I never imagined I would ever ask for help to save my own child. Until now, I had been the one supporting other children, donating quietly, following their stories, and giving thanks for the health of my own kids. Today, our roles have reversed. On
September 28th, everything changed. My youngest son, Krzyś, just seven months old, came to the hospital with a high fever, cold symptoms, and a tense fontanel. Blood tests initially suggested a simple infection, and we were preparing to go home — but the ultrasound revealed something unimaginable:
two lesions on his adrenal glands and numerous lesions in his liver, the largest adrenal tumor measuring 8×6 cm. That same day, the ambulance rushed him to the
Oncology Clinic of the Children’s Memorial Health Institute, and our family’s life was forever divided between the hospital ward and home.
From that moment, Krzyś faced a whirlwind of tests and procedures:
CT scans, MIBG testing, 48-hour urine collections, liver and bone marrow biopsies, a trepanobiopsy, and surgery to remove the largest tumor along with his right adrenal gland. A Broviac central line was inserted, connecting him to the medical care that would sustain his fragile life. Seeing our tiny son, barely a year old, surrounded by tubes and machines in the ICU was unbearable. Every monitor beep, every infusion, reminded us of the life-or-death battle he was facing. Learning to care for his Broviac line brought with it immense responsibility and anxiety, yet we had no choice but to adapt for his survival.
The test results confirmed our worst fears: stage IV neuroblastoma, an aggressive adrenal tumor that already threatened his tiny body. Genetic testing revealed a high-risk N-MYC amplification, meaning his cancer was more likely to recur and metastasize. Additional MIBG scans revealed bone lesions, further complicating treatment. Despite his young age, Krzyś was immediately placed on the
RAPID COJEC protocol, a brutal, multi-drug chemotherapy regimen that tests even the strongest children. Six cycles in, our son has already endured countless transfusions, infections, and severe complications, including
ascites and urinary catheterization. Every crisis was terrifying, yet each time, the skill and dedication of his medical team ensured he could continue fighting.
The journey has been grueling. Krzyś has spent weeks in the hospital battling infections, enduring pain, and facing repeated interventions. Yet there is hope. The
liver lesions are shrinking, and the remaining tumor on his adrenal gland has decreased in size. Each day of treatment brings small victories, but the road ahead is long:
autologous bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, including a recurrence-prevention vaccine available only in the United States, which could be lifesaving. These treatments are expensive and complex, but they are essential for giving Krzyś a chance at a full, healthy childhood.
Through all of this, Krzyś has shown extraordinary courage. Though he is only months old, he faces every challenge with resilience. His parents watch, helpless yet determined, holding his tiny hand through procedures, comforting him through tears, and dreaming of the day he can play freely, laugh with his siblings, and experience a childhood that most children take for granted. This fight is not just medical — it is a fight to reclaim Krzyś’s right to life, joy, and every small milestone that makes childhood precious.
As parents, we are doing everything possible: traveling wherever necessary, advocating for the best treatments, and ensuring that our little boy has access to life-saving care. But we cannot do this alone. We are asking for help, support, and generosity from everyone who can make a difference. Every contribution brings Krzyś closer to the chance of
remission, long-term survival, and a life free from cancer, allowing him to grow, explore, and enjoy the simple joys of being a child.
Krzyś’s story is one of courage, resilience, and unwavering hope
. From the first terrifying diagnosis to the grueling treatments and hospital stays, he has endured more than any child should. Yet, through every challenge, he continues to fight, surrounded by the love of his family and the expertise of his medical team. With your support, we can help ensure that this brave little boy not only survives but thrives, creating a future full of laughter, play, and the freedom to simply be a child.
Please join us in helping Krzyś fight cancer. Every gift, every prayer, and every act of kindness brings him closer to life, hope, and the chance to experience the childhood he deserves.
The Hug That Changed Everything — Kala and Kira’s Second Chance at Life.324
Across the world, millions of animals sit behind shelter walls — waiting. Some for days, others for years. Each one carries a story, a pair of eyes full of hope, and a heart quietly yearning to be chosen. Among them were two dogs, Kala and Kira — inseparable, forgotten, and frightened.
They had come to the shelter at different times but soon found each other, drawn together by loneliness. Kala, a timid brown hound mix, was the gentler of the two — shy, hesitant to trust, and always seeking comfort. Kira, older and slightly braver, became her protector. In the cold, concrete run that had become their world, they clung to one another like two souls refusing to be broken.
Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Visitors came and went, walking past their kennel without stopping. For many animals, time runs out long before hope does — and Kala and Kira were nearing that moment.
Then, one quiet afternoon, a volunteer walked by their enclosure and saw something that stopped her heart. Kala had wrapped her paws tightly around Kira’s neck — a trembling embrace, as if begging her friend not to leave her. Kira stood still, her sad eyes meeting the camera that would soon change both their lives.
That photograph — two dogs locked in a desperate hug — spread like wildfire across the internet. Within hours, it was shared thousands of times. People around the world paused their scrolling to feel something deeper than words: empathy. In a single image, Kala and Kira became symbols of love, fear, and the universal longing not to be alone.
Among those who saw the photo were two women, Pam Cody and Wendy Newman. Both had recently lost their beloved dogs and were still grieving. When they saw Kala and Kira’s photo, their hearts broke open all over again — but this time, it wasn’t just sorrow they felt. It was a calling.
“They looked like they needed someone as much as we did,” Pam later said.
Without hesitation, the two women reached out to the shelter. Volunteers worked quickly to arrange the adoption before it was too late. Within hours, Kala and Kira were no longer forgotten names on a shelter list — they were on their way home.
When Pam and Wendy arrived to meet them, the transformation began instantly. The timid dogs who once shook with fear began to wag their tails. Kala pressed her head against Pam’s chest, and Kira leaned into Wendy’s arms. For the first time in a long while, they were safe — not just from the cold, but from the loneliness that had nearly broken them.
At their new home, everything was different. The echoing sound of cages was replaced by laughter. Instead of concrete floors, there were warm blankets and open fields. The two dogs ran freely, played in the grass, and curled up together every night. The embrace that once symbolized fear now became one of joy and belonging.
The change was slow, but steady. Kala learned to trust. Kira, always the steady one, showed her how to chase toys, bark at butterflies, and accept affection without fear. The love they received — and gave in return — filled the space that grief had left behind in Pam and Wendy’s hearts.
Their story soon spread beyond the shelter walls. Newspapers and rescue pages shared updates of the “hugging dogs” who had finally found their forever home. Donations poured in for other animals in need. Volunteers said adoptions increased because of that one photo — the image that had captured not just two dogs, but the very essence of hope.
Kala and Kira’s journey became a testament to how compassion can ripple outward. One act of kindness — one decision to care — can change not just one life, but many.
Today, Kala and Kira live peacefully with their adoptive family. They spend their days chasing each other through sunlit yards, resting side by side, and reminding everyone who meets them that love truly heals. They no longer cling to each other in fear — they walk together in freedom.
Their story is more than an adoption tale. It’s a reminder of what happens when empathy meets action — when someone chooses to stop scrolling, stop waiting, and start helping.
Because sometimes, all it takes to change a life is a single photo — and someone willing to see beyond it.
And for Kala and Kira, that photo became their miracle — proof that love, once found, can turn even the coldest place into home.
