Help Children with Cancer Access Treatment!

Baby Danylo is the third child in his family, and the first boy.  On September 16, 2020, at the age of  just one month, he was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare type of eye cancer. His family was devastated to learn that the hospital in Kyiv where Danylo was admitted, or any other medical facility in Ukraine, cannot offer modern methods of therapy because of lack of equipment and technology for this kind of cancer.  Retinoblastoma requires highly specialized care, experienced specialists and regular follow-up assessments to make sure it does not recur and spread throughout the body.  Through cancer support groups, the family came in contact with Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital in Lausanne, Switzerland, which is a center of excellence in care for retinoblastoma.  The hospital agreed to take Danylo in for urgent treatment, which started on September 24, 2020. 

Danylo's family pulled all of their resources together and with fundraising efforts they managed to deposit the amount needed to start treatment. Treatment has been successful so far, which gives them hope for beating cancer and retaining Danylo's eyesight.   However, after multiple chemotherapy sessions and doctors' visits, the deposit has been depleted and now the family is looking for financial assistance to continue Danylo's treatment. 

Thanks to your support, we were able to issue a grant to Danylo's family and get them closer to beating cancer.   Did you know that next week, any donation of up to $50 will receive a 50% match from GlobalGiving?  That's a great way to help kids like Danylo who have to travel abroad to access the right treatment.  We hope you join us next week, from Monday, March 8th through Friday, March 12th and show your support for our cause!

Thank you so much!

Stay safe!

2020 has been such a turbulent year that it's safe to say that all of us are feeling its effects to some degree.  The uncertainty over our future, fears of catching a deadly virus, worries about our loved ones and rapidly changing circumstances have been our companions for many months.  And so much unknown still lies ahead.

These emotions are not unlike experiences that families of children with cancer go through from the moment of diagnosis.  It's a heavy burden of emotional, physical and financial turmoil, and to cope with it the families have to mobilize all of their resources and reach out to wide and far communities.  Often, in search of appropriate treatment their journey takes them abroad.  Rostislav's family had to follow just such a path. 

Rostislav is now 3 years old. He's been growing up healthy and happy and enjoyed going to daycare. A month ago he suddenly began complaining of stomachaches, and his parents took him to see a doctor. A large abdominal tumor was discovered by Rostislav’s local doctors in the city of Khmelnitskyi, in western Ukraine, and he was referred for additional evaluation in Kyiv. There Rostislav was diagnosed with aggressive childhood cancer, neuroblastoma. Unfortunately, the primary tumor metastasized to Rostislav’s bone marrow by that time. Neuroblastoma’s treatment is highly complex and challenging and requires several approaches that have to precisely timed – surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Immunotherapy, which cuts the risk of relapse by half, is only available abroad, and Rostislav’s parents took him to Spain to access this treatment. While they were able to raise money for initial deposit, they will need to raise much more to be able to complete treatment.

Our project helps to support families like Rostislav's.  We believe that every child regardless of their place of birth deserves access to the best care available for cancer.  We search the world for the proper opportunities or support patients that have already found treatment on their own but need financial aid. Thank you so much for allowing us to continue our work!

We are truly grateful for your help!  Hope the upcoming holiday season will bring you joy and happiness.

Stay safe!