Lena's life was stopped by knee pain. The diagnosis was devastating

My name is Lena, and until June 2024 I lived like most teenage girls.

I love animals - especially my cat Lila - and I love to explore the world. I visited paradise Madeira, snorkeled in Egypt, delighting in the colors of the coral reefs... I was curious about life and enjoyed every day.

And then came the knee pain. At first it seemed to be something quite ordinary - maybe growing pains? The orthopedist saw nothing alarming, I was given pills, which did not help. My parents took me to physical therapists, but the pain did not go away. On the contrary, it was getting worse. I began to limp, struggled to get out of bed, lost my appetite ... and most of all - my strength. After many weeks of uncertainty, more doctors and tests, I heard the diagnosis that stopped my life in its tracks:
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. These are words that no child should ever have to hear.

Since then, my life has been a struggle - with pain, fear, loneliness and limitations that have taken away everything I loved. I spend my time mostly in the hospital. Even when I feel better, I can't just go for a walk, go shopping, or meet up with friends. Everything is subordinated to treatment and survival. Nevertheless - I don't give up. I would like to bake cakes again, go rollerblading, laugh on trips and enjoy a normal teenage life. I dream of simply being a healthy Lena again.

That's why today I'm asking for your support - any help brings me closer to recovery, to normalcy, to smiling.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Lena