"Alivia’s Fight: One Kidney, Endless Courage".2125

Every child’s smile is a universe of light. And when that light is threatened, a family will do anything — absolutely anything — to protect it.

Our little girl, Alivia, is one of those children who should be spending her days running through fields, painting with bright colors, or falling asleep with her favorite toy clutched in her arms. Instead, her life has been marked by hospital rooms, medical procedures, and battles most adults could not endure.

For ten weeks, Alivia underwent ten blocks of chemotherapy. Each session was a new mountain to climb, and every week brought with it new fears, new side effects, and new challenges. She endured them all in her own unique way. But the third and sixth treatments were the hardest. Those were the days when her body seemed at its weakest, when fever burned through her small frame, when her hemoglobin dropped to frighteningly low levels, when her neutrophils and platelets — so vital for her body’s defenses — sank dangerously.

It was agonizing to watch. Each beep of the monitor, each whispered conversation between doctors and nurses, carried with it the weight of uncertainty. And yet, despite the exhaustion, despite the pain, Alivia fought through those weeks with a resilience that can only be described as miraculous.

Then came September 25th — a day etched forever in our memories. That morning, Alivia was prepared for surgery, a procedure that would last three long hours. Surgeons worked delicately, methodically, using a laparoscopic method to remove her right kidney. They also excised several affected lymph nodes, cleaned the abdominal cavity around the kidney, and carefully collected other lymph nodes for histopathological examination.

For three hours, time itself felt suspended. Every minute seemed like an eternity. We sat in the waiting area, hands clenched, eyes fixed on the door, praying for strength, praying for good news. When the doctors finally came, the words we had longed to hear brought both relief and sorrow: the kidney had been removed successfully.

Alivia survived. She was stable.

But she was also forever changed.

Recovery was difficult. Her appetite was poor, her body fragile, her spirit weary. Yet she tried — with every small bite of food, with every tiny smile — to show us that she was still fighting. And we clung to those moments, however fleeting, as proof that our little warrior was still with us.

But our journey did not end with the surgery. A new phase of treatment began: radiotherapy. And with it came new costs, new fears, and new battles. We received the financial estimate, and our hearts sank. To continue saving Alivia’s life, we were forced to increase our fundraising goal by more than 80,000. That was the price of giving her a chance. That was the cost of her rescue.

As if the physical toll were not enough, the emotional scars weigh heavily on her young soul. After enduring such invasive treatments, Alivia has developed deep fears. She trembles when someone approaches her bed. She cries when doctors walk into the room. Even the gentlest touch can fill her with dread, because in her short life, touch has so often been accompanied by pain.

Watching her like this breaks our hearts in ways words cannot capture. There are moments when I, her grandmother, wish with all my being that I could trade places with her. I would endure every needle, every surgery, every moment of pain, if it meant sparing her even a fraction of what she has already suffered. But life does not give us that choice. All we can do is stand beside her, hold her hand, and whisper promises that she will never walk this path alone.

It is hard to imagine how such a small child can bear so much. The strength it takes to undergo weeks of chemotherapy, to endure the removal of an organ, to face radiotherapy while still healing — it is strength beyond anything we could have believed possible. And yet, she carries it with her. Even when fear clouds her eyes, even when tears streak her cheeks, there is an unshakable bravery in her spirit.

We believe in her. We believe that she can overcome this.

But we cannot do it alone.

We need help. We need prayers, encouragement, financial support, and the kindness of people who believe in the power of compassion. Every donation, every share of her story, every word of encouragement is a step toward giving Alivia the future she deserves. A future filled not with pain and hospitals, but with laughter, play, and love.

There will be more difficult days ahead. The road to recovery is long, uncertain, and steep. But we have faith that, with support, we can reach the end of it. That one day, we will look back on these months not only as a time of suffering, but as a testimony to resilience, hope, and community.

Alivia is more than her illness. She is a child who loves, who dreams, who deserves a tomorrow. And with your help, we can give it to her.

Please, continue to stand with us. Help us lift her through the darkest moments. Help us carry the weight of this battle.

We cannot promise that it will be easy. We cannot promise that there will not be setbacks. But we can promise this: every prayer, every contribution, every kind thought makes a difference. Together, we can ensure that Alivia’s light does not fade.

Because no child should suffer alone.
Because every child deserves a chance at life.
Because Alivia’s fight is not just hers — it is ours.

Thank you, from the depths of my heart, for standing with us.

