Hi, my name is Mykyta, and I’m a Ukrainian and passionate PhD student specializing in Artificial Intelligence. In 2023, my girlfriend and I took a leap of faith, moving to Bulgaria as first-generation migrants to build a better future. After overcoming the challenges of settling in a new country—learning the language, navigating endless bureaucracy, and starting over—we finally felt like life was falling into place.

I focused on my research, made amazing new friends, and started planning an exciting summer vacation tied to my hard-earned conference participations. But just as life seemed perfect, everything changed in an instant.

The First Turn

At 25, full of energy and dreams, I was ready for a bright future. A bout of seasonal flu hit the office, and while I thought I had recovered, a lingering swollen lymph node prompted me to visit a doctor, expecting a simple antibiotic prescription.

But instead, I heard the words no one ever wants to hear: “You have cancer.”

In May 2024, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Stage 2X, with a large tumor in my chest measuring 12x11 cm. It was aggressive and growing fast.

As if the diagnosis wasn’t devastating enough, my university-provided insurance companies denied coverage at the last minute, leaving me and my family to shoulder the burden of this life-changing battle. Despite this setback, my family stepped in to cover the initial treatments, and I began chemotherapy in June. After two cycles, the results looked promising, giving us hope that I could overcome this fight with two more cycles.

The Second Turn

But hope turned to heartbreak when a post-treatment scan revealed that the cancer had progressed, spreading to my lungs and bones. Bulgarian doctors could no longer help, and I urgently needed advanced treatment to combat this aggressive disease.

With no time to lose, my girlfriend and I relocated to Istanbul, Turkey, where I’ve begun an intensive treatment plan that includes chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant, and Brentuximab injections. While my family and I are covering the initial costs, the road ahead is daunting.

How You Can Help

To continue my treatment and give me a chance to beat this disease, I need to raise approximately $193,000, which includes:

Bone marrow transplant: $43,000

Brentuximab injections: $120,000–$150,000

( Approximately 154,000 in GBP)

The transplant is scheduled for early January, so time is critical.

Every single donation, no matter how small, and every share of this campaign brings us closer to funding the treatment that can save my life.

Your support means the world to me, my girlfriend, and my family as we navigate this difficult journey. Together, I believe we can overcome this and give me the chance to live the bright future I’ve worked so hard for.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Note: This fundraiser is being organized by our friend in the UK on our behalf, as GoFundMe policies do not allow us to raise funds directly from Bulgaria or Turkey.