My name is Karyna, and my heart breaks as I share my son Amir’s journey with you. Amir is our miracle, born on November 29, 2024, after a long wait and much hardship. We were overjoyed with the birth of our healthy, sociable baby boy—our bundle of joy. But what we couldn’t have known then was that hidden deep inside his eyes was a life-threatening disease that would change everything.
At four months old, I noticed that one of Amir’s eyes sometimes veered toward the bridge of his nose. Everyone around me reassured me that it was nothing to worry about—that it would pass on its own. But something in my heart told me it wasn’t right, so we sought help from multiple ophthalmologists. Initially, Amir was diagnosed with “high farsightedness,” and the doctors suggested we simply monitor the situation. But my instincts told me we needed more answers, so we went to a specialist.
The news we received at the hospital was shattering. Amir was diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive eye cancer. To our shock, the doctors administered chemotherapy directly into his eye without explaining anything to us or seeking our consent. We were blindsided, and the consequences were immediate and terrifying. The chemotherapy caused part of Amir’s retina to atrophy, resulting in the loss of vision in his right eye. The doctors told us that the only option left would be to remove the eye.
The next days were a nightmare. We were thrust into a hospital system filled with confusion, lack of information, and coldness from the staff. Our baby endured systemic chemotherapy, and I felt completely powerless as I watched my little one suffