There are no words to fully capture the helplessness a parent feels when watching their child suffer. No parent should ever have to witness their little one endure such unbearable pain. Yet, tragically, this has become our reality. Our daughter, Solomiya, is just a child—innocent, full of dreams, and yet she is already locked in the toughest fight of her young life: the battle against neuroblastoma, a ruthless and aggressive childhood cancer.

When Treatment Becomes Torture

Not long ago, our Solka began a new phase of treatment—her very first round of immunochemistry. We prayed with all our hearts that this therapy would bring her relief and halt the relentless progression of the disease. But barely two hours after the drug was administered, her condition took a devastating turn for the worse. Her fever spiked to 39°C (102.2°F) and stubbornly remained that high for days, refusing to break.

She suffered severe diarrhea mixed with blood, persistent vomiting, and constant nausea that left her too weak and frightened to eat even a bite. A spasmodic cough racked her fragile body in relentless waves, draining her energy further. Her blood pressure steadily dropped, her small frame visibly weakening by the hour.

But the worst of all is the pain. It has spread mercilessly throughout her entire body, especially in her legs. Our little girl cannot even manage to walk to the bathroom anymore. The medical staff provide her with morphine in carefully measured doses around the clock, yet even when she drifts off to sleep, soft moans of agony escape her lips. The pain never truly leaves her. The doctors tell us that this suffering is an unfortunate side effect of how immunotherapy works. But knowing this does nothing to ease the agony of watching our child endure it.

As her mother, my heart shatters a little more every single moment. I hold her trembling hands, whisper soothing words, and tell her that one day, this pain will end—that she will smile again, laugh freely, and share stories from school. Clinging to this vision of her joy and normal childhood is the only thing that keeps me standing when everything else feels unbearable.

The Surgery That Stopped Time

Then came another trial that felt like a cruel twist of fate—surgery.

On September 8, 2025, the doctors told us there was no other choice. A tumor had formed in her head, and it had to be removed urgently. The surgeons explained that the operation would take three to four hours, involving removing part of her skull along with the tumor and replacing it with an implant. They did not hide the harsh truth: this surgery carried mortal risks.

We were terrified beyond words. No parent is ever truly prepared to sign such papers, to hand their child over to surgeons with the knowledge of the potential dangers. But neuroblastoma gave us no options. To save our daughter's life, we had no choice but to agree.

The day of the operation was the longest and most agonizing day of our lives. As they hooked Solka up to monitors, she trembled with fear, clutching my hand so tightly she wouldn’t let go. Her wide, panicked eyes pierced my soul. Then the anesthesia took hold, and she slipped peacefully into sleep. The doctors carried her away, leaving us alone in the sterile waiting room.

That waiting room became a prison where time seemed to stand still. Minutes stretched into hours. Every tick of the clock echoed like a thunderclap in the silence. We whispered desperate prayers, begging for a miracle, bargaining with heaven itself.

Finally, the surgeon appeared. His words brought a fragile but profound relief: the surgery had gone as planned. Our brave little girl was now in intensive care and, after a day, was transferred to a ward. For the first time in weeks, we dared to breathe again.

The Fight Isn’t Over

But this is far from the end. The battle continues, fierce and unyielding. We do not yet know what the next phase of treatment will be—whether it will be more chemotherapy or a continuation of immunotherapy. What we do know is that both options come with astronomical costs. We have already spent more than we ever imagined possible, and yet the road ahead stretches endlessly, filled with uncertainty and hardship.

Solomiya has already shown us that she is a warrior. She has faced unimaginable pain, fear, and hardship, yet she continues to fight with a strength and courage that humbles everyone around her. She is stronger than any child should have to be.

But she cannot face this battle alone. She needs help, support, and hope from all of us.

A Call for Help

From the depths of our hearts, we are reaching out with the most desperate plea: please help us give our daughter a fighting chance.

Every donation, every share of her story, every kind word of encouragement brings us one step closer to saving her. It brings us closer to the day when she can run freely outside, laugh without fear, and live a childhood unmarked by illness.

We dream of the moment when neuroblastoma will no longer define Solomiya’s life. When she can grow up surrounded not by hospital machines and medicines but by love, laughter, and the simple joys of a healthy life.

You—our angels—are the reason we still hold onto hope. Your faith, your compassion, and your generosity are what keep us standing under the crushing weight of this fight.

Please help us carry our daughter through this storm. Help us ensure that her story does not end in hospital corridors but instead unfolds in a future filled with life, light, and happiness.

Because every child deserves a chance to grow up healthy and free. And our Solomiya, strong and brave beyond measure, deserves that chance more than anything in this world.