Timo is struggling with Nijmegen Syndrome and T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia

The boy's parents heard a striking diagnosis when their son turned one month old - a rare disease known as Nijmegen Syndrome was diagnosed.

It manifests as microcephaly, facial dysmorphia and congenital immunodeficiency. It is a fairly uncommon genetic defect, and those who suffer from it are very often at risk of developing cancer.

Despite his illness, he attended a kindergarten where he could count on support through a specially formed group. Everything changed when the conflict in Ukraine escalated and Tymofiy's family was forced to flee to Poland.

To make matters worse, at the end of August 2023, Timo was transported by ambulance from a hospital in Lubin to Wrocław's "Cape of Hope", where he was immediately taken to the Intensive Care Unit in serious condition. It was then that our charge's parents learned another painful diagnosis - their son had contracted T-type acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The battle for the boy's life began. Treatment with chemotherapy was implemented, which quickly caused numerous side effects. These included a burnt esophagus, ulcerated lips or irritated skin all over his body. After three extremely hard months of treatment, Timo was able to return home with his mother for 10 days. His return to the "Cape" was followed by a continuation of chemotherapy, which again caused serious complications. The warrior was again sent to the Intensive Care Unit, where he remained until he was transferred to the transplant unit.

On February 15, 2024, to be exact, Timo underwent a bone marrow transplant, which was taken from his sister. However, the transplant caused further complications. Intestinal and skin grafts appeared, in addition, the boy went through a severe flu. He lay connected to oxygen for more than a week, and had to be fed parenterally for an entire month. Incidentally, this was not the first time such an extreme situation had occurred during treatment.

The return to form came very slowly for our Hero, but thanks to a strong will to fight and determination, he was allowed to return home on March 28, 2024. Since then, he has been under the constant care of the clinic's doctors and has to return regularly for check-ups, blood transfusions and platelet administration, tests and lumbar punctures combined with chemotherapy administration. Tests have also shown that the boy's marrow continues to work, which is a very bad sign.

Ahead of our Warrior and his parents is a very long road back to normalcy, and consequently a very expensive rehabilitation. Frequent visits to the hospital severely deplete the already modest household budget. Timo's dad is the sole breadwinner in the family.

Timo's parents are not giving up, but they need a lot of support. They are asking all people of good will to help them during this difficult time.