A Story of Unwavering Hope: Nikodem’s Fight for Life
Nikodem Mikucki’s story is one of resilience, love, and a relentless pursuit of hope, even when the odds seemed insurmountable. Born with an Apgar score of 10, everything seemed perfect at first. His parents went home from the hospital with hearts full of joy, believing they had a healthy baby boy. But just one week later, everything began to change.
The First Signs of Trouble
Nikodem’s parents, Anna and Piotr, were initially overjoyed by their son’s arrival, but soon noticed something troubling. He began making strange movements, which at first seemed minor. As days went by, these movements grew more frequent and more alarming. Concerned, they sought help and were referred to the neonatal pathology department. There, after undergoing a consultation with a neurologist, their worst fears were confirmed—Nikodem had epilepsy.
Treatment began immediately, and he was started on anti-epileptic medications, but the seizures only worsened. His parents watched in helpless despair as the seizures grew in frequency and intensity. The medication wasn’t working. The future they had dreamed of for their son was slipping away.
A Devastating Diagnosis
As if the seizures weren’t enough, the Mikucki family’s world was about to shatter even further. Nikodem underwent an MRI to explore the cause of his condition. The results were a devastating blow. Doctors told Anna and Piotr that their precious son had brain damage and that he would never develop normally. They were told there was nothing that could be done to save him. The pain of hearing those words felt unbearable. How could this happen? Why was this happening to their son, when everything during the pregnancy had seemed fine?
In the midst of their grief and shock, they didn’t give up. They refused to believe that their son’s life was over before it had even truly begun.
A Glimmer of Hope
Despite the heartbreaking diagnosis, Anna and Piotr searched desperately for a way to help their son. They found a neurologist who offered a glimmer of hope. This specialist suggested that Nikodem's condition—right hemisphere dysplasia—could potentially be corrected with surgery. The catch? Nikodem had to reach a healthy weight before they could proceed. It was a long wait, but they clung to this new possibility.
During this waiting period, however, they faced yet another crisis. In January, when Nikodem was just a few months old, he suddenly stopped breathing. In sheer panic, Anna and Piotr called an ambulance. Their hearts were heavy with fear, but the doctors moved quickly and decisively. They knew they had to act fast, and soon enough, they succeeded in scheduling a life-changing surgery at the Children’s Health Center.
The Long Road Ahead
By February, Nikodem was admitted to a hospital in Warsaw. His treatment was adjusted, and doctors worked tirelessly to reduce the intensity and frequency of his seizures. By this point, Nikodem was suffering from up to 70 seizures a day, each one more severe than the last. His inability to control the seizures meant that he was unable to develop normally. His parents watched as their son fought for his life, knowing that every day was a battle, and they stood by him, offering him all the love and support they could give.
At five months old, Nikodem underwent a hemispherotomy, an intense and risky procedure where the right hemisphere of his brain was removed. This operation was his only hope, and despite the risks, Anna and Piotr held on to their faith. The surgery was a success, but the road to recovery was far from easy.
When Nikodem left the hospital on April 25th, his parents were overcome with emotion. They felt as though their son had been “born again.” But this rebirth came with an immense challenge. Nikodem had to learn everything all over again. He had to relearn how to eat, how to drink from a bottle, and how to move his body. The process was slow and painful, but it was a step forward, no matter how small.
The Continuing Fight
Today, Nikodem’s journey is far from over. He continues to face enormous obstacles, especially with the right side of his body remaining inactive. But there is hope. Every day, he undergoes intensive rehabilitation. His parents take him to therapy several times a week, and while they are beginning to see progress, they know that the road ahead will be long and filled with challenges.
Unfortunately, the rehabilitation Nikodem receives through the National Health Fund is limited to just one hour per week. For the rest, his parents are left to bear the financial burden themselves. Yet, they do not hesitate. Every penny they spend on his rehabilitation is an investment in his future.
A Call for Support
Nikodem’s parents are not asking for sympathy—they are asking for help. They believe that, with the right support, Nikodem can overcome the odds. He can learn to stand on his own two feet, he can play with both hands, and he can live a life filled with joy and possibility. But they cannot do this alone.
The Mikucki family is raising funds to ensure that Nikodem continues to receive the rehabilitation he needs. Every donation, no matter how small, will go directly to his care and recovery. They know that with your support, they can give Nikodem the best chance at a brighter future.
Nikodem's story is a testament to the power of hope, love, and perseverance. While the journey is still ongoing, the Mikucki family is determined to make sure that their son’s future is filled with possibility—because every child deserves a chance to thrive.
Nikita’s Fight for Life: A Little Boy’s Battle Against Impossible Odds
When Nikita Gikalov was born on July 11, 2020, his parents’ hearts were filled with joy and relief. They dreamed of a simple, happy childhood for their baby boy — of laughter, first steps, and family moments filled with love. But from the very beginning, life had other plans.
