We only have time until the end of September to save Andrzej's life!

We stand against the wall, and just behind us is a death. We feel her breath on our back, we see her claws stretched out to our little son. We try to defend him, escape death, but we can not do it ourselves ... We only have two weeks to collect a sum, which is hard to imagine. Jędrek's life costs $540.000. The only chance is to treatment in Ohio according to a special protocol. In Poland such treatment is not in use... Our son's case is extremely difficult, because in addition to cancer, Jędrek has also an extremely rare gene mutation. Neither in Poland nor in Europe doctors can handle it. My child's last chance is treatment in the US, but we can not wait. Please help us to save our son...

Two weeks ago, during a regular MRI-scanning, our world collapsed again. The tumor showed up, which meant only one thing - the recurrence of extremely malignant brain cancer - Choroid Plexus Carcinoma (CPC). My went through brain surgery, the doctors reopened his head to cut a tumor that could kill Jędrek at any time. Now, to be able to stop the disease, further treatment is needed. The problem is that in Poland there is only one protocol available in similar cases. And our baby-boy can not go through such treatment, because it will mean for him increased risk of brain tumor relapse as well as secondary cancers!

Everything because of a mutation in the tp53 gene, called the Li-Fraumeni syndrome. In case of healthy people, a properly functioning gene blocks the growth of cancer, because in the case of DNA-abnormality, it simply repairs DNA. The mutation of the tp53 gene causes that the protein is not blocking the division of the malignant cells, and the result is only one - the cancer grows. To minimize the risk of its occurrence, all carcinogens must be isolated. Meanwhile, in Poland, they are offering us treatment using radiotherapy, which carries a great risk of developing secondary tumors. The doctor told us straight - in our country the proposed therapy omits Jędrka's mutation. If we want to save him, we must seek rescue somewhere else ...

The story of our drama began in 2014. We were a happy family, parents of two healthy boys: 4 years old John and 1,5 years old Andrew (Jędrek). One day, Jędrek fell ill - a normal infection, but by repetitive vomiting we went to the doctor. The doctor noticed something disturbing in our son's eyes. Today I thank God for the care of the pediatrician. If not, our baby would not be there anymore. Jędrek went through medical tests, then we heard a diagnosis that was like a blow straight in the heart. I felt that I was falling, and then I felt like it was not really happening, that it was a mistake. However, the study did not lie - in my son's head there were two tumors, each of peach size! My baby, even yesterday, seemed healthy, died today. Can a parent imagine a bigger nightmare? Suddenly we were in the middle of the biggest tragedy that could happen to our own child...

Jędrek immidiately went through two brain  surgeries. We managed to get rid of the tumors, then it was time for exhausting chemotherapy. This was a very difficult period ... The effects of chemo were tragic, my son - although it seemed that the greatest threat had passed - he suffered very much. In addition, complicated brain surgeries caused consequences - Jędrek develops slower, has soft symptoms of autism and aphasia. However, it does not matter, for us he is the greatest miracle and we love him so much. We just want him to live - we can handle the rest ...

During Jędrek's treatment we decided to find out the root cause of cancer that tried to take our son away. We had to be prepared for the worst, because the cancer could attack again ... Although the doctors said it was just a random case, we made Jędrek genetic tests. There was never ever a case of cancer in our family, and suddenly our little son had been attacked by the malignant cancer of choroid plexus ... It turned out that we made a good decision. Genetic testing revealed a mutation in the tp53 gene. Extremely dangerous, causing an increase in cancer risk, potentially fatal ...

Doctors suspect that the mutation originated during pregnancy, for unknown reasons. Me, my husband and older son are healthy. We do not know yet whether our youngest son Adam is healthy as well... Why did this happend to us? We do not know. We know that we have to snatch Jędrek from the clutches of death.

The first stage of treatment ended in March last year. Jędrek could go to kindergarten. He had a moment of breath, could taste what a real childhood was, far from pain and cold hospital walls. I will never forget how happy he was that time...

Today that time seems to be so distant, so unreal. The moments of family happiness once again were brutally destroyed. And - excactly like the first time - nothing promised it. We just went through another regular control MRI-scanning... Somewhere under the skin there was fear, but we knocked it. After all, it was supposed to be fine, our son was supposed to recover... Meanwhile, the result of the MRI-scanning made us come back to the beginning of a nightmare. Nothing was fine, our world, so laboriously rebuilt, collapsed like a cottage with cards. Cancer relapse, another tumor, you need to operate immediately - I heard it through the fog. But I had to break out of dementia, I had to be strong for Jędrek.

The tumor had been resected. Now it is time for oncological treatment. We already know that radiotherapy is impossible - not only does not guarantee the fighting of brain cancer, but it is also almost certain that it will cause secondary cancers with which the child's body can no longer cope. Chemotherapy itself is not enough ... The only chance is treatment offered by doctors at Nationwide Childrens Hospital in Ohio, USA. The cost of such treatment is over 500 thousand US-dollars. My son's life had been valued. This is a price that we are not able to pay ... $540.000 ... Nobody will give us such a loan and we have to fly as soon as possible to start the treatment!

Now we are living in the hospital - it is our home again. It is difficult - husband is on a sick leave, all the time with Jędrek. I am at home with 10-month old Adam. Jan suffers as well.. He sees our despair, he experiences it in his own way. When a child is sick, the whole family is ill. The tumor eats us from the inside, sucks all the strength, but we will not give up - we will fight to the end.

We have two weeks to collect a huge amount of money. In Poland, not to waste time, doctors apply Jędrek maintenance chemo to wait for start of treatment in the United States. We have to pay as soon as possible, as soon as possible fly there and begin treatment of our baby boy. This is the only, last chance. The protocol proposed in the States is not any experimental therapy - Prof. Finlay, acknowledged as the father of neurooncology, has considerable experience in treating such cases. Instead of radiotherapy, he offers a tailored treatment - equally effective and additionally protecting against recurrence of cancer. It's a great chance but we must have funds ... I know there must be a miracle, but we must believe in miracles. Only that left us ...

We beg, help us to save our son ...

Joanna and Pawel - Jędrek's parents