Marcin Zal brain tumour battle
Donation protected
Marcin is my nephew and also godson, he's 8 years old boy and was diagnosed with aggressive brain tumour (DIPG) which is located in middle of brainstem, therefore surgery is not an option, cause it will damage nerves responsible for hearing, seeing, breathing etc.
All that has come so quickly and unexpectedly, all family is broken and devastated :(.
Update 17.10.2020
Apology not not posting any updates here recently. Marcin last cycle was 28 January 2020. He was supposed to come back in middle of March but plans were first delayed and hindered by so called 'pandemic'.
Currently Harley Street Clinic had closed down due to 'covid-19', leaving Marcin and all their little patients alone.
Parents are trying to find any best alternatives but its not easy these days.
26 - 28.11.2019 - Marcin is back in London for 5th round therapy after almost three months away and steroids treatment to stabilize his condition.
Luckily since that time MRI shows surprisingly now that tumour has significantly shrunk, making Marcin feeling much better.
But after 1st infusion in 5th round chemo his sideffects have come back, incl double vision worsen, walking difficulties and also problems with speaking, he got tired quickly
despite receving much less drugs than in previous cycles.
16.10.2019 - Prior to this date after stopping steroids, Marcin condition improved, even without steroids. That day 16.10.2019 he had his latest MRI scan to check tumour behavior, size etc. On Monday 21 October MRI results are expected, plz pray for this little smart boy. MRI result will be sent to London clinic to assess if Marin is ready to continue therapy.
25.09.2019 - Marcin was expected to start 5th cycle of Chemo but it had to be cancelled due to his bad neurological condition. Doctors advised Marcin to take steroids and allowed extra few weeks to improve his condition. At the end of month Marcin was prescribed to use steroida for a week to stabilize his condition.
28 - 30.08.2019 - Marcin was in clinic for 4th round of Chemo but he is not improving at all since the start of therapy.
07 - 09.08.2019 - 3rd cycle of Chemo, however MRI shows tumour has shrunk a tiny bit, there is no improvement in Marcin condition, its even getting worse in terms of double vision and balance, or speech.
17 - 19.07.2019 - second cycle of Chemo, no improvement in Marcin condition.
24.06.2019 - first of two infusions ( 2 infusions = 1 cycle) will take place today, it will last 11 hours and MRI scan will follow.
23.06.2019 - Marcin is having very very long, 9 hours neurosurgery to implant 4 catheters through which chemo will be delivered straight to tumour.
That is the worst and most important day of his and our lives.
18.06.2019 - after few long weeks awaiting therapy is finally approved, Marcin will have an initial MRI scan to check his tumour and plan CED therapy. We need to get half of the amount of the whole therapy by then, time is running quickly for us, plz help.
03.05.2019
MRI scan results are very bad, his 4 cm tumour has only shrunk by 1 cm while much more was expected. He is feeling not bad at the moment but its a matter of 2-3 weeks when his condition will worsen. We are trying to organise for him an innovative CED therapy (its still experimental therapy) for his tumour.
29.04.2019
Marcin was having MRI scan after radiotherapy.
19.01.2019
Prognosis: '6 months, maybe 9 if he's lucky ....'
Its so much difficult for parents to hear that, you feel like you are failing into the abyss, where sound or light don't reach that far, the only thought is that your child is dying ...
see below story
Before tumour hit ...
He was a sport loving and healthy boy and loved competition against other boys his age, even 2-3 months before diagnosis, he was supposed to represent his school in sport competition and now has to fight for his life instead.
He also loved playing football with friends ...
his dad is a soldier and its required from him to be fit, so he wanted the same for his son.
supporting dad on his way during 10k run ...
We would be very very grateful if anyone would like to support him not only financially to fight tumour and win as many days as possible to extend his life but also prayer for the miracle.
The plan is to get CED therapy in London, which requires patient to have neurosurgery to implant the catheters. Then he will have infusions straight into brain tumour via the catheters. All therapy has 8 infusion cycles and is very expensive.
