SYNOVIAL SARCOMA! My son Maciej has a rare form of cancer!

Winter cold 

January 2025 started off as usual. Cold winter days often bring on infections, so when my son Maciek told me about his symptoms, I didn’t think it was anything serious. We went to the doctor, who prescribed an antibiotic.

Days turned into weeks, but the pain wouldn’t go away. It was quiet but very persistent. It came back every day to remind me it was still there. I started to get really worried, so a little while later I made another appointment for Maciek.

I remember that moment very clearly. We were in the doctor’s office, and he suddenly became very serious. The silence during the visit was unbearable. The tension kept building until the doctor sat down, looked at me, and said, “Your son has a tumor on the left side of his throat; we need to examine him.”

Time of diagnosis 

In November, I received Maciek’s diagnosis: synovial sarcoma. It’s a rare and malignant cancer. For a moment, nothing else registered with me. All I could think about was the name of my son’s disease. It sounded very foreign. I looked at Maciek then and asked: Why him?

A different daily routine 

Maciek has undergone surgery and several rounds of chemotherapy. Each treatment sapped his strength, but it was also a small step toward recovery. In early January, he underwent a procedure to have a feeding tube inserted. This helped with feeding and administering medication, bypassing his throat. We are also battling anemia.

Today, I can only look back on those days when our daily life was ordinary. I miss it. I miss mornings without fear, and the plans that had to give way to treatment. The present is very demanding, yet fragile.

We miss the way things used to be 

I'm with Maciek all the time. Sometimes at home, where we try to just go about our daily lives, and sometimes at the hospital, where things move at a completely different pace.

My son isn't going to school. He misses casual conversations, laughter, and hanging out with friends. Right now, his recovery is the most important thing.

There is, however, one thing that still brings a smile to his face: soccer. When he watches a game, he’s glued to his beloved teams and favorite players. Before his illness, he often made plans with friends to go to games. When he played, he had such a lightness and joy about him. He was very fast, and those close to him praised him for being a very good player.

Further treatment 

Now that our lives have taken on a completely different pace, I am asking for your help for my son. The path we are on is very demanding, both emotionally and financially. Every bit of support gives us a chance to continue treatment. It is this support that ensures we are not alone in our difficult daily lives.