Dear Friends,

Thank you so much for your help,
especially for making possible starting Krystian's treatment
thanks to funds raised. He managed to get one injection of the medicine,
but it was already too late. Krystian passed away on 15th February...

This is the text that was published here recently:

My name is Natalia. I am Krystian's sister. I am asking you to read this letter because it is very important to me. I want to tell you the story of my brother who is just 16 years old and about the misfortune that has befallen him, a misfortune that would be a hard experience for many adults...

Krystian is a wonderful brother and kid, a person who despite the fact that he is young has made many friends. He loves the world and it's people. He is always smiling, happy, he loves to make jokes, doing funny things and he can bring someone to tears with his joking. Spending time with kids makes him happy - I remember that happiness which sparkled in his eyes and that smile on his face when played with my son together on the computer and painted pictures.

Even if he is upset he can remain calm and find pleasure in spending time with kids, they simply love him - not everyone has the ability to do that. It is especially noticeable with the other kids in the children's cancer ward that he is in. His passion is riding is bicycle and being on the computer. I remember quite clearly when we went once on bicycle ride. He asked all the time if he is better and more agile than me. He was bursting with energy, had so much strength and willpower, So many dreams and goals to realize...

Nobody expected what happened in March of 2003.

Suddenly Krystian lost consciousness. We went to the hospital where the doctors examined him and made many tests because he also complained of headaches. They made x-rays and an MRI. The diagnosis after the operation and biopsy was explicit - a tumor on the right temporal lobe of his brain appears that is the worst possible: gioblastoma multiforme grade IV.

The three of us could not handle this. And at his time we did not know much about the disease. The life of my whole family changed. For my mother it was harder because she raises Krystian alone...

I spent many evenings sitting on the sofa and crying - it seemed all I could do was to just pray to God about some miracle. I brought back to my mind memories of what kind of kid my brother has been.

Our mother raised us by herself, alone. It wasn't easy for her. Since I was a teen I helped her to care about my brother. I have many memories about wonderful moments. When I took care of him when he was a little kid, about that smile I was seeing on his face when I took him back from kindergarten, about how he brought much happiness and joy to our family and home when he was born, about how he came to me when he had problems and looked for support and help - he did not let me hold back my tears either.

Why him?!? A million times I asked God and Myself..

That sickness disintegrated Krystian's hopes for his future, to finish school, or having his own family. After the first operations the doctors started his chemotherapy treatments. After many chemo treatments over the next 8 months everything was good.

At this time Krystian found the willpower and strength to fight his illness. He didn't stop to be the same happy guy I knew, he was still smiling and showed me he is open to conversation about that cancer. In November 2003, after another MRI, his diagnosis showed that the tumor had grown back. Krystian had another operation, and hopes for recovery, for but his hopes to realize goals were crushed again. We were afraid about the worst that could happen but didn't yet. That feeling to be helpless was breaking our hearts.

After the operation my brother needed much time to find peace of mind, to feel fairly well.

He impressed me by showing how strong he is to handle all and fight with that cancer.

I told to my friends how much I envy him because he could be so brave and courageous.

Winter, spring passed... then came summer and brought another tragedy.

At night when Krystian slept he had an epilepsy attack. Immediately he went to hospital to the oncology section, they made another MRI. Again tumor had grown back. We moved Krystian to the city of Bydgoszcz, to hospital where he was operated on for the third time.

After that operation Krystian wasn't himself -was not this determined guy who fought with cancer anymore. I can count on the fingers of 1 hand how many times I have seen smiles on his face..

He became nervous, desperate, his condition was going worst day by day. Headaches, dizziness, vomiting, breathlessness, gets to him all the time. It took just 2 and a half months since operation in Bydgoszcz that the tumor has grown back again - it was very big.

Krystian went to clinic to the pediatric neurology section. When I entered his room and looked at him, I couldn't believe that more than 1 year ago this guy was in perfect health. On his face I could read sadness, despair, he was so sorrowful, I ask him how he was, he said just" it grew back", nothing more.

I got information from doctor that there was no chance for Krystian, I understood how terrible is that sickness and how fast that tumor grew back.

The next operation was a danger to my brother, danger of paralyzes so decision about it was hard for us to make.

I always tried to be honest with my brother so at this time I talked with him honestly too about - I didn't hide the truth - how dangerous and serious could be for him this next operation. I asked him what he was thinking about it, he was frustrated.

The operation finished. The doctor diagnosed a temporary paralysis on the left side of his body. That fact made life harder for Krystian. I started on my own to look for every bit of information about possible kinds of treatments on the Internet. I contacted some clinics in USA and read a lot of articles about gioblastoma multiforme. After that I was fully aware of that kind of cancer.

How unfair is it? That so young a guy could die when he has so many years in front of him to enjoy life. I stopped limiting myself to visiting him at the hospital just one time in a week like I did at the beginning. Since this moment I was there everyday and often brought my little son with me. For me every moment I can spend with my brother is the greatest experience of all my life.

I have learned the way to talk with him and how to understand his needs, I realized how much, and deeply I love him and how important it is for me to try to keep him alive

Paradoxically this tragedy let me find the power inside me to fight. I understood I have to do everything and look for every possible way to find help for Krystian. I went to Bydgoszcz because I needed to consult with a neurosurgeon. He gave me information about how big the tumor is for now - half of his right side of brain.

In the midst this of bad news I found a ray of hope. I got news there is a treatment that maybe could help my brother. There is a very new method to treat Krystian, Gene Therapy, but it is very expensive. It will cost us 16.000 zl (5500 USD). Lack of money is the only thing that delays us from seeking this treatment.

Mom supports my brother by herself. She receives alimony of only 170 zl (57 usd) per month and in addition 505 zl (170 usd) to support her sick child. She is not working, only taking care of my brother for now, so after all with benefits she has about 940 zloty (314 usd).The expense of the medicine which my brother needs to use after chemotherapy is beyond my mom's ability to pay.

With that kind of cancer we cant wait, so now we are fighting against time. Krystian has to be operated on again as fast as it is possible because doctors need a part of Krystian's tumor to study to find the right gene therapy treatment to create a medicine for injection to treat his tumor. My financial resources to help my brother are not enough.I support my son by myself too so I do not have enough money to pay for Krystian's treatment.

Paying so big a price for that therapy is for me and my familly impossible, even if it is to save my brother's life. That's why I ask you for any help you are able to give us. Without it it is impossible to use gene therapy. Any and all the money which you wish and could send to this bank account or this address will be used only for Krystian.

I will be very thankfull for any kind of help, that is what is most important for Krystian and our family.

With love,

Natalia

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