There are no words to express the pain of losing a beloved child. Martynka is gone… yet she will remain forever in the hearts of those who loved her and in the moments they shared that can never be taken away. Thanks to the support of so many compassionate people, Martynka was able to spend more precious time with her family, embraced, cherished, and surrounded by love in her final months.
Martynka’s story began on July 12, 2014, a day her parents would never forget. From the very first moment, she captivated everyone around her. Bright, curious, and endlessly cheerful, Martynka seemed to grow faster than most children her age. She learned to speak quickly, displayed remarkable curiosity about the world, and developed a love for books, dressing up as a princess, and anything green—her favorite color. She was everywhere at once, filling the house with laughter, joy, and wonder. When she started preschool in September, she initially struggled with separation, as many children do, but soon flourished, enjoying her teachers and classmates. Those moments of normal childhood joy, however, were tragically brief.
Martynka had been healthy—she had no serious illnesses—but after starting preschool, she began experiencing frequent colds. At first, these were dismissed as the usual childhood infections. By October, she had taken her first antibiotics, followed by more bouts of illness over the next several months. In March 2018, her symptoms worsened: fever, stomach pain, and leg discomfort prompted urgent medical attention. Over the course of two weeks, Martynka visited the pediatrician four times. Her parents felt an increasing sense of unease, a premonition of something far worse. When blood tests revealed severe anemia and an enlarged liver, the world as they knew it shattered.
That same day, Martynka was admitted to the pediatric ward at the hospital in Rybnik. Ultrasounds revealed the unimaginable: a 5.5-centimeter tumor on her adrenal gland and a massive 10-centimeter metastasis to her liver. Overnight, her life—and the lives of her parents—were consumed by hospital corridors, medical procedures, and the unrelenting fear of losing their child.
Martynka’s parents abandoned their everyday routines to be by her side. Her father remained in the hospital, while her mother, 16 weeks pregnant at the time, made daily commutes until the very end of her pregnancy to spend precious hours with her daughter. Their lives became measured not in days or weeks, but in treatments, hospital visits, and the small victories of each day Martynka fought to survive.
Throughout her treatment, Martynka endured intensive chemotherapy, multiple cycles of medication designed to destroy the cancer yet also taxing her young body beyond measure. Stem cells were collected at the University Hospital in Krakow-Prokocim to provide a possible lifeline for the next stage of treatment. In early September, she bravely underwent surgery to remove the primary adrenal tumor. Each procedure, each test, each hospital stay was a monumental struggle for her small body, yet she faced them with courage, her smile never fully fading, even in the face of pain.
Her parents describe her as their “little great miracle,” a child whose resilience inspired everyone around her. Yet despite her bravery, the disease was relentless. Martynka’s fight was not just about her own survival—it became a battle for every normal childhood experience she had been denied, every birthday, every school day, every moment of freedom that most children take for granted.
Martynka’s family continues to fight tirelessly on her behalf, driven by love and hope. Every donation, every word of encouragement, every act of support is a step closer to allowing a child to live free from constant pain, fear, and hospitalization. The cost of saving Martynka’s life was estimated at 1.6 million złoty—a sum impossible for one family to shoulder alone. Yet, through the generosity of compassionate people, hope remained alive.
Martynka’s story is a reminder of both the fragility and the strength of life. She taught her family and everyone who knew her the true meaning of courage, resilience, and unconditional love. While her life was tragically short, it was full of bravery and grace. Her memory continues to inspire, urging us to act, to care, and to fight for children whose voices are too small to ask for help themselves.
Every contribution matters. Every act of kindness brings hope to families like Martynka’s. While her journey ended far too soon, her story lives on—a testament to the enduring power of love, the importance of compassion, and the preciousness of every child’s life.
Rooting for Will Roberts — The Boy Who Chose Courage Over “Why Me?”.1158
Some stories remind us what true strength looks like — not in muscle or might, but in heart. Fourteen-year-old
Will Roberts, from Ralph, Alabama, is one of those stories. A boy who could have asked, “Why me?” but instead chose to ask, “Why not me?”
That’s Will — humble, hopeful, and fiercely determined to keep living, loving, and fighting no matter what life throws his way.
Months ago, Will’s world changed when doctors diagnosed him with bone cancer. The treatments were harsh, and eventually, surgeons had to make an unimaginable decision — they would remove Will’s left leg from the knee down. But what happened next is what makes his story so remarkable.
Doctors performed a complex rotationplasty, a surgery in which Will’s foot was reattached backward near the knee, allowing it to function as a joint for a prosthetic limb. It was a medical miracle — but also a symbol of Will’s resilience. Most kids might have retreated in fear or despair. Will smiled through it. He called it his “new way of standing strong.”
Since then, Will has dreamed of the day he could walk, run, and maybe even play baseball again — the sport he loves most. The waiting wasn’t easy. It meant months of recovery, learning patience, and pushing through pain most adults could never imagine. But through it all, Will never complained. He cracked jokes with nurses, encouraged other patients, and always flashed that famous grin — the “Will Roberts grin” that everyone talks about.
And then, finally, this week came a moment he’d been dreaming of.
After months of waiting, Will and his parents, Jason and Brittney, traveled to New York City to try on his new prosthetic leg. The sight of Will standing proudly, adjusting his balance, and taking those first steady steps was nothing short of inspiring. His parents watched with tears in their eyes, knowing how hard he’d fought to reach that moment. For Will, it was a Tuesday of happiness — a well-deserved victory in a long, exhausting battle.
But life, as it often does, had another challenge waiting.
Just as Will was starting to find his footing again, doctors delivered devastating news: the cancer had returned — this time to his pelvis, pressing dangerously against his bladder. The smiles of New York gave way to worry as the family prepared to head to
MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, where a team of specialists would evaluate the best approach.
Tomorrow, Will will meet those doctors. Soon after, he’ll face surgery once again — another battle, another mountain to climb. Yet even now, his spirit remains unbroken. “He’s worried, sure,” his parents said softly, “but he’s still smiling.”
That’s the kind of strength that humbles you.
Today, while Will settles into his new prosthetic — walking tall through the streets of New York — he carries both joy and fear in his heart. It’s a rare balance only those who have faced life and death can understand. But Will’s faith keeps him steady. He believes in the power of prayer, in miracles, and in the idea that even the hardest roads can lead somewhere beautiful.
And so, while he prepares for tomorrow — for Houston, for surgery, for the fight ahead — those who know his story are rallying behind him. Friends, teachers, teammates, neighbors — and strangers who’ve never met him — are all sending love, light, and prayers his way. Because if anyone deserves to win this fight, it’s Will Roberts.
He’s the kid who doesn’t give up. The boy who still dreams of standing at home plate again, glove in hand, waiting for the pitch. The son who tells his parents it’ll all be okay, even when his body is tired. The young man who reminds us that courage isn’t about pretending everything’s fine — it’s about showing up anyway, smiling through the pain, and choosing hope when it would be easier to surrender.
As one friend said, “Will’s got a heart bigger than any tumor.”
And it’s true. His bravery, his humor, his faith — they’re unshakable.
So today, let’s join together — in prayer, in spirit, in hope — for this incredible boy who keeps teaching us what it means to live fully, even when life isn’t fair.
Because while Will enjoys a Tuesday of happiness before a Wednesday of worry, he’s not alone. We’re all standing with him. We’re all rooting for him.
And somewhere deep in his heart, Will knows it.
He’s got a city, a state — maybe even a world — cheering him on.
And if there’s any justice in the universe, this brave 14-year-old from Alabama will soon be back on the field, smiling that famous Will Roberts smile, proving once again that faith and courage can outshine even the darkest storms.
