CRITICALLY URGENT ❗️ Four-year-old Wiktor is fighting for his life. He has been diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, one of the most aggressive and dangerous liver cancers in children. Thanks to the overwhelming support of kind-hearted people, Wiktor is now in a hospital in the United States, where he has a real chance to survive.
Cancer is an enemy that shows no mercy. Every day is uncertain, and every moment carries unimaginable risk. Wiktor’s parents wake each morning praying for his health, begging for strength, and hoping to share another day with their brave little boy.
Each night, they kneel by his hospital bed, watching him sleep. They whisper words of love and encouragement, and they pray that the battles he endures are not in vain. Their son’s childhood, stolen by disease, has become a struggle, yet he faces it with the courage of a hero.
Our fight began in October 2021. That was the month when Wiktor’s diagnosis turned our lives upside down. In one instant, our world ended as we knew it, replaced by hospital corridors, urgent consultations, and fear that gripped every heartbeat.
The early months were filled with hospital visits, examinations, and long periods of waiting. Each day, we hoped for news, clung to every small improvement, and endured every setback. Wiktor was far too young to understand what was happening, yet he met every challenge with astonishing bravery.
After many months of chemotherapy and surgeries, a glimmer of hope emerged in December 2022. Thanks to generous donations from around the world, we raised enough funds to begin treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital. This hospital was the only place willing and able to take on such a complex and rare case.
Despite our efforts, hope was not easily found. We consulted numerous hospitals and spoke with specialists across multiple countries. No other facility had the capability or the willingness to treat such an aggressive form of hepatoblastoma in a child as young as Wiktor.
In September 2022, we had the opportunity for a liver transplant in Boston. Sadly, we could not secure the necessary funds in time. Wiktor’s condition worsened as the tumor progressed and created additional complications, pushing us to the brink of despair.
Doctors in Warsaw intervened with extraordinary care. They delivered a message no parent wants to hear: “Your son has no chance of survival; after the transplant, he will have a 30% chance.” Against staggering odds, Wiktor survived. He defied statistics and gave us the hope we desperately needed.
Even after the liver transplant, the fight was far from over. Lesions appeared in his lungs, signaling the cancer’s unexpected progression. Treatment options in Poland were exhausted, leaving only palliative care as a temporary measure.
We refused to accept defeat. After extensive planning and coordination, Wiktor was transferred to Boston. There, a personalized treatment plan was devised that included targeted chemotherapy and surgical procedures to remove metastases from his lungs.
This treatment plan offered the first real chance at a normal life. Yet it came with enormous financial burdens. Each modification to the plan added costs, and every delay threatened Wiktor’s survival.
Wiktor’s journey has been harrowing. He has endured 35 cycles of chemotherapy, seven major surgeries, and countless general anesthesias for imaging and procedures. Blood transfusions, threats of liver transplant rejection, and dangerous infections became part of his daily life.
He has spent half of his young life inside hospital walls. Wiktor is separated from his younger brother and the familiarity of home. A once energetic toddler is now a four-year-old boy who knows only the rhythm of treatments, tests, and medications.
Despite all of this, he still smiles. He still finds the courage to play and interact when possible. His resilience is remarkable, teaching everyone who meets him about strength, hope, and the human spirit.
Each day is a battle, not just for Wiktor, but for the entire family. Nights are sleepless, filled with fear, anxiety, and prayers that cannot be measured. Every parent wants to shield their child from pain, yet in Wiktor’s case, no measure seems sufficient.
Cancer is unpredictable. One moment brings hope, the next, fear. The disease continues to evolve, requiring constant vigilance and rapid adaptation of treatment plans.
We are pleading for help. The cost of advanced treatment in the United States is beyond what we can manage alone. Without support, Wiktor cannot continue his fight, and time is of the essence.
Every procedure, every hospital stay, and every cycle of chemotherapy costs thousands of dollars. Travel, accommodation, medications, and surgeries all add to the burden. The financial reality is terrifying, yet the stakes are even higher—our son’s life hangs in the balance.
Wiktor fights like a lion. His determination and bravery defy his age. Even in the darkest moments, he inspires hope in those around him, proving that courage is not measured by years but by spirit.
We will not give up. As long as Wiktor fights, we will fight with him. Every step forward, every setback, and every small victory is part of a larger battle for life.
Time is critical. Hepatoblastoma progresses rapidly in children. Every delay, every obstacle can determine whether Wiktor survives or loses this fight.
