High-grade glioma! My son is battling a difficult diagnosis!

My son is fighting for his life

My 13-year-old son has won many battles against grade IV glioblastoma. Today, my greatest fear is that he won’t have the chance to continue the treatment that has kept him alive so far.

My name is Małgorzata. I am Josh’s mom—an extraordinary boy who shows me every day what true courage really is. Today, I am reaching out to you for help, because I can no longer bear the costs of this uneven battle on my own.

The diagnosis that changed everything

Our story began in the summer of 2023. Joshua started complaining of severe headaches. At first, the doctors suspected migraines related to puberty. However, his condition worsened with each passing day. He became irritable, tired easily, and began experiencing nausea and vomiting.

On July 2, we went to the hospital emergency room. The next day, he had a CT scan of his head. The results changed our lives forever.

A tumor measuring as much as 5 centimeters in diameter was detected in my son's brain.

We were immediately taken to the Upper Silesian Children’s Health Center in Katowice. Just three days later, Joshua underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor. The procedure was very complicated, but it was a success—the doctors managed to remove the tumor completely.

Unfortunately, a few days after our son’s 11th birthday, we received the results of the histopathological examination.

A high-grade glioma.

I will never forget the moment I heard that diagnosis. My world came to a standstill. The fear for your own child’s life is something that cannot be put into words.

More difficult news

Joshua began intensive treatment—chemotherapy and radiation therapy. At first, there was a glimmer of hope. The MRI showed no signs of metastasis, but subsequent tests revealed new, very difficult news.

Specialized genetic testing conducted in Bonn revealed as many as six genetic mutations associated with an exceptionally aggressive course of the disease.

I began searching for help all over the world. I consulted with doctors in Germany, Switzerland, France, Canada, and the United States about my son’s condition.

Then another threat arose.

Doctors suspected that Josh had MMRD syndrome—an extremely rare genetic disorder that increases susceptibility to cancer. Further testing confirmed the presence of a pathogenic mutation in the MSH6 gene, which is responsible for Lynch syndrome.

That meant even greater risks and even more questions about my child’s future.

Hope in immunotherapy

However, specialists from Zurich and Toronto also pointed to a treatment that might offer Joshua the best chance: immunotherapy.

As a single mother, I couldn’t afford expensive treatment abroad. But I didn’t give up. I fought to get my son treated in Poland. After many conversations, consultations, and efforts, something happened that I still consider a miracle to this day.

We have obtained approval for immunotherapy treatment outside the National Health Fund program.

In March 2024, Joshua began treatment. Since then, every passing month has brought us hope. The treatment is well tolerated, has no side effects, and is producing very good results.

In September 2024, my son finished his chemotherapy.

We slowly began to get back to normal.

Joshua is back in school. Today, he’s the top student in his class. He participates in math and language competitions. Looking at him, it’s hard to believe that behind his smile lies such a difficult story of fighting for his life.

Another unknown

Unfortunately, the illness won't let us forget about it.

In May of this year, Joshua underwent another lumbar puncture. Samples of cerebrospinal fluid were sent to a specialized center in Toronto. The results of these tests are intended to help doctors answer a key question: whether immunotherapy should be continued.

We also have more MRIs and consultations ahead of us.

Today, what I fear most isn't the illness itself, but the decision that could determine my son's future.

The immunotherapy that Joshua has been receiving since March 2024 is producing excellent results. My son is tolerating it well; he’s back in school and has regained some of the childhood that cancer took away from him. It is thanks to this treatment that we are able to enjoy each new day.

Meanwhile, we are facing a huge uncertainty. With the closure of the pediatric oncology unit in Katowice and the transfer of patients to the new center, we do not know what the next steps will be regarding Joshua’s treatment.

The doctors have already told me that treatment may be discontinued and replaced with monitoring and imaging tests. As the mother of a child with a high-grade glioma, I cannot accept the idea of stopping a treatment that is working before we receive all the results of the specialized tests from Canada.

Fear and Determination

Every day I wake up with the same fear. I’m afraid we won’t have enough time. I’m afraid the decision to end treatment will be made too soon. I’m afraid that after everything we’ve been through, I’ll have to fight again for the chance to save my own child.

I’m just a mom. I have no say in systemic decisions, ward reorganizations, or procedures. I have only one child and an unwavering determination to do everything in my power to save him. That’s why I can’t give up, and I’m still fighting for every chance Josh has.

I’m not asking for miracles. I’m simply asking for a chance for Joshua to continue receiving the treatment that gives him hope for life.

What am I asking for today?

Medical costs don’t end with the administration of medication. They also include a specialized ketogenic diet, supplements, vitamins, private consultations, tests performed abroad, travel to hospitals, and ongoing care from specialists.

Every day, I do my best to make sure my son has the chance to grow up, pursue his dreams, and just be a kid.

In the evenings, I watch Joshua do his homework, make plans for the future, and talk about his dreams. That’s when I remember that behind this ordinary scene is a boy who battles one of the deadliest forms of cancer every single day.

I'll do everything I can to make sure he grows up, falls in love, fulfills his dreams, and lives the life every child deserves.

That is why I am asking for your help today.

Every donation, every share, and every kind word gives us the strength to keep fighting. Thanks to your support, I can ensure that Joshua has access to the tests, consultations, and treatment that could save his life.

I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here with us, for your support, and for every person who decides to help my son.

Małgorzata, Josh's mom