Every day, Olha battles acute lymphoblastic leukemia! We need your help

It all started with a seemingly harmless fever and knee pain. No one suspected at the time that these symptoms were a sign of a serious cancer. Today, Olha battles acute lymphoblastic leukemia every day, and her life—and the daily routine of her entire family—has been consumed by treatment, hospital rooms, and a constant fight for her health.

The diagnosis that changed everything

In early January, Olha’s temperature began to hover around 37.5°C for several weeks. She also developed severe knee pain that did not subside over time. Further testing revealed a devastating diagnosis: acute common B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia. For her parents, this was a huge shock and the beginning of a very difficult fight for their daughter’s life.

Intensive treatment and follow-up procedures

Since her diagnosis, Olha has undergone numerous lumbar punctures and bone marrow biopsies. Her treatment is being administered in accordance with the specialized AIEOP BFM 2017 protocol and includes very intensive chemotherapy. During treatment, she also required partial parenteral nutrition, implantation of a tunneled central catheter, multiple blood component transfusions, and additional general anesthesia for medical procedures.

Olha's body is under a great deal of strain from the treatment. Compounding the challenge are her comorbid conditions—Trisomy 21 and celiac disease—which make it even more difficult for her to undergo the therapy.

The hospital has become a part of the family's daily life

Currently, the parents are taking turns caring for their daughter in the hospital. The illness has completely changed the lives of the entire family and forced them to reorganize everything that used to be part of their normal daily routine. Work and career plans have taken a back seat. The fight for Olha’s health has become the top priority.

They are constantly plagued by stress, anxiety, and fatigue stemming from their prolonged hospital stay and their struggle to balance life between the ward and home. Olha’s sister is also going through a very difficult time, as she misses her parents and siblings. For her, too, this is a source of immense stress and a sense of being lost in this new reality.

The hardest part is dealing with everyday challenges

Every day, the family struggles with sleep deprivation, constant commuting, juggling life between the hospital and home, and trying to provide support for all their children at the same time. Despite their exhaustion, the parents are doing everything they can to make sure Olha feels safe and has her loved ones by her side throughout her treatment.

She still has a childlike sensitivity

Despite her illness, Olha still loves watching movies, listening to music, and drawing. It’s these little things that help her escape the harsh reality of the hospital, even if just for a moment, and find a little peace.

The funds raised will be used to cover non-reimbursable medications, rehabilitation, transportation, psychological support, and other needs related to long-term treatment. Please support Olha. Every bit of help gives her a better chance at a more comfortable treatment process, better care, and the opportunity to continue fighting the disease that so suddenly changed the lives of her entire family.