“Your child has cancer.” These words, so cold and unforgiving, shattered our world. It was early 2022 when our precious daughter, Sabinka, was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma — a highly aggressive and malignant cancer. In an instant, our lives were turned upside down, and the journey that lay ahead was filled with uncertainty and terror. But the unimaginable didn’t end there. Shortly after Sabinka’s diagnosis, war erupted in our homeland, deepening the chaos and stress already bearing down on our family.
I found myself abroad, alone with our three children, while my husband stayed behind to work tirelessly, saving every penny he could. All of it, every sacrifice, was for our daughter — for Sabinka. Her battle against an enemy that threatened her life was just beginning, and we would do everything in our power to keep her with us.
Sabinka’s fight began with a 9-centimeter tumor in her belly. That first diagnosis left us paralyzed with fear. We could hardly grasp the reality of what was happening. The journey ahead was unclear, but we knew we couldn’t back down. Our first glimmer of hope came when we started treatment in Israel. Chemotherapy, tumor resection, more chemotherapy — we threw everything we had at the disease. But every day, we lived with the haunting question: Would we lose our daughter? It was a nightmare, one that felt endless as we fought on, uncertain of the outcome.
After completing chemotherapy in Israel, we made the difficult decision to travel to Spain for immunotherapy. While it was a difficult choice, the treatment in Barcelona offered two things that we desperately needed: it was more affordable, and it was less toxic for Sabinka. For a brief moment, we dared to hope that we might catch our breath. But just as we thought the worst was behind us, our world came crashing down once again. Follow-up tests revealed that Sabinka’s cancer had returned, this time with metastases in her head. The recurrence was devastating, and the word “surgery” came once again. The fear that we thought we had left behind returned with a vengeance. The faint hope we had held onto seemed to crumble in an instant. But we didn’t give up. We couldn’t. For Sabinka, we fought harder than ever.
The Road to Remission
By September 2023, Sabinka had entered her final cycle of immunochemotherapy. This time, the results were promising. For the first time in months, her tests showed positive signs, and we could see the faintest glimmer of hope. Her previous cycles had shown progress, and the doctors, working tirelessly, ensured that we did everything possible to defeat this insidious disease.
And then, the words we had longed to hear arrived: Remission. It was a moment of triumph, but it was only a step forward. The road to Sabinka’s full recovery is still a long one. Her fight with neuroblastoma isn’t over. She continues to take specialized DFMO medication and is enrolled in a clinical trial in the United States, hoping that this final push will give her a chance at a brighter, healthier future.
Thankfully, we can continue all necessary follow-up tests in Spain, where doctors collaborate closely with experts from the United States. This international cooperation has been invaluable, and it offers us a sense of hope that the best minds are working together to ensure Sabinka’s well-being.
A Long Road Ahead
The treatment plan for Sabinka is grueling and will take two more years of intensive care, with check-ups every three months and five visits to the United States for specialized tests. After that, we’ll face another three years of less frequent check-ups. The financial burden of this journey is overwhelming. The cost of these tests, surgeries, and treatments over the next five years has been billed directly to us by the hospital — a staggering amount that our family simply cannot afford, no matter how much we break it down.
We’ve reached the limit of our financial resources. We are exhausted, both emotionally and physically, but we refuse to give up on Sabinka. Every day she moves closer to recovery is a victory. But this path is long, and the toll on our family, both financially and emotionally, is immense. Still, we hold onto the belief that one day, Sabinka will be free from the nightmare of cancer.
A Call for Help
Now, we are reaching out to you for help — to give Sabinka the chance she deserves. The chance to live a life free from pain, fear, and suffering. I dream of the day when we can return home, to a life that feels normal again, where laughter fills our home, and joy replaces the shadows of illness. But we cannot get there alone.
The road ahead is long, but with your help, we can give Sabinka the future she deserves — one where she can laugh, run, and live without the heavy burden of cancer hanging over her. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to that dream. A future where Sabinka is healthy, where our family is whole again.
From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for any support you can offer. Your kindness and generosity mean everything to us. Thank you for standing with Sabinka and our family as we fight for her life. Together, we can make a difference. Together, we can give her the chance to live.
