My name is Ewa, and I am the mother of Wojtek, a vibrant, energetic 9-year-old boy who, until recently, lived life without limits. He was always running, laughing, playing soccer, and spending time with friends. He was full of joy, full of life, and completely unaware of the storm that was about to change everything.
It began quietly, almost innocently. Wojtek started complaining of leg pain from time to time. At first, I brushed it off. He was active, trained hard, and sometimes muscles ache. I thought fatigue or growing pains. But on December 22nd, the pain became unbearable. My son was crying, wincing with every step, and I knew something was terribly wrong. By the next day, the pain had intensified. We rushed to the emergency room, unaware that our lives were about to be upended forever.
Doctors ran tests and X-rays on Wojtek’s legs but found nothing. Despite medication, his agony persisted. They referred us to another hospital for further investigation. On December 24th, an MRI revealed the unimaginable: a tumor in his spine. My heart stopped. The words echoed in my mind:
tumor… spinal cord… risk of paralysis. I stared at the computer screen, tears streaming down my face, and tried to process what I was hearing.
Two hours later, Wojtek was in the operating room. Surgeons worked meticulously to remove the tumor pressing against his spinal cord. Every step of this procedure carried enormous risk. Every leg ache, every headache, suddenly made terrifying sense. After surgery, my brave boy faced the grueling reality of rehabilitation. He had to learn to walk again, every step a painful reminder of the ordeal he had endured.
For a fleeting moment, hope flickered. The doctors initially suggested the tumor might be harmless. We allowed ourselves a small sigh of relief, imagining life returning to normal. But our reprieve was short-lived. The very next day, a call from the hospital shattered that fragile hope:
“Please come back, it’s a malignant tumor.” My world froze. Fear and uncertainty replaced the brief optimism we had felt.
From January 9th to 21st, Wojtek remained in the hospital for further tests, starting the first cycle of chemotherapy. Next Friday, he faces a much heavier round of treatment that will last six grueling days. Each session drains him, leaving him weak and exhausted, but Wojtek faces it with courage that belies his nine years. Despite his fear and fatigue, he tells himself to stay strong, to fight, and to believe in the possibility of returning to the life he loves: school, friends, soccer, and laughter.
Rehabilitation is now a daily routine. Every small step he takes on the wall, every moment of regained mobility, is a triumph against the disease trying to steal his childhood. Yet, there are days when he cries, wishing he didn’t have to go back to the hospital. And yet, even in his tears, there is determination, a silent promise to himself and to us that he will endure.
Our journey is long and uncertain. Wojtek faces months of chemotherapy, constant tests, and specialized rehabilitation. The financial burden of these treatments is overwhelming, and we cannot cover it alone. That is why we are reaching out for help. Every donation, every share, every prayer gives Wojtek the chance to continue fighting, to dream again, and to reclaim his childhood.
Wojtek’s bravery teaches me daily what it truly means to fight, to hope, and to live courageously in the face of fear. He is not just surviving; he is teaching those around him the power of resilience, the strength of a determined heart, and the boundless capacity of a child to endure and shine, even in the darkest moments.
We humbly ask for your support in this unequal fight. Each gesture of kindness brings hope and light into Wojtek’s life. Together, we can give him the strength to face the battle ahead and the chance to return to the life he loves. Every step he takes, every smile he shares, every moment of laughter is a victory—and with your help, Wojtek can triumph over this cruel disease.
You are our hope. You are his hope. Please help our brave boy fight for the childhood he deserves.
—Ewa and Wojtek’s parents
Axel’s Journey: A Small Heart, a Big Courage.1602
At just two months old, a routine check-up revealed something extraordinary about little Axel: a hidden heart condition that had gone unnoticed until that very day. Born with aortic stenosis, Axel’s aortic valve was too small, limiting the flow of blood from his heart to the rest of his body. What appeared as a tiny anomaly at first would soon define the course of his early life.
Upon arrival at CHU Sainte-Justine, Axel and his parents, Chloé and Francis, were greeted by Dr. Anne Fournier, a pediatric cardiologist who instantly put their minds at ease. She explained that a minimally invasive procedure could dilate Axel’s valve using a tiny balloon, allowing his heart to function more normally. The promise of hope, combined with the reassurance of expert care, lifted a weight off their shoulders. Weeks later, the procedure was a success, and Axel returned home, healthy and thriving.
For several years, life settled into a rhythm of quiet joy. Axel grew, his heart grew, and the family felt a sense of calm, comforted by the knowledge that their child was in good health. Yet, even amid this tranquility, the specter of future challenges lingered. Doctors had warned that over time, Axel’s aortic valve would inevitably wear out, requiring eventual intervention. For now, that moment seemed far away, a distant horizon on the map of his life.
Reality caught up sooner than expected. Just a year and a half ago, at the age of six, Axel returned for a cardiology follow-up. The test results showed troubling news: his aortic valve was leaking. Immediate action was necessary to prevent heart failure. With unwavering professionalism and skill, Dr. Nancy Poirier, a cardiac surgeon at Sainte-Justine, performed the delicate valve repair on March 28. The procedure went smoothly, and within six days, resilient and positive Axel was back home, reunited with his little sister, Flavie, bringing smiles to the faces of his parents who had weathered yet another storm with courage and hope.
Axel’s story is not just one of medical intervention; it is a testament to human resilience, the comfort of expertise, and the transformative power of community generosity. From the earliest moments of his life, donations from compassionate supporters have surrounded Axel and his family with unparalleled pediatric care. These gifts ensure that the cardiology teams at Sainte-Justine can continue to innovate, providing advanced procedures and treatments that give children like Axel their best chance at a healthy future.
The journey is ongoing. While today Axel thrives and plays with his siblings, the long-term plan includes an open-heart surgery to replace his aortic valve in the coming years. The knowledge that expert care, ongoing research, and medical innovation are readily available brings a sense of reassurance that only a leading pediatric center like Sainte-Justine can provide. Every scan, every procedure, and every consultation is made possible because of the generosity of donors who believe that no child should face these challenges alone.
Axel’s courage in the face of multiple surgeries and hospital stays is matched only by the determination of his family and the dedication of the medical teams supporting him. Their collaborative effort, backed by the resources made possible through public support, ensures that Axel’s heart — and the hearts of countless children across Quebec — receives the care, attention, and innovation it deserves.
This story is also a reminder that pediatric cardiac care is as much about hope as it is about medicine. From a tiny balloon procedure in infancy to life-saving surgeries in childhood, each intervention builds upon the last, creating a continuum of care that safeguards both life and quality of life. Axel’s ability to grow, play, and dream rests not just in his courage but in a system fortified by expertise, research, and community generosity.
As Axel looks forward to his next milestones — school, playdates, and family adventures — his heart carries the strength of a community that refuses to let children face illness alone. With each donation, each act of kindness, supporters unite their hearts with those of children like Axel, ensuring that the path to healing is not just possible but filled with hope, expertise, and unwavering care.
Axel’s journey reminds us that even the smallest hearts can carry the biggest courage. It is a story of resilience, medical innovation, and the transformative power of generosity — a story that continues every day at CHU Sainte-Justine, where children’s lives are not only saved but empowered to flourish. Thank you for being part of this journey, for giving Axel and children like him the chance to grow, thrive, and live fully.
