Amputation❗Osteosarcoma of the humerus❗Mikołaj is still fighting❗

A simple pain in the hand became the beginning of a struggle.

The pain in his hand, which appeared just before Easter 2023, wasn’t a symptom that caused any particular concern. It certainly didn’t lead him to suspect a disease that could take over the lives of an entire family for many years.
Like many teenagers his age, Mikołaj sometimes complained of fatigue, overexertion, or pain after physical activity. Over time, however, the symptoms began to worsen, and attempts to alleviate them with painkillers ceased to provide relief.
With each subsequent consultation and each subsequent test, the answer came closer and closer.
On April 14, 2023, a biopsy was performed. The result gave this story its name: osteosarcoma—a malignant bone tumor of the humerus.

Time measured by successive cycles of chemotherapy

The first stage of treatment consisted of eighteen cycles of chemotherapy spread over months spent between home and hospital. Each cycle brought with it a quiet hope that it would bring Mikołaj closer to recovery.
In July 2024, surgery was performed to implant an endoprosthesis in his left arm. At that time, it seemed that there was a chance to return to at least a fragment of normal life.

Sometimes hope must change its shape

However, this moment of normality proved to be too short-lived. In September 2025, doctors diagnosed metastases in his lung. A thoracotomy of the left lung was necessary, followed by targeted treatment.
However, Mikołaj's body reacted with a severe allergic reaction, and the therapy that was supposed to help caused additional complications.
Subsequent tests mercilessly revealed further changes. The disease continued to progress, this time attacking the soft tissues of the arm.
At times like these, conversations with doctors are no longer just about treatment. They begin to touch on decisions that change the rest of one's life.

No one prepares parents for such a conversation.

The doctors' recommendation was clear. Without amputation of the arm, it would be impossible to stop the disease from progressing.
Despite the burden it carried, there could be no other decision.

On February 26, 2026, Mikołaj underwent an amputation operation with exostosis of the scapula and clavicle.

It’s impossible to describe in a single sentence the moment when a person has to accept that their body will never be the same again. In moments like these, one question keeps coming back like a mantra: how to go on living.

Life is slowly settling into a new rhythm.

Mikołaj's everyday life looks different today. It is divided into cycles: two weeks at home, during which he tries to return to things that are still important to him, and a week in the hospital, where further tests, check-ups, and the next stages of treatment await him.
He is most often accompanied by his mother, who has long divided her life between work, home, and endless trips to the Institute. His father works, trying to support the family at a time that has become a huge test of endurance for all of them.
His older sister is also there, accompanying her brother throughout the treatment process with care and tenderness.

Independence after amputation does not return on its own

The operation was a necessary step, but it does not end the treatment or the road to regaining independence.
Mikołaj faces a long rehabilitation process and preparation for functioning with a specialized prosthetic hand.
In addition, there are frequent trips for tests, consultations, and check-ups, which allow doctors to closely monitor the course of treatment.
The costs of this stage are enormous.

Fifteen years is just the beginning of life

Mikołaj is fifteen years old. He still has unread books, unfinished conversations, decisions, and plans that are yet to come.