I have nothing more than today

Is there a place, a land of magic, where we could hide our child? A place where the father’s arms are the highest mountain, siblings the worst enemy, and war only a type of card game. Where the greatest pain is caused by a scratched knee, and where saying “goodbye” means nothing more than “see you tomorrow”. These privileges of childhood weren’t given to Piotruś.

Year 2012, oncology department. Our son is diagnosed with having “something” at the back of his head – meduiloblastoma IV stage of malignancy. Upon entering the department, you have a feeling of not being able to bear this place for more than a week’s time. But then it starts to be your new home for almost 2 years. The bald heads of little fighters, overwhelming pain. These are hard to ignore. You cannot stay indifferent. It is even more difficult to wear an invisible mask, which shows a smile and happiness on your face, and a strong belief when convincing your child that everything is going to be fine if every day is more precious than gold. For one and a half years we tried to stay normal in a hospital everydayness... To laugh between each chemotherapy and not to let Piotruś see fear in our eyes. A year ago we heard: “Clean. Free of cancer cells”

On the one hand, extreme joy and happiness. When you leave the hospital, you wish to begin a new life, to forget and erase form your memory the fact your child had cancer. Yet, deep in your soul there always stays an imprint. Every check-up makes your heart beat faster... After leaving an oncological department you are never the same. Piotruś grew up very fast. He became more serious and calm. It is really hard to make him laugh. The disease took away from him what only children have - careless smile, endless trust, and the joy of life…

Through the last year we were trying to wipe this monster out of our memory. We did not mention the disease. We wanted to give Piotruś back the precious and special moments, which make up the life of every child, and a normal childhood. He began his education in first grade, and it seemed that things were getting back to the way they should.

Exactly one year passed. A check-up visit. The doctor’s words, which turned our life into hell, “It is really serious. There is a relapse. A tumour in the frontal lobe and cancer lesions, which shine along the whole spinal column like Christmas lights." The relapse in our son is a defeat of the Polish health service – admitted the doctor. He was perfectly healed - clean. Disease attacked in concealment. It did not hurt... It cared for nothing. Our son’s horrific cry, another registration, long months at hospital. “There was an enormous fear at the first time. A pain that was heart-breaking. The second time is even worse. Disseminated tumour, non-operative, no chance for improvement," says the father. Doctors cannot heal our son in Poland. They can only prolong his life – about a few weeks or months at best. The chance appeared with a strong determination in searching for help.


 

Austria. Vienna. Doctors here know the tricky way of winning with the cancer. The enormous amount of money 400 000 euro. On 5 November we arrive for consultation. Treatment targeted directly on cancer cells’ lesions. A hope appears with people who fought this deceitful battle. 2 years of treatment are planned. After 6 months it turns out if the therapy brings any results. On 1 December we arrive at the clinic . What comes after, no one knows, but without the money we are not able to take our last chance. We beg you to help save our son’s life.

We cannot… save him from the ill of the world nor erase the memory of hospital pain, tears and fear. With the strong belief and support of the loved ones, it has been possible to find a place where the parents can start the struggle to restore the careless world of their child, 7-year-old boy, who has started to fight cancer the second time.

Cancer lesions shining like Christmas lights along the spine are in Poland an unsurpassable wall. There is a clinic in Vienna, which specialises in medulloblastoma treatment.

In a carefree life of a child, there should be no place for tears and pain. Childhood is a time of dreaming. Piotruś dreams only about good health and you can help him today to ensure a better and stronger tomorrow.

UPDATE 24.02.2015:

First MRI results confirmed what all of us were waiting for. The treatment works and brings first results. The spine