When Nikita Gikalov was born on July 11, 2020, his parents’ hearts were filled with joy and relief. They dreamed of a simple, happy childhood for their baby boy — of laughter, first steps, and family moments filled with love. But from the very beginning, life had other plans.

Nikita entered the world weighing only 2,200 grams and measuring 47 centimeters long. Tiny and fragile, he was immediately placed in intensive care. For 28 days, he fought for every breath, surrounded by machines that kept him alive. His bloodwork revealedmultiple abnormalities, and doctors could only stabilize him enough to begin the long road ahead.

Those early days were filled with fear. His parents watched helplessly as their newborn struggled — too small, too weak, too delicate for the world outside the womb. “We promised him then,” his mother says, “that we would never stop fighting for him, no matter how difficult the road became.”

Early Battles

After nearly a month in intensive and secondary care, Nikita’s condition finally stabilized. But his development lagged behind. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up inside the brain, increasing pressure and affecting development. Doctors warned that it could impact him for the rest of his life.

Despite these challenges, Nikita proved himself a fighter. He didn’t take his first steps until 15 months old, but when he did, his parents cried tears of joy. “It was the most beautiful moment,” his father recalls. “We knew how hard he had worked to make that happen.”

But the celebration didn’t last long. Soon after, Nikita developed dangerously low hemoglobin levels and became weak again. He received long-term treatment at the Institute of Hematology in Tashkent, where, after months of therapy, his blood levels returned to normal. For a brief moment, his family allowed themselves to hope that the worst was behind them.

A Return to Fear

In 2022, that fragile hope shattered once more. Nikita began suffering from severe seizures that stopped his breathing. “We thought we were going to lose him,” his mother remembers. “Every second felt like an eternity.”

Desperate for help, the family rushed him to Turkey, where doctors confirmed that his hydrocephalus had worsened. They performed treatment that saved his life once again. “We thought we had finally overcome the worst,” his father says. “But we were wrong.”

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

In March 2024, at only three and a half years old, Nikita contracted measles. It was another frightening ordeal, but he recovered — only for his parents to notice new symptoms a few weeks later.

Their little boy was growing weaker. He was tired all the time, his stomach began to swell, and bruises appeared all over his body for no reason. “At first, we thought it might be another blood problem,” his mother explains. “But deep down, I felt something wasn’t right.”

After several tests, doctors confirmed every parent’s worst nightmare: Group B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia — a rare and aggressive blood cancer.

“When the doctor said the word ‘leukemia,’ I felt the world collapse around me,” his mother says through tears. “How could a child who had already suffered so much be given this fight too?”

A Fight for Survival

Blood tests showed that 79% of Nikita’s cells were cancerous. His hemoglobin had dropped to 40, and his platelets were nearly gone. He was immediately rushed to theintensive care unit in Aktau, where he received emergency blood and platelet transfusions just to keep him alive.

Even then, his condition remained critical. “The doctors told us to prepare for the worst,” his father says quietly. “But we refused. We knew we couldn’t give up on him.”

With the help of friends and relatives, the family quickly arranged to transport Nikita to Istanbul, where specialists in pediatric oncology began his chemotherapy treatment. But because of his complex medical history and the aggressive nature of his cancer, doctors have classified Nikita ashigh-risk. The only real chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant.

“The costs are staggering,” his mother says. “Every test, every transfusion, every dose of medication costs more than we can manage. We’ve sold everything we can, but it’s not enough. We’re terrified that the lack of money could decide our son’s fate.”

The Power of Hope

Through it all, Nikita continues to fight with the same quiet determination he has shown since the day he was born. Even in the hospital, attached to IVs and monitors, he smiles when he sees his parents. “He’s so brave,” his mother says. “He still laughs, still dreams, still loves. He’s our little hero.”

Every day is a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. The family lives between hope and heartbreak—watching their son endure painful treatments, clinging to every sign of improvement, praying that the next test will bring good news.

“He has already won so many battles,” his father says. “We just need to help him win this one.”

Together for Nikita

The cost of Nikita’s treatment in Istanbul is overwhelming. The bone marrow transplant, hospital care, medications, and recovery will take months, possibly years. His family has reached the limits of what they can do alone.

That’s why they are reaching out — to friends, strangers, and anyone with a kind heart — asking for help to save their son’s life.

“We believe in the power of kindness,” his mother says. “We believe that together, people can work miracles. Every donation, every prayer, every message brings us closer to seeing our son healthy again.”

A Chance at Life

Nikita is only four years old. He loves cars, stories, and making his little friends laugh. He dreams of going home, of playing outside, of being free from hospital walls. He deserves that chance — the chance to live, to grow, to be a child again.

With your support, Nikita can win this fight.

Every contribution helps pay for his treatment, transplant, and recovery, and every kind word gives his parents the strength to keep believing in miracles.

Please help save Nikita’s life. Together, we can give this brave little boy the future he deserves.

Because no child should ever have to fight alone.