Little Sofia is now 3. When she was 1 years old, she suddenly stopped walking. After multiple evaluations, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, and referred to a Children’s hospital in Kyiv, Ukraine. The first cycle of chemotherapy was such a shock to Sofia that she spent 10 days in ICU on a ventilator. These were terrifying days for her parents, but Sofia pulled through and responded to treatment. The response lasted only a few months, however. Sofia was hospitalized once again and spent another year on chemotherapy and radiation treatment. The disease was taken under control and Sofia began recovery and learning to walk, run and ride a scooter like the kids her age. Yet again, cancer returned, this time as metastases in her lungs.
After the surgery to remove them, Sofia’s parents decided to take their daughter abroad to a hospital in Turkey to make sure she is able to access modern treatment and better care. Little Sofia will get more chemotherapy followed by a transplant of her own stem cells to strengthen her remission. Her family will appreciate any support!