January 2021 will forever mean only one thing for our family. It was the moment our carefully built, organized world collapsed without warning. It was the moment we learned that our beloved daughter, Marcelina, had Wilms tumors. From that day on, nothing would ever be the same.

We are parents to two wonderful children. Our son Nikolas is ten years old—curious, caring, and protective of his little sister. Marcelina was just two years old when everything changed. Until then, we were an ordinary, happy family, living a life filled with routines, plans, and quiet dreams about the future. Cancer was something that happened to others. Or so we believed.

On January 10, Marcelina was admitted to the hospital with a fever. At her age, illness seemed normal. Children get sick—it’s part of growing up. None of us imagined that this hospital stay would tear our lives apart. But after only two days, we were given news that no parent is ever prepared to hear.

Marcelina was diagnosed with stage V Wilms tumors affecting both kidneys.

The words echoed in the room, unreal and unbearable. Our world collapsed in a single moment. There was no time to process the shock, no time to grieve the life we had known. Within a week, our daughter had already begun chemotherapy. Her condition required immediate action. Survival could not wait.

Marcelina came under the care of the Department of Pediatrics, Hematology, and Oncology at University Hospital No. 1 in Bydgoszcz. There, surrounded by doctors, nurses, and machines, our two-year-old began a fight far greater than herself. She is currently undergoing her seventh of eight planned chemotherapy cycles. After the final cycle, she will face surgery to remove the tumors.

Chemotherapy changed our little girl. Once full of energy and laughter, she became weak, apathetic, and lost her appetite. Watching her struggle to eat, to play, even to smile, broke our hearts in ways words cannot describe. To prevent further complications, we must follow a specialized diet—carefully chosen, strictly controlled, and costly. Every meal matters, because we must avoid the need for enteral feeding at all costs.

Marcelina also has a Broviac catheter implanted—a central line hidden under the skin and connected directly to a vein leading to her heart. This device allows medications and blood draws without repeated needle sticks, sparing her additional pain and fear. While it is a blessing for her comfort, it must be maintained in extremely sterile conditions. The cost of dressings, disinfectants, and hygiene supplies alone reaches approximately 1,000 złoty each month.

On top of that are the frequent trips to the hospital—50 kilometers from our home—and the cost of specialized medications that are beyond our financial means. Last December, due to the pandemic, my husband lost his job and has been surviving on temporary work. Since Marcelina became ill, I have been on caregiving leave, but soon I will be forced to resign entirely to care for her full-time.

Our financial situation has become as fragile as our emotional one. Every day is a calculation—how to afford treatment, how to cover basic needs, how to stay strong for our children while quietly fearing the future.

And yet, despite everything, we refuse to give up.

We believe that Marcelina will overcome this battle. We believe she will laugh freely again, run without weakness, and enjoy the carefree childhood every child deserves. Our hope is what keeps us standing when exhaustion and fear threaten to pull us under.

We ask for help not because we are weak, but because this journey is bigger than us. Any support allows us to focus on what truly matters—our daughter’s treatment—without the constant fear of running out of resources.

Update

Marcelina has now undergone surgery, which thankfully went according to plan. However, doctors discovered that one of her kidneys contained more tumors than originally expected. As a result, our daughter will remain under medical supervision for the rest of her life. She now takes permanent medication because her adrenal gland was removed, and her heart has been weakened by treatment.

The road ahead remains long and uncertain. But Marcelina is still here. She is still fighting. And we will continue to fight beside her—every day, for every breath, for every moment of her life.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who stands with us. Your compassion gives our daughter strength—and gives our family hope when we need it most.

January 2021 will forever mean only one thing for our family. It was the moment our carefully built, organized world collapsed without warning. It was the moment we learned that our beloved daughter, Marcelina, had Wilms tumors. From that day on, nothing would ever be the same.

We are parents to two wonderful children. Our son Nikolas is ten years old—curious, caring, and protective of his little sister. Marcelina was just two years old when everything changed. Until then, we were an ordinary, happy family, living a life filled with routines, plans, and quiet dreams about the future. Cancer was something that happened to others. Or so we believed.

On January 10, Marcelina was admitted to the hospital with a fever. At her age, illness seemed normal. Children get sick—it’s part of growing up. None of us imagined that this hospital stay would tear our lives apart. But after only two days, we were given news that no parent is ever prepared to hear.

Marcelina was diagnosed with stage V Wilms tumors affecting both kidneys.

The words echoed in the room, unreal and unbearable. Our world collapsed in a single moment. There was no time to process the shock, no time to grieve the life we had known. Within a week, our daughter had already begun chemotherapy. Her condition required immediate action. Survival could not wait.

Marcelina came under the care of the Department of Pediatrics, Hematology, and Oncology at University Hospital No. 1 in Bydgoszcz. There, surrounded by doctors, nurses, and machines, our two-year-old began a fight far greater than herself. She is currently undergoing her seventh of eight planned chemotherapy cycles. After the final cycle, she will face surgery to remove the tumors.

Chemotherapy changed our little girl. Once full of energy and laughter, she became weak, apathetic, and lost her appetite. Watching her struggle to eat, to play, even to smile, broke our hearts in ways words cannot describe. To prevent further complications, we must follow a specialized diet—carefully chosen, strictly controlled, and costly. Every meal matters, because we must avoid the need for enteral feeding at all costs.

Marcelina also has a Broviac catheter implanted—a central line hidden under the skin and connected directly to a vein leading to her heart. This device allows medications and blood draws without repeated needle sticks, sparing her additional pain and fear. While it is a blessing for her comfort, it must be maintained in extremely sterile conditions. The cost of dressings, disinfectants, and hygiene supplies alone reaches approximately 1,000 złoty each month.

On top of that are the frequent trips to the hospital—50 kilometers from our home—and the cost of specialized medications that are beyond our financial means. Last December, due to the pandemic, my husband lost his job and has been surviving on temporary work. Since Marcelina became ill, I have been on caregiving leave, but soon I will be forced to resign entirely to care for her full-time.

Our financial situation has become as fragile as our emotional one. Every day is a calculation—how to afford treatment, how to cover basic needs, how to stay strong for our children while quietly fearing the future.

And yet, despite everything, we refuse to give up.

We believe that Marcelina will overcome this battle. We believe she will laugh freely again, run without weakness, and enjoy the carefree childhood every child deserves. Our hope is what keeps us standing when exhaustion and fear threaten to pull us under.

We ask for help not because we are weak, but because this journey is bigger than us. Any support allows us to focus on what truly matters—our daughter’s treatment—without the constant fear of running out of resources.

Update

Marcelina has now undergone surgery, which thankfully went according to plan. However, doctors discovered that one of her kidneys contained more tumors than originally expected. As a result, our daughter will remain under medical supervision for the rest of her life. She now takes permanent medication because her adrenal gland was removed, and her heart has been weakened by treatment.

The road ahead remains long and uncertain. But Marcelina is still here. She is still fighting. And we will continue to fight beside her—every day, for every breath, for every moment of her life.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to everyone who stands with us. Your compassion gives our daughter strength—and gives our family hope when we need it most.