Less than three years ago, on St. Nicholas Day, Tomuś’s parents received the greatest gift of their lives—the birth of their son, Tomek. His tiny hands, sparkling eyes, and the joy he brought into their world made every day brighter. They never imagined that just two and a half years later, they would be thrust into a battle against one of the most ruthless adversaries imaginable: a malignant brain tumor threatening the life of their beloved child.
The first warning signs came in June 2021. Tomuś began to complain of headaches, nausea, and dizziness. He started losing his balance, and vomiting became frequent. At first, his parents hoped it was nothing serious, but deep down, they sensed something was wrong. A CT scan confirmed their worst fears: a lesion had formed in his brain. He was immediately transported by ambulance to a hospital in Warsaw, where an MRI revealed the devastating truth: an anaplastic ependymoma, a malignant brain tumor measuring 4 by 5 centimeters. The diagnosis was terrifying.
On June 28, 2021, Tomuś underwent surgery to remove the tumor. While the operation successfully removed the mass, it came with severe complications. The surgery left him with paralysis of the laryngeal and pharyngonasal nerves, making speaking and swallowing extremely difficult. He now requires a feeding tube to ensure proper nutrition. Despite these challenges, Tomuś faced his new reality with incredible courage, embodying the strength and resilience of a child determined to survive.
Following surgery, Tomuś underwent four cycles of chemotherapy. For a while, his parents clung to hope, believing that treatment would halt the tumor’s growth. But recent MRIs brought heart-wrenching news: the chemotherapy was not working. The tumor was growing rapidly and had already metastasized to his spinal cord. Each passing day brought mounting fear, and his parents knew they had to act quickly to find the most effective treatment available.
In their search for answers, Tomuś’s family reached out to parents of children with similar conditions. Through this network, they learned about a specialized clinic in Tubingen, Germany, renowned for treating cases like Tomuś’s. The clinic offered a combination of surgery and proton therapy, which could give him the best chance at survival. However, the cost was staggering—hundreds of thousands of złoty, far beyond what his family could afford on their own.
Time is critical. Proton therapy must be started promptly to stop the tumor from spreading further. Every delay increases the risk of permanent damage and reduces the chance of a successful outcome. For Tomuś’s parents, every moment is a race against time. They face sleepless nights, constant worry, and the unbearable thought of losing the child who has brought so much light into their lives. Yet, despite the fear and exhaustion, their determination remains unshakable: they will do everything in their power to save him.
Tomuś’s story is a testament to courage—not just his own, but the unwavering strength of his parents, who fight daily on his behalf. They have experienced the raw fear of medical uncertainty, the frustration of setbacks, and the emotional toll of watching their child endure pain. Yet they refuse to give up. Every test, every consultation, every procedure is a step toward hope, a chance to restore a future where Tomuś can laugh, play, and grow like any child his age.
The family is appealing for help. They need support to cover the extraordinary costs of surgery, proton therapy, and the ongoing care required for Tomuś’s recovery. Every donation brings them closer to giving their son the life-saving treatment he desperately needs. Every contribution, every message of encouragement, and every act of kindness fuels their hope and determination to see him survive this battle.
Tomuś’s fight is far from over, but with the right treatment, timely intervention, and the support of compassionate people around the world, he can have a chance to overcome this disease. This is a child who deserves to experience the world, to explore, to dream, and to live fully. Every moment counts, and together, we can help Tomuś win this fight and reclaim his childhood from the shadow of cancer.
Please join us in supporting Tomuś. Your generosity could save a life, restore hope, and ensure that this brave little boy gets the future he deserves.
— Parents of Tomuś Kołodziejczyk
The Forgotten Souls of the Streets: A Silent Plea for Compassion.813
The image before us captures more than just a moment — it reveals a painful truth that echoes through countless cities around the world. In the center of the frame lies a frail, emaciated dog, searching through scraps of garbage for something to fill its empty stomach. Its ribs protrude sharply beneath thinning fur, its head lowered in quiet desperation. The ground beneath it is dirty and scattered with litter. In the blurred background, a car passes — a fleeting symbol of the human world that rushes on, oblivious to the suffering only a few feet away.
There is nothing staged about this photograph. It is raw, unfiltered, and heartbreakingly real. It captures the fragile existence of millions of street dogs who endure hunger, disease, and neglect each day. Their struggle rarely makes headlines. Their cries are rarely heard. Yet they exist — quietly surviving in the margins of human civilization, relying on instinct, endurance, and the occasional act of kindness from a stranger.
Every visible bone in that dog’s body tells a story — of hunger that has lasted far too long, of nights spent trembling in the cold, and of days spent dodging traffic and cruelty. The way it bends to sniff at the trash isn’t just about finding food; it’s about survival in a world that has forgotten it exists. That single image becomes a silent question directed at us all: how did we let this become normal?
For many of these animals, life begins and ends on the streets. Some are born to stray mothers, never knowing the comfort of a home. Others are abandoned — once loved, later discarded when illness, age, or inconvenience set in. Each story is different, but the ending is often the same: hunger, sickness, loneliness, and fear. They scavenge what they can, competing with others for scraps, often in areas where humans look away rather than extend a hand.
The struggle for survival takes a heavy toll. Malnutrition weakens their bodies, leaving them vulnerable to disease. Without proper food, their immune systems collapse, and preventable illnesses — parvovirus, distemper, rabies — spread unchecked. A simple wound, left untreated, can turn into a fatal infection. A harsh downpour or freezing night can mean the end. Their lives are a constant test of endurance, with every sunrise bringing the same battle all over again.
And yet, despite the suffering, there is something profoundly moving about their resilience. Even after enduring abandonment and abuse, many still wag their tails when shown kindness. They still hope — for food, for warmth, for a gentle touch. Their hearts, though battered, remain capable of love. That is what makes their plight so tragic — the endless capacity to trust, in a world that so often fails them.
But this story doesn’t have to end in despair. Across the globe, quiet heroes dedicate their lives to changing this reality — rescuers, shelter volunteers, and everyday people who choose compassion over convenience. One meal offered to a stray, one bowl of water left by the roadside, one call to an animal rescue group — these acts matter. They save lives, even if only one at a time. And in those moments of mercy, humanity reclaims a small piece of its own soul.
To truly address this issue, education and empathy must walk hand in hand. Spaying and neutering programs reduce suffering before it begins. Community awareness encourages responsible pet ownership and challenges the stigma that stray animals are worthless or dangerous. Governments and citizens alike must recognize that compassion is not a luxury — it is a duty that defines the kind of society we choose to be.
That single image — of a dog eating from a pile of trash — should not just evoke sadness; it should awaken action. It should remind us that life, no matter how small or silent, has value. These animals did not choose the streets; the streets were chosen for them by human neglect. But it is also through human compassion that their fate can change.
In the end, that starving dog represents more than suffering — it represents endurance. It teaches us something fundamental about hope, survival, and the quiet courage it takes to keep going in a world that looks away. If we open our eyes, if we act with empathy, we can transform that image from one of despair into one of redemption — where no creature is left to face hunger and loneliness alone.
Because sometimes, the smallest gesture — a meal, a rescue, a moment of kindness — is enough to change everything.
And that, more than anything, is the story this photograph asks us to rem
