“Your child has cancer.” With these devastating words, our lives were turned upside down. It was early 2022, and our precious daughter’s life was suddenly hanging by a thread. But the unimaginable didn’t stop there — shortly after, war broke out in our country, throwing us into even more chaos. I was left alone with our three children abroad, while my husband stayed behind, working tirelessly to save every penny, all for our daughter, Sabinka. The fight against the enemy that threatened her life,stage IV neuroblastoma, a highly malignant childhood cancer, had just begun.

Sabinka’s battle began with a 9-centimeter tumor in her belly — a terrifying diagnosis that left us in a constant state of fear. The first ray of hope came when we started treatment inIsrael. Chemotherapy, tumor resection, more chemotherapy — we tried everything, but the question of whether we would lose our daughter hung in the air. It was a nightmare, one that seemed unending. The months dragged on, and each day was filled with a sense of uncertainty.

After completing chemotherapy in Israel, we made the difficult decision to travel to Spain for immunotherapy. It was a tough choice, but the treatment in Barcelona was more affordable and, crucially, less toxic for Sabinka. For a brief moment, it felt like we might finally catch our breath. Unfortunately, just when we thought we might be out of the woods, follow-up tests revealed that Sabinka’s cancer had returned. The recurrence was devastating, withmetastases in her head. Once again, we faced the unimaginable — urgent surgery was needed.

Fear returned, and the faint glimmer of hope we had was shattered. But we didn’t give up. We fought even harder for Sabinka, knowing that every step forward was crucial for her survival.

The Road to Remission

By early September 2023, Sabinka began her final cycle of immunochemotherapy. This time, the results were more promising. Her tests showed that the treatment was working, and we started to feel the first stirrings of optimism. Her previous cycles were yielding positive results, and the doctors were doing everything in their power to ensure we could finally defeat thisinsidious disease.

Then, the words we had been longing to hear arrived: REMISSION. The long-awaited moment had come. It was a triumph, but the journey was far from over. Sabinka’s path to full recovery would still take many years, and her fight with neuroblastoma was not over. She continues to takespecialized DFMO medication and is participating in a clinical trial exclusively in the United States to give her a chance at a better future.

Fortunately, we can perform all the necessary follow-up tests in Spain, as doctors in both the U.S. and Spain are working closely together to monitor Sabinka’s progress. This collaboration gives us a sense of hope, knowing that the best experts are looking after her well-being.

A Long Road Ahead

The treatment program for Sabinka is planned to last a grueling two years, with check-ups every three months and five visits to the United States. After that, we face anotherthree years of check-ups, although less frequent. The financial burden of this journey is unimaginable, and the costs for all the necessary tests over the next five years have been billed to us by the hospital. The amount is staggering, a sum that our family simply cannot afford, even if it were broken down into manageable parts.

We’ve reached the limit of our financial capabilities, and Sabinka’s road to permanent remission will take years. The emotional, physical, and financial toll of this fight has been overwhelming. Yet, we are unwilling to give up. Every step she takes toward recovery is a victory, and we hold on to the belief that one day she will be free from this nightmare.

A Call for Help

We’re asking for your help to give Sabinka the chance she deserves — the chance to live a life free from fear, pain, and suffering. I dream of the day when we can safely return home, living a life of normalcy and joy, a life that we can only dream of right now. But to get there, we need support. We cannot do this alone.

The path ahead is long, but with your help, we can give Sabinka a chance to be healthy, to laugh, and to live without the shadow of cancer hanging over her. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to that dream of a future where she is healthy and happy.

From the depths of my heart, I thank you for any support you can offer. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us. Thank you for standing with Sabinka and our family in this fight. Together, we can make a difference.