My name is Lilianna, and when I was just six months old, I faced a challenge that no child should ever have to endure. Doctors injected a powerful medicine directly into my eye, in an attempt to save me from a diagnosis that would forever change my life: Retinoblastoma, a cancer that threatened to take my sight in both eyes. The words “death sentence” were often whispered by doctors, and for a long time, I believed I would lose my ability to see the world around me forever.
You see, at six months old, babies are just beginning to see clearly. They start recognizing faces, colors, and the comforting sight of their loved ones. But for me, I could barely recognize my mother’s face. The doctors warned my parents that, in the best-case scenario, I might never see her clearly. In the worst-case scenario, I might go blind completely.
This was the beginning of my fight, not just for my eyesight, but for my entire future. At such a young age, I was already undergoing intense treatments — chemotherapy that drained every ounce of strength from my tiny body. Each round left me feeling weak, exhausted, and in immense pain. The drugs used in my treatment were so harsh that I sometimes felt like my body was being crushed from the inside. I would cry, unable to eat, overwhelmed by the pain. It was a suffering I didn’t fully understand, but I knew it was happening to me.
And as if the pain from chemotherapy wasn’t enough, they gave me more treatment—this time directly into the artery near my eye. The doctors administered the medication through my eye itself, injecting it into my bloodstream, and later, directly into my eye! Imagine the pain of a needle being inserted into your eye, a tiny, delicate body that has yet to experience life’s beauty, now fighting with all its might to survive.
The disease took its toll on my left eye. Glaucoma developed, making the pain unbearable, and despite the doctors’ best efforts, they could not save it. On Children’s Day, of all days, my left eye was removed. The irony is that, although I lost my left eye, I still have the fight in me to see the world through my right eye. The disease is still there, but I hold onto the hope that with continued treatment, there is still a chance for me.
As I continue to grow, my journey is far from over. The chemotherapy left lasting effects on my body, and I now require physical therapy and visits to numerous specialists to help me regain the strength I lost during my battle. I need to replace my eye prosthesis, which also requires significant financial resources. And as I fight for my eyesight, I am also fighting for a future that includes the normal experiences of childhood — the ability to run, to play, to explore the world without limitations.
This is not just a fight for my sight, but for my life — my chance to live like other children, to grow strong and healthy, to one day become independent and fully embrace the world around me. When I was lying weak and exhausted in the hospital, I missed out on the normal development that healthy children experience. Now, I need intensive therapy to rebuild my strength and reclaim what was lost.
That’s why I’m reaching out to you, asking for your help. Only kind-hearted people like you can give me a real chance at life, at childhood, and at a future where I can be independent, healthy, and free to explore the world on my own.
Please consider helping me. Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a difference. Even a symbolic donation of just 19 PLN can cover one hour of rehabilitation, bringing me closer to the strength I need to live a fulfilling life.
Your support means the world to me. Thank you for helping me fight this battle. Together, we can make a future possible — a future filled with hope, love, and light.
“These Are for When I’m All Better”: Aleida’s Battle with Courage and Love 💛.1515
At just nine years old, Aleida Perez should be running through parks, chasing ice cream trucks, and laughing with friends. But her days are now measured in hospital shifts, IV drips, and the rhythmic beep of monitors. Childhood, in all its carefree joy, has been replaced by something far heavier: a battle against Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a fierce cancer that attacks the blood and bone marrow.
Her mother, Maggie, has become both her anchor and her shield. From the moment Aleida was admitted, Maggie hasn’t left her side. She holds her daughter’s hand through every needle, every chemo session, and every painful moment of recovery. Nights are long, often filled with quiet prayers whispered into the sterile hum of the hospital. Days are exhausting, but neither mother nor daughter lets despair take over. Maggie watches over Aleida with unwavering devotion, and Aleida, in turn, finds the courage to keep fighting—even in the smallest, most remarkable ways. 🙏
Chemotherapy is relentless. It burns through Aleida’s small body, leaving her weak, feverish, and often nauseous. The sickness and exhaustion could crush the spirit of anyone, let alone a nine-year-old. And yet, Aleida refuses to surrender her light. She draws hearts, stars, and little messages on scraps of paper, her tiny hands trembling but determined. With a soft smile, she whispers to Maggie, “These are for when I’m all better.” 🌈
Each drawing becomes a symbol of hope. Each wave to a nurse, each attempt at conversation between bouts of exhaustion, is a testament to a spirit that refuses to be broken. Aleida’s bravery isn’t just in enduring the treatments; it’s in her ability to infuse her suffering with hope, to transform the hospital room into a space of love, creativity, and resilience.
For Aleida, every day is a lesson in perseverance. Every morning she wakes, she faces a world of uncertainty with courage beyond her years. She knows that some days will be harder than others—that chemo will drain her strength, that fevers will spike, that her body will feel heavy and uncooperative—but she also knows that each challenge is a step closer to recovery. Her small victories—the moments she manages to sit up on her own, eat a bit more, or laugh despite the pain—become monumental triumphs in the life of a child who refuses to let illness define her.
Maggie watches her daughter with a mixture of awe and heartbreak. She sees the tiny hero her daughter is becoming, a child fighting battles no child should ever face, armed only with love, courage, and hope. Maggie comforts Aleida, whispers encouragement, and occasionally sheds tears in private. But in front of Aleida, she is unshakeable, a steadfast guardian ensuring her daughter never feels alone in this fight.
Aleida’s story extends beyond the hospital walls. It reaches the nurses who care for her, the doctors who tirelessly plan each treatment, and the family and friends who send love and prayers. She inspires everyone she meets—not just with her bravery, but with the pure, unfiltered optimism that she clings to. Through her tiny drawings and whispered words, she teaches a profound lesson: that even in the darkest battles, hope can flourish, and courage can shine brighter than fear.
“These are for when I’m all better,” Aleida says again, holding up another drawing of hearts and stars. It’s more than a simple gesture—it is a promise, a vision of the future she refuses to give up on. It is a statement of resilience, of a heart determined to survive and thrive. And while the road ahead remains long and uncertain, Aleida has already shown the world the power of a spirit that refuses to quit. 💛
Her battle is not only against leukemia; it is against despair, against the idea that a child’s pain must go unheard. With Maggie by her side and a heart full of hope, Aleida faces each day as both warrior and dreamer—painting her journey with courage, love, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
In Aleida’s world, courage is measured not by age, but by the strength to keep smiling, to keep creating, and to keep believing that one day, all these drawings, all these whispered promises, will come true. She is teaching everyone around her the same truth she already knows deep in her heart: no matter the battle, no matter the pain, hope and love can carry us through. 🌈