A malignant brain stem tumor! PLEASE HELP! My 3-year-old son Ignacy is battling cancer!

The common cold

In February, my son Ignacy caught a common cold, which didn’t seem particularly concerning at first. Over time, however, symptoms began to appear that clearly went beyond a typical infection: he stopped urinating for several hours. This was accompanied by lethargy, headaches, and loss of balance.

Two hospital stays were supposed to provide answers, but they only brought increasing anxiety. During the second stay, a head CT scan was performed—a test that changed everything. The scan revealed the presence of a tumor.

Diagnosis

In early March, Ignacy was rushed to the Children’s Health Center in Warsaw. There, he underwent an MRI and a biopsy. The diagnosis was clear: a malignant, infiltrating brainstem tumor that was inoperable.

After 16 days of radiation therapy, something everyone had been waiting for with great hope finally happened: the first, small sign of the disease receding. The facial paralysis began to subside, his speech became clearer, swallowing became easier, and his steps became more steady.

Since the start of his treatment, Ignacy has also been participating in clinical trials.

Next steps

Now, each subsequent step depends on how the disease progresses. Doctors are discussing possible next steps: repeat radiation therapy or oral chemotherapy, should the disease progress.

There is still one glimmer of hope: the purchase of a drug imported from Germany.

Everyday Life

Today, I’m with my son all the time. I hold his hand whenever he needs it. Home has become a safe place, and at the same time, a respite between checkups.

Ignacy deals with everything in his own way. There are moments of calm, but also moments when his emotions spiral out of control: difficult, sudden, and unstoppable. At times like that, the most important thing is simply to be there for him, without asking questions and without rushing.

During the calmer moments of his illness, Ignacy loves to watch anything that flies: airplanes, gliders, hot air balloons, paragliders, and parachutes. He can talk about them for hours. At the same time, he is fascinated by medicine—specifically, how the human body works.

Please support me

The hardest part of this daily reality is the feeling that, in addition to battling the disease, you also have to contend with time and costs that won’t wait. That’s why any help becomes more than just support.

Every gesture means more than words can express.