Hi everyone, my name is Šimonko — though many people call me “the little fighter.” Until I was 13 months old, I was a happy baby just like any other. Then one day, out of nowhere, I started vomiting, and my mom immediately felt something was seriously wrong. Thankfully, our doctor didn’t overlook anything and sent us for an abdominal ultrasound. In just a few seconds, our beautiful life turned into fear and horror. The scan showed lesions on my liver that definitely shouldn’t have been there. We were admitted to the hospital right away, and the next day a CT scan revealed that the lesions were metastases from a tumour originating in my adrenal gland. Further tests showed metastases in my bones as well. The diagnosis was clear — high-risk neuroblastoma.
Since October of last year, I’ve been undergoing an extremely demanding treatment. I’ve already gone through two major abdominal surgeries, lost one adrenal gland, had five smaller procedures, stem cell harvesting, 30 general anaesthesias, eight cycles of chemotherapy, and high-dose chemotherapy with an autologous bone marrow transplant. The treatment was going well — the main tumour was removed, and the bone metastases were destroyed by chemotherapy. But three active metastases remained on my liver, so the doctors prescribed an even stronger treatment: a combination of immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Unfortunately, even this wasn’t enough to eliminate the remaining liver metastases. That’s why I had to undergo 12 rounds of radiotherapy to secure the original tumour site.
Immunotherapy combined with a cell-maturation medication is now my next step on the road to recovery. It will take about seven months, and we firmly believe that by the end of it, there will be no trace of that monster left. Immunotherapy has shown promising results for this diagnosis. However, it’s a very tough treatment for me, so I need Morphine together with other opioids and analgesics to manage the pain it causes. My small body has been through so much, and right now I need strength to handle what’s ahead. Thankfully, despite all this misfortune, my mom Andrea is with me in the hospital the entire time, constantly looking for ways to help my little body recover. These ways, however, are not cheap — and this is why we are turning to you, kind people.
Your contributions, as well as the full proceeds from the sale of the STEP BY STEP 2026 diary, will be used mainly for supplementary treatment and for helping my body recover after aggressive neuroblastoma therapy. To give you an idea — the current cost of these products is around 650 euros per month.
Later, the funds will also be used for rehabilitation, expenses during treatment and physiotherapy, since I have a large scar across my entire abdomen and radiotherapy affected several vertebrae, which unfortunately will no longer develop as they should.
They will also help cover potential treatment abroad. If the liver metastases remain active at the end of my treatment, we will have to search for further paths to healing.
From the bottom of my heart, I THANK YOU — on behalf of myself and my whole family — for every contribution, for purchasing the diary, for sharing our story, for every prayer or positive thought. I’m attaching a few photos from my treatment, as well as some of how I looked before — when I was, and thanks to you I hope soon will be again, healthy, strong, and above all happy.
With gratitude,
Šimi and family