#missionmarcin
#misjamarcin
All that has come so quickly and unexpectedly, all family is broken and devastated :(.
Update 17.10.2020
Apology not not posting any updates here recently. Marcin last cycle was 28 January 2020. He was supposed to come back in middle of March but plans were first delayed and hindered by so called 'pandemic'.
Currently Harley Street Clinic had closed down due to 'covid-19', leaving Marcin and all their little patients alone.
Parents are trying to find any best alternatives but its not easy these days.
26 - 28.11.2019 - Marcin is back in London for 5th round therapy after almost three months away and steroids treatment to stabilize his condition.
Luckily since that time MRI shows surprisingly now that tumour has significantly shrunk, making Marcin feeling much better.
But after 1st infusion in 5th round chemo his sideffects have come back, incl double vision worsen, walking difficulties and also problems with speaking, he got tired quickly
despite receving much less drugs than in previous cycles.
16.10.2019 - Prior to this date after stopping steroids, Marcin condition improved, even without steroids. That day 16.10.2019 he had his latest MRI scan to check tumour behavior, size etc. On Monday 21 October MRI results are expected, plz pray for this little smart boy. MRI result will be sent to London clinic to assess if Marin is ready to continue therapy.
25.09.2019 - Marcin was expected to start 5th cycle of Chemo but it had to be cancelled due to his bad neurological condition. Doctors advised Marcin to take steroids and allowed extra few weeks to improve his condition. At the end of month Marcin was prescribed to use steroida for a week to stabilize his condition.
28 - 30.08.2019 - Marcin was in clinic for 4th round of Chemo but he is not improving at all since the start of therapy.
07 - 09.08.2019 - 3rd cycle of Chemo, however MRI shows tumour has shrunk a tiny bit, there is no improvement in Marcin condition, its even getting worse in terms of double vision and balance, or speech.
17 - 19.07.2019 - second cycle of Chemo, no improvement in Marcin condition.
24.06.2019 - first of two infusions ( 2 infusions = 1 cycle) will take place today, it will last 11 hours and MRI scan will follow.
23.06.2019 - Marcin is having very very long, 9 hours neurosurgery to implant 4 catheters through which chemo will be delivered straight to tumour.
That is the worst and most important day of his and our lives.
18.06.2019 - after few long weeks awaiting therapy is finally approved, Marcin will have an initial MRI scan to check his tumour and plan CED therapy. We need to get half of the amount of the whole therapy by then, time is running quickly for us, plz help.
03.05.2019
MRI scan results are very bad, his 4 cm tumour has only shrunk by 1 cm while much more was expected. He is feeling not bad at the moment but its a matter of 2-3 weeks when his condition will worsen. We are trying to organise for him an innovative CED therapy (its still experimental therapy) for his tumour.
29.04.2019
Marcin was having MRI scan after radiotherapy.
19.01.2019
Prognosis: '6 months, maybe 9 if he's lucky ....'
Its so much difficult for parents to hear that, you feel like you are failing into the abyss, where sound or light don't reach that far, the only thought is that your child is dying ...
see below story
Before tumour hit ...
He was a sport loving and healthy boy and loved competition against other boys his age, even 2-3 months before diagnosis, he was supposed to represent his school in sport competition and now has to fight for his life instead.
He also loved playing football with friends ...
his dad is a soldier and its required from him to be fit, so he wanted the same for his son.
supporting dad on his way during 10k run ...
We would be very very grateful if anyone would like to support him not only financially to fight tumour and win as many days as possible to extend his life but also prayer for the miracle.
The plan is to get CED therapy in London, which requires patient to have neurosurgery to implant the catheters. Then he will have infusions straight into brain tumour via the catheters. All therapy has 8 infusion cycles and is very expensive.
#missionmarcin
#misjamarcin
Fundraising team: Tomasz Zal (3)
Tomasz Zal
Organizer
England
Ewelina Kowalska Ktir
Team member
Joanna Matyja-Zal
Team member
