Karolek bravely battles acute lymphoblastic leukemia

It's hard, moreover, to talk about an "equal fight" in the case of an illness of such a small and defenseless being. At first it seemed to be just another standard infection in a child who attends kindergarten.

The first symptoms that drew the attention of Karol's parents were toothache. A dental consultation yielded no answers - according to the dentist, all teeth were fine. However, the symptoms persisted, and soon our Warrior developed jawbone, a high fever lasting more than a week, all accompanied by terrible pain. After a visit to the pediatrician, detailed tests were ordered. The results were unfavorable, and the suspicion was mononucleosis.

To the doctor who admitted Karolek and his parents, "something" did not let up. In the following days, Karolek was literally "fading in his eyes", he was constantly tired, achy and had no appetite. The results were not improving, so the decision was made to refer him to the hospital in Walbrzych. The boy was taken care of by the orderly - a pediatrician, hematologist and pediatric oncologist. Shortly thereafter, the world of the 4-year-old's parents collapsed for the first time - on April 10 to be exact, they heard that the "Cape of Hope" in Wroclaw was already waiting for them. They were fully aware of what this meant, but still hoped for a miracle and confirmation that it was "only" mononucleosis in a very strong version.

Dr. Grazyna Wrobel, M.D., welcomed Karol and his parents to the ward and made sure that the little one stopped being afraid at least a little. The nurses, like the best aunts, took care of him and even painlessly took further samples for examination. Around 9 p.m. that same day, Dr. Wróbel broke the news to Karol's mother: the diagnosis was leukemia. The world of the boy's parents fell apart once again, and their hearts broke into millions of pieces....

Currently, the fight for Karol's health and life is ongoing. He is a very cheerful and lively boy. He loves to play soccer, and his favorite number on his jersey is "nine"! In his free time he enjoys constructing numerous things with LEGO bricks. The 4-year-old's biggest dream is to get well and stop taking all those medications. He would very much like to return home, where his sister Zuzia is waiting for him, and go to the sea together again.

Treatment is long and difficult, like climbing the highest peak. After nearly two months of treatment, Charles faced very serious complications. The administration of chemotherapy had to be discontinued because the body became infected. The boy battled sepsis, pneumonia and high blood pressure. As if that wasn't enough, Karolek also got PRES brain swelling, resulting in temporary speech aphasia. Fortunately, he is slowly getting back on track, but the effects of the aforementioned complications will take a long time to repair.

Charles' parents keep saying: we will win this war, we must!

Karol's rehabilitation following treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia will be extremely important to help him return to health and normal functioning. Rehabilitation support will be necessary in many areas, such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological therapy.

• Physiotherapy is necessary to restore the strength and fitness of Karol, who has been weakened as a result of leukemia treatment. Physiotherapy exercises will help strengthen muscles, improve balance and motor coordination, and increase flexibility. In addition, bone necrosis can occur as a side effect of chemotherapy treatment, which is why physiotherapy is so important.
• Occupational therapy is needed to help Charles regain the skills he needs for daily activities, such as eating, dressing and using the bathroom independently. Occupational therapists will also help him develop social, communication and independence skills. Charles has been excluded from preschool activities including kindergarten for two years. Before his illness, he enjoyed going to kindergarten and was very active during classes.
• Speech therapy is necessary if the child had speech or swallowing problems as a result of leukemia treatment. Karol has already developed PRES, a complication of chemotherapy (swelling of the brain), which has caused speech disorders (similar to a stroke, this is reversible, but requires exercise). Speech therapists will help him improve speech comprehension, verbal expression and improve swallowing control.
• Psychological support is very important for children after treatment for lymphoblastic leukemia. Charles is experiencing emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression and stress related to the disease and treatment. He is currently receiving antidepressants. Therapists - psychologists will help him cope with his emotional difficulties and his mental recovery.

It is important that Karol's rehabilitation be regular, tailored to his individual needs and conducted by experienced specialists. This will give him a chance for a full recovery and a normal life.

Together, let's help Charles and his parents get through this very difficult time!