicked against the sheets, and occasionally he managed a smile through the pain.Those moments of joy were precious. They reminded his family that life, even after trauma, carries resilience and the capacity for hope.Doctors emphasized that recovery would be a long road. Healing the cornea alone was just the first step, and the true extent of visual recovery could take weeks, months, or longer.Physical signs of trauma were evident. Bruising, swelling, and redness surrounded the eye, and the delicate sutures glistened under the soft hospital lights.Brody’s parents remained vigilant, watching for any signs of distress. Every subtle change in his expression, every slight movement, was scrutinized for reassurance.The emotional toll was immense. Nights were sleepless, filled with worry, prayers, and the quiet hum of medical machines.His mother often sat at his bedside, holding his hand and whispering prayers into the sterile air. She asked for strength, healing, and comfort, not just for Brody, but for herself and the entire family.Doctors reminded the family that children often possess remarkable resilience. While the injury was severe, Brody’s youth and overall health increased the likelihood of some degree of recovery.Even small signs of improvement brought relief. Slight opening of the eye, decreased swelling, and tolerating light exposure without distress all suggested that healing was occurring.The family leaned into faith, community support, and the expertise of the medical team. Each visitor, prayer, and act of encouragement contributed to a sense of shared hope.Brody’s siblings, though not present during the surgery, waited anxiously, offering love and encouragement from afar. They sent drawings, cards, and whispered prayers for their brother’s recovery.The long-term vision prognosis remained uncertain. Ophthalmologists explained that even with successful corneal repair, additional interventions, corrective lenses, or therapy might be needed.Despite the unknown, the family clung to hope. They celebrated every milestone, from Brody opening his eyes to tolerating his first post-surgery light exposure.Physical therapy and ophthalmology appointments would soon follow. Each step aimed to restore function, comfort, and as much vision as possible.The hospital staff praised Brody’s courage. They acknowledged his ability to endure pain, fear, and procedures with remarkable composure.Brody’s mother documented the journey, capturing photos and writing updates to share the story with loved ones. These narratives became a source of connection, hope, and advocacy.Even in the most frightening moments, Brody displayed moments of humor and personality. A small laugh, a wiggle, or a playful look reminded everyone that he was still the same bright, joyful boy they loved.Community support poured in, offering messages, prayers, and encouragement. Friends and family held the family in their hearts, helping them navigate the emotional storm.Recovery required patience. Corneal healing is delicate, and progress may be gradual, requiring vigilant care and observation.The family adapted their home environment to support Brody’s healing. Dim lighting, gentle play, and frequent check-ins ensured his eye was protected from accidental trauma.Emotional support was critical. The trauma of sudden injury left lasting impressions, and counseling and family support were recommended to help process the event.Brody’s courage inspired everyone around him. Nurses, doctors, and family alike drew strength from his resilience, learning the power of hope in real time.Despite the severity of the injury, Brody’s spirit remained unbroken. Each blink, smile, and playful gesture reinforced that children can endure unimaginable challenges with grace.His mother spoke often of gratitude. Gratitude for skilled surgeons, caring nurses, supportive friends, and the unshakable spirit of her son.The long-term outlook would remain uncertain for months. Yet, with diligent care, love, and perseverance, the family hoped for meaningful recovery.Brody’s journey is far from over. Each day brings new challenges, new therapies, and new opportunities for progress.But his resilience, courage, and the unwavering love surrounding him offer a powerful lesson. Even in the face of unexpected trauma, hope, strength, and perseverance can guide recovery.Every small victory—from opening his eye to tolerating light, from calm moments to laughter—becomes a milestone celebrated by the family and medical team alike.Brody’s story reminds us that accidents can change life in a single moment. Yet love, faith, and human determination can navigate even the darkest hours.Through this journey, his family has learned to appreciate every moment of joy, every laugh, and every expression of resilience.The road ahead will require patience, care, and ongoing medical support. But with every day, Brody shows that courage is not the absence of fear, but the strength to keep moving forward despite it.