Your support can make the difference. Donations cover essential treatment, medications, surgeries, and the specialized care he requires. Every contribution ensures that he continues to receive life-saving interventions without interruption.
This is a story about love, courage, and the fight against overwhelming odds. It is about a family refusing to surrender to tragedy. And it is about the collective power of compassion from those willing to stand beside them.
Wiktor’s story is still being written. Every day brings new challenges, but also victories. Every surgery, every successful treatment cycle, and every smile is a testament to his will to live.
Please help Wiktor survive. Help him regain his childhood, his health, and his future. Every second counts, every act of kindness matters, and every life saved is a miracle.
From the depths of their hearts, Wiktor’s parents ask for your support. Stand with them. Stand with Wiktor. Give him the chance to live.
Because life is precious. And every child deserves a chance to fight, to dream, and to grow.
“Max’s Heart: A Journey of Courage, Strength, and Miracles”.456
Max was born on the 3rd of October 2021 after a long and exhausting labour. Holding him for the first time, we felt an overwhelming mix of relief, joy, and love. Bringing him home, we looked forward to the simple, precious moments of parenthood—feeding, cuddling, and watching him grow. Initially, everything seemed perfect. Max fed well, slept well, and smiled at us with the innocence of a newborn. Life felt complete.
It wasn’t until Max’s Granny commented on the way he was breathing that we began to question whether something was wrong. At first, we brushed it off, thinking it might just be newborn quirks. But when Max was around three to four weeks old, I mentioned our concern to our health visitor. Acting immediately, she phoned our GP, and that same day, we attended an appointment. The GP wasn’t overly worried; Max’s blood oxygen levels were 97%. However, he recommended further checks to be safe.
After numerous tests, the early results suggested pneumonia, which gave us some comfort. But then came the moment that changed everything. Max was scheduled for a heart scan, and from the expression on the doctor’s face, we knew something was gravely wrong. We were quickly escorted into a room with a consultant and a nurse, who delivered the news that Max had a large ventricular septal defect (VSD)—a significant hole in his heart. They explained that he would need open-heart surgery as soon as possible. Our world crumbled, yet we clung to the hope that this surgery would give Max the life he deserved.
The next few months were filled with uncertainty. Surgery dates were repeatedly cancelled, leaving us in a cycle of hope and disappointment as we drove to the hospital, only to be told it wasn’t his day. Finally, at the end of January 2022, Max was admitted.
Surgery day was the most terrifying day of our lives. As the anaesthetists put Max to sleep, time stretched endlessly. Every tick of the clock weighed heavily on our hearts. Hours later, we received the call that the surgery was over. When we reached Max’s bedside, the consultant’s face told us it hadn’t gone perfectly. Max’s heart orientation was unusual, and during the patching of the VSD, an artery had been damaged. Panic surged through us, but the medical team’s professionalism, calmness, and determination offered a lifeline of reassurance.
Max spent ten days in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Twice during that time, he had peri-arrests, moments when his life hung in the balance, and he was placed on ECMO watch. I will never forget the nurse who reassured me, showing me the monitor and explaining that although it looked frightening, Max’s heart was still functioning and he was still breathing.
Due to the damaged artery, Max’s left ventricle became enlarged. Surgeons reopened his chest to alleviate the pressure, and after several critical days, his heart began to stabilize. Eventually, he was transferred to the cardiology ward, where we spent another three weeks watching and waiting as Max’s ventricle settled. Every small improvement felt like a monumental victory.
Now, Max is two and a half years old. He still takes medication five times a day to support his heart, but he is thriving. Energetic, playful, and endlessly curious, Max is a force of life. Watching him run, climb, and explore with the boundless joy of childhood is nothing short of miraculous. Each day, he reminds us how resilient the human heart—both physically and emotionally—can be.
We are deeply grateful to all the doctors, nurses, and support staff who guided Max through his surgery, intensive care, and recovery. Their expertise, compassion, and tireless dedication saved our son’s life. Max’s case is so rare that his surgeon plans to write a medical paper on the unusual orientation of his heart, hoping to help other families facing similar challenges.
Max’s journey has been a rollercoaster of fear, hope, and triumph. It has taught us the immeasurable strength of parents, the power of expert care, and the courage of a tiny boy who refuses to give up. Every day with Max is a gift—a reminder that even in the face of extraordinary adversity, miracles do happen.
