Bartek is only 25 years old and at the beginning of his life's journey. Until recently, we lived and worked abroad to save up for a good start in Poland. We started planning our life together.

Everything changed when Bartek suddenly began experiencing ringing in his right ear one day. At first, we thought it was nothing serious, and a visit to an ENT specialist would be enough. Unfortunately, the tests didn't provide a clear diagnosis, and over time, he started experiencing more symptoms, including dizziness, loss of balance, nausea, loss of consciousness, and numbness on the right side of his face. Fortunately, I managed to convince him to see a neurologist, who also noticed nystagmus (involuntary eye movement) and prescribed medication to reduce intracranial pressure. The neurologist also referred him for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, which he reluctantly went for, convinced that the prescribed medication would be sufficient to alleviate all the symptoms.

After a few days, we received the results of the MRI, and what we saw sent shivers down our spines. Bartek has a brain tumor measuring 49x42x54mm! It involves the brainstem area and the right cerebellar hemisphere.

We decided to consult the results as soon as possible at the Central Clinical Hospital in Warsaw, almost 387km away from our home. During the consultation, we learned that it might be a malignant brain tumor, but to confirm this hypothesis, an operative biopsy with a craniotomy was required - an operative opening of the skull. It turned out that the tumor is located in such a challenging area that complete removal would be impossible. The several-hour-long biopsy took place on May 15, 2023. Fortunately, everything went well, although it took Bartek a few days to recover.

We had to wait for the results for 7 long weeks, full of uncertainty and fear. Thankfully, Bartek has a group of wonderful friends who regularly visit him to offer support, which helped us get through this terrible time together. As soon as we received the news that the results were ready, we went to Warsaw for another consultation. It turned out that Bartek has a Grade 2 Glioblastoma, and the cells are slowly transitioning to Grade 3, and without treatment, they may eventually become Grade 4 malignancy. Fortunately, at this moment, the tumor is only 8% "KI67" malignant, which gives us hope for the future.

We are starting a fierce battle against the tumor! The beginnings are always challenging, and for Bartek, it means finding the right treatment, including chemotherapy, and consulting with an oncologist whose decision will determine whether additional radiation is possible. We are also waiting for the results of genetic tests to tailor the appropriate chemotherapy that will help fight this dreadful Glioblastoma. We won't let it defeat us, no matter what!

Unfortunately, the frequent trips to Warsaw are a tremendous burden that we cannot handle on our own. Due to the illness, Bartek can't work in Poland, and the prolonged treatment will weaken his physical abilities and probably impact his mental health, making him in need of a lot of care and constant attention.

The funds raised will be used for transportation expenses from Jarosław (Podkarpackie Voivodeship) to Warsaw for the treatment, private visits to specialists, including rehabilitation, and providing necessary support for Bartek's well-being.

Thank you for any help and support you can provide in this difficult time. Your generosity will mean the world to us and give us hope to fight this battle together.