Nikita entered the world weighing only 2,200 grams and measuring 47 centimeters long. Tiny and fragile, he was immediately placed in intensive care. For 28 days, he fought for every breath, surrounded by machines that kept him alive. His bloodwork revealed
Those early days were filled with fear. His parents watched helplessly as their newborn struggled — too small, too weak, too delicate for the world outside the womb. “We promised him then,” his mother says, “that we would never stop fighting for him, no matter how difficult the road became.”
Early Battles
After nearly a month in intensive and secondary care, Nikita’s condition finally stabilized. But his development lagged behind. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up inside the brain, increasing pressure and affecting development. Doctors warned that it could impact him for the rest of his life.
Despite these challenges, Nikita proved himself a fighter. He didn’t take his first steps until 15 months old, but when he did, his parents cried tears of joy. “It was the most beautiful moment,” his father recalls. “We knew how hard he had worked to make that happen.”
But the celebration didn’t last long. Soon after, Nikita developed dangerously low hemoglobin levels and became weak again. He received long-term treatment at the Institute of Hematology in Tashkent, where, after months of therapy, his blood levels returned to normal. For a brief moment, his family allowed themselves to hope that the worst was behind them.
A Return to Fear
In 2022, that fragile hope shattered once more. Nikita began suffering from severe seizures that stopped his breathing. “We thought we were going to lose him,” his mother remembers. “Every second felt like an eternity.”
Desperate for help, the family rushed him to Turkey, where doctors confirmed that his hydrocephalus had worsened. They performed treatment that saved his life once again. “We thought we had finally overcome the worst,” his father says. “But we were wrong.”
The Diagnosis That Changed Everything
In March 2024, at only three and a half years old, Nikita contracted measles. It was another frightening ordeal, but he recovered — only for his parents to notice new symptoms a few weeks later.
Their little boy was growing weaker. He was tired all the time, his stomach began to swell, and bruises appeared all over his body for no reason. “At first, we thought it might be another blood problem,” his mother explains. “But deep down, I felt something wasn’t right.”
After several tests, doctors confirmed every parent’s worst nightmare: Group B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia — a rare and aggressive blood cancer.
“When the doctor said the word ‘leukemia,’ I felt the world collapse around me,” his mother says through tears. “How could a child who had already suffered so much be given this fight too?”
A Fight for Survival
Blood tests showed that 79% of Nikita’s cells were cancerous. His hemoglobin had dropped to 40, and his platelets were nearly gone. He was immediately rushed to the intensive care unit in Aktau, where he received emergency blood and platelet transfusions just to keep him alive.
Even then, his condition remained critical. “The doctors told us to prepare for the worst,” his father says quietly. “But we refused. We knew we couldn’t give up on him.”
With the help of friends and relatives, the family quickly arranged to transport Nikita to Istanbul, where specialists in pediatric oncology began his chemotherapy treatment. But because of his complex medical history and the aggressive nature of his cancer, doctors have classified Nikita as high-risk. The only real chance for survival is a bone marrow transplant.
“The costs are staggering,” his mother says. “Every test, every transfusion, every dose of medication costs more than we can manage. We’ve sold everything we can, but it’s not enough. We’re terrified that the lack of money could decide our son’s fate.”
The Power of Hope
Through it all, Nikita continues to fight with the same quiet determination he has shown since the day he was born. Even in the hospital, attached to IVs and monitors, he smiles when he sees his parents. “He’s so brave,” his mother says. “He still laughs, still dreams, still loves. He’s our little hero.”
Every day is a mix of exhaustion and gratitude. The family lives between hope and heartbreak—watching their son endure painful treatments, clinging to every sign of improvement, praying that the next test will bring good news.
“He has already won so many battles,” his father says. “We just need to help him win this one.”
Together for Nikita
The cost of Nikita’s treatment in Istanbul is overwhelming. The bone marrow transplant, hospital care, medications, and recovery will take months, possibly years. His family has reached the limits of what they can do alone.
That’s why they are reaching out — to friends, strangers, and anyone with a kind heart — asking for help to save their son’s life.
“We believe in the power of kindness,” his mother says. “We believe that together, people can work miracles. Every donation, every prayer, every message brings us closer to seeing our son healthy again.”
A Chance at Life
Nikita is only four years old. He loves cars, stories, and making his little friends laugh. He dreams of going home, of playing outside, of being free from hospital walls. He deserves that chance — the chance to live, to grow, to be a child again.
With your support, Nikita can win this fight.
Every contribution helps pay for his treatment, transplant, and recovery, and every kind word gives his parents the strength to keep believing in miracles.
Please help save Nikita’s life. Together, we can give this brave little boy the future he deserves.
Because no child should ever have to fight alone.
