Let’s help my friend, a young 32-year-old doctor, in her fight against cholangiocarcinoma! (extremely malignant, treatment possible only in India or the USA for a fortune). Let’s show our strength as r/Poland community! (link in comment)
by Kamil1707
2 comments
[https://pomagam.pl/ypny88](https://pomagam.pl/ypny88)
Translate:
“Hi. My name is Ola, I am 32 years old and I am a pediatrician.
I have seen a lot in my life and I remember many patients. I know what it means to inform parents about a serious illness of a child, but I also know the joy of every cured patient. Pediatrics was my passion and way of life.
More than once I even put it above my personal life, I loved it.
I also found out about my illness in the hospital, on duty, because I spent most of my adult life there.
I remember it like today, it was February 23, 2023, I was on duty at the hospital in the Pediatrics Department. Somehow it touched me, so I decided to go to a radiologist friend to do a control ultrasound of my abdomen, because it’s been over a year since the previous one.
15 minutes later we were both terrified staring at the screen of the ultrasound machine. I knew what that meant. Multiple tumors. The largest about 7 x 6 cm and countless other, smaller ones scattered throughout the liver.
Somehow I made it to the end of my shift, didn’t tell anyone, but never went back to work. The world slowed down and sped up at the same time.
I don’t remember much about what happened in the days that followed.
A huge amount of invasive and non-invasive tests, uncertainty, pain, suffering. The diagnosis for everyone was terrifying – CANCER OF THE BILIWAY. A very malignant tumor characteristic of elderly, burdened people suffering from liver disease. How is it with me? After all, I was perfectly healthy, fit and in great shape. I cycled practically all of Europe, sleeping in a tent or in the open air, almost every day I went to the gym, ran, practiced yoga.
After all, the first symptom of this cancer is jaundice, and I’ve never had it. I had regular checkups and my blood results were always normal. Liver enzymes, bilirubin. A specimen of health. Everyone even joked about how I manage to reconcile such an active life with working 3 full-time jobs. I felt great. I was where I always wanted to be. I was happy.
The doctors did not believe this diagnosis. More and more detailed research was done in Lublin and Warsaw. I had a total of 3 biopsies and a laparoscopy. However, the verdict has been passed.
I was aware that treatment options in Poland had been exhausted. I have consulted all over the world, from Europe to Taiwan, the United States, India. After half a year of intensive research and hundreds of consultations, we managed to find two centers; in the USA and India, specializing in the treatment of this cancer, who agree that my chance for life is a liver transplant.
Unfortunately, surgery in the US is out of financial reach, but the same procedures are performed in India, for part of the price. Often also by the same doctors.
The only option in this situation is a family transplant. Fortunately, it turned out that one of the people close to me can and wants to donate part of his liver to me so that I can live. He won’t let me die. I am very afraid of this operation, I am afraid that something may happen to this person. However, I have no choice. This is my only hope.
However, before the transplant takes place, I have to undergo 2 or 3 embolization procedures of the largest tumor. This is another huge cost and numerous stays abroad. A team of doctors from the United States will come especially for me to perform these procedures.
My case is unusual, every doctor I met on my way is of this opinion. My cancer has a very high mortality rate and cannot be cured with chemotherapy. Time is of the essence, and surgery is out of my financial reach. I managed to collect some of the money, but I can’t handle the whole amount.
Please help me get back to my patients and my life. There are really many people (and the dog) waiting for me.”