There are no words that can fully capture the pain of watching a child suffer. Our beloved son, Oluś, was just two years old when his life—and ours—was turned upside down by a cruel and merciless disease. Neuroblastoma stage IV, one of the most aggressive childhood cancers, had taken root inside him. A disease that accounts for only about eight percent of childhood cancers in Poland became a terrifying reality for our little boy.
Oluś’s journey into this nightmare began just after his second birthday on May 16, 2024. That weekend, we visited his grandparents to celebrate. Oluś ran, laughed, and played as he always did—full of joy and energy. But then, suddenly, he vomited. We thought it was a minor upset from roughhousing or something he had eaten. The vomiting returned that evening, accompanied by a low-grade fever. We scheduled a visit with his pediatrician on Monday, convinced it was nothing serious.
On May 20, 2024, his physical examination showed nothing alarming, and his CRP test was the only hint that something could be wrong. A referral for an abdominal ultrasound was issued to check for a possible urinary tract infection. But by the next day, May 21, the scan could not fully visualize the area behind his peritoneum. A second ultrasound confirmed our worst fears: there was a mass near the mesenteric artery. The first inklings of terror became a full-blown nightmare. We were quickly referred to the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, and from that moment, life became a dizzying, urgent race against time.
In the following days, Oluś underwent a flurry of tests under general anesthesia: CT, MRI, MIBG scans, bone marrow biopsy, and a trepanobiopsy. Each procedure, while medically necessary, was a tremendous ordeal for our tiny child. The CT scan revealed a tumor in his abdomen measuring 7x5x4.5 cm, surrounding critical blood vessels and organs. The realization that such a massive tumor could exist in a child we saw every day, seemingly healthy, was devastating.
Initially, doctors hesitated to perform a full biopsy due to the tumor’s delicate location, but it was necessary to develop a treatment plan. What seemed like a simple tissue collection became a complex four-hour surgery, each minute stretching our hearts to the breaking point. In less than a week, Oluś had endured nearly daily invasive procedures, each under anesthesia, and we were left waiting, terrified.
The diagnosis confirmed our deepest fears: Stage IV neuroblastoma with metastases to his hips, femurs, and tibias, with a positive N-MYC gene—a marker of high malignancy. The prognosis was grim, the treatment long and grueling, and a complete cure uncertain. Despite this, Oluś faced his ordeal with extraordinary bravery.
The only hope to prevent recurrence lies in a specialized vaccine available only at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. The cost is nearly 2 million złoty, far beyond what we could ever afford, even if we sold everything we own. This financial burden, combined with the emotional strain of watching our child endure pain, has been overwhelming. Yet we cannot give up.
Oluś is currently enduring intensive treatment at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, having spent every day in the hospital since admission. His regimen includes potent COJAC chemotherapy every ten days, a complex surgery to remove the tumor, a bone marrow transplant, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Already, his liver has suffered damage from treatment, and each day is a careful balance of hope and vigilance.
This is not how a two-year-old’s life should be. Oluś should be playing outside, laughing, running freely, and enjoying the carefree moments of childhood. Instead, he faces needles, IVs, and hospital walls. Yet his spirit remains resilient. Every smile, every brave look, every small sign of strength is a miracle in itself.
We are asking for your help. Your support can give Oluś access to life-saving treatments abroad, the chance to recover, and the hope of returning home to a normal childhood. Every donation brings him closer to running, laughing, and being free from the relentless pain of cancer.
Please help our little boy reclaim his life. Help him feel the sun on his face, play with his friends, and live the childhood he so richly deserves. Oluś is a fighter, and with your help, we can give him the future that should have been his from the start.
Elenka’s Fight for Life: A Journey of Strength, Hope, and Unwavering Courage.2648
On July 8, 2025, our beautiful daughter Elenka came into this world under the most challenging circumstances. Born with a severe congenital defect, Elenka faced immediate health struggles. She was born with a bladder without an anterior wall and a defect in the abdominal wall—an overwhelming diagnosis for any parent. But even before she had a chance to experience the joys of life, she was already fighting for her survival.
On the ninth day of her life, our baby girl underwent a complex bladder reconstruction surgery, as well as a posterior hip osteotomy. These were major procedures, and the reality of what our daughter was facing hit us hard. She spent 11 agonizing days in the intensive care unit, nine of which were in a medically induced coma to stabilize her fragile body. We watched, helpless and heartbroken, as Elenka fought with every ounce of strength she had.
After her time in the ICU, we were moved to the surgical and urology ward for another week of recovery. Then, for six long weeks, her tiny legs were immobilized in casts to allow for proper healing. It was a painful time, but we held on to hope, knowing that with each day, Elenka was getting stronger, despite the immense challenges she faced.
Finally, when we thought we could breathe a little easier, fate put our little girl to the test once again. Elenka was hospitalized for urosepsis, a severe infection that threatened her life. Her hemoglobin levels were dangerously low, requiring a blood transfusion to keep her alive. To make matters worse, doctors discovered a blood clot in her jugular vein, a complication that would require her to endure painful injections twice a day. Another 17 long days in the hospital followed, a time filled with worry, fear, and prayers for her recovery.
Our daughter’s journey is far from over. She still faces many surgeries and treatments. There’s a real risk that she may never be able to hold her urine on her own, and regular rehabilitation will be necessary to manage her increased muscle tension. She also requires massages for post-operative scars to promote healing. Each check-up, each procedure, means yet another trip to Gdansk, which has become an expensive and exhausting routine for our family. The financial burden is overwhelming, but we keep moving forward, fueled by the love we have for our daughter and the hope that one day, her struggles will be behind her.
On December 8, 2025, Elenka will undergo another major surgery: the removal of a hernia and the repair of a prolapsed ovary. Even though she is only a few months old, Elenka’s resilience and bravery are nothing short of remarkable. Every day, she faces the unimaginable with the courage of someone far beyond her years, and we, as her parents, stand in awe of her strength.
But as much as we wish we could ease her pain and struggles, we cannot do it alone. Our daughter’s journey is a long and difficult one, and we need support—whether it’s financial or through prayers. Every bit of help, no matter how small, makes a difference. It lightens our burden and reminds us that we are not alone in this fight. We are endlessly grateful to everyone who has supported Elenka, and to those who continue to walk with us during this difficult journey.
As parents, our hearts break every day seeing our daughter endure so much, but we also feel an immense sense of hope. With each challenge Elenka faces, we are reminded of her incredible strength, and we believe that with continued support, love, and care, she will continue to defy the odds.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting our brave girl. Every step forward in Elenka’s journey is a victory, and together, we will ensure she has the chance to grow, heal, and live a full, happy life.
Mother of Elenka