With gratitude and hope,
Alivia’s Grandmother

"Dorotka’s Journey to Life: From Poland to Boston with Love".2128

Before I share anything else, I want to begin with a simple but powerful word: thank you.

There is a vast ocean of suffering in the world. So many families, so many children, are fighting battles for their lives. And yet, so many of you chose to open your hearts to our little girl, Dorotka. The fact that you stood with us, that you believed in her, that you extended your kindness to our family — it moves me beyond words.

This summer, Dorotka grew taller, stronger, and prouder. She often smiles up at us and says, with her sweet little voice, “I am big now.” She is cheerful, full of joy, and her laughter is like sunlight pouring into our lives. To see her run, to hear her sing, to watch her discover the world around her — these are gifts we treasure every single day.

But behind every laugh is a shadow, a reminder of the journey we are on. A journey filled with doctors’ appointments, procedures, and moments of fear that never quite leave our hearts. Just two days ago, we were at an appointment with her cardiologist. Every time we step into that office, our hearts are full of anxiety. We know too well that a single test result can change everything. This visit, however, was especially important — it was the key to unlocking the next step in our fight for her life.

Dorotka, as you might imagine, is not a fan of medical examinations. She has endured so many already, more than any child should ever have to face. Each time, we have to reassure her, convince her gently, calm her fears, and remind her that she is safe. And once again, she found her courage. With tears in her eyes but bravery in her little heart, she let the doctors do what they needed to do.

And then came the news: we received the document we had been waiting for, the one that allows us to take her on the most important journey of her life — the journey to Boston.

Thanks to your incredible generosity, what once felt impossible has become possible. We have already been able to cover the cost of her surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital — one of the most advanced and specialized hospitals in the world. This was the single greatest financial burden, and because of you, it is now behind us. Words cannot express the relief and gratitude we feel.

We are now in contact with the hospital, preparing for her surgery in October. For us, this is more than a date on a calendar. It is a beacon of hope. It is the chance to give our daughter a future, a chance to let her grow up, to live, to dream, to simply be a child without fear.

But as life often reminds us, the journey is never as simple as we wish. There are new, unforeseen costs — expenses that we could not have predicted when we began this fight. Travel, accommodations, medications, and follow-up care all add up to an overwhelming sum. After years of struggling, of raising funds, of exhausting every personal resource, we are at a point where we cannot do this alone.

And so, we are once again asking for your help.

It is humbling to admit, after all the support you have already given us, that we need more. But we have learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It is an act of love — because every request is not for us, but for our little girl. For her chance at life.

Every word of encouragement you send, every prayer you whisper for Dorotka, every donation you make — they all matter more than you can imagine. They give us the strength to keep going. They remind us that we are not walking this road alone. They show us that even in a world filled with challenges and pain, there are countless people ready to help, to carry one another through the storm.

I often think of the day when Dorotka is old enough to understand. I imagine sitting beside her, showing her the comments, the messages, the stories of strangers who became her friends. I imagine telling her, “Look, my darling, how many people stood with you. Look at the love that carried you through.” And I know it will shape her life forever — to grow up knowing that she was loved not just by her family, but by a whole community of people near and far.

Dorotka herself, though still so young, is already teaching us lessons in courage. She shows us how to laugh even when the world feels heavy. She shows us how to find joy in the smallest things — a song, a flower, a hug. And she shows us that even in the midst of illness, life can still be beautiful.

As her mother, I carry both fear and hope in my heart every single day. Fear of what could be lost. Hope for what can still be won. Some nights, when the house is quiet and she is asleep, I let the tears fall. I think of the battles ahead, the risks, the unknowns. But I also think of her smile, her laughter, her little voice saying, “I am big now.” And I know that every moment is worth the fight.

To everyone who has helped us, please know: you are part of this journey. You are part of every step she takes toward life, every breath she draws in, every beat of her heart. We would not be here without you.

The world, with all its pain, can sometimes feel dark. But when I look at the support we have received, when I see how many people have chosen to help, I know this world is still beautiful. Because it is filled with people who believe in kindness, in generosity, in love.

So, once again, thank you. Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for carrying us forward when our strength runs low. Thank you for being the light on the days when the fear feels overwhelming.

Please, continue to walk with us. Continue to hold Dorotka in your thoughts, your prayers, and your hearts. Together, we can give her the future she deserves. Together, we can prove that miracles are possible.

With love and eternal gratitude,
Dorotka’s Mother