Nikolai is battling a rare, aggressive cancer. Help him win❗

The calm before the storm

In the summer of 2023, Nicholas celebrated his second birthday. Soon after, his parents noticed a small thickening on his neck. At first glance, it seemed harmless, perhaps an enlarged lymph node, a minor trace of childhood infections. However, as the days passed, the lesion began to enlarge, and anxiety grew. The clinic made a quick decision to refer the toddler to a hospital in Kielce, where an avalanche of tests began. An ultrasound, MRI, CT scan
and finally a biopsy revealed the beginning of a dramatic journey.

Unexpected diagnosis

In September, Nikolai and his mother were taken to the "Cape of Hope" in Wroclaw, one of the most important pediatric oncology centers in Poland. There, further, even more detailed tests were conducted. The final diagnosis was a blow to the family: a very rare, extremely aggressive malignant tumor called rhabdoid tumor. Already during the diagnosis, intensive chemotherapy was started, hoping to shrink the tumor to a size that would allow its subsequent - surgical - removal.

Hospital reality

The first days in the hospital ward were extremely difficult for Nicholas. Unfamiliar surroundings, unfamiliar faces, examinations performed under general anesthesia took away his childhood joy overnight, and his longing for his dad and sister only intensified his sadness. Despite this, Nikolai turned out to be an extremely brave boy who quickly found himself in his new reality.

Every zloty is a silent opposition to the disease

Nikolai has begun treatment, which will be long and expensive. Scheduled cycles of chemotherapy, surgery, and eventually long-term rehabilitation are the plan for the near future. Any form of support shown is a defiance of the disease and a chance to return to a childhood that was brutally interrupted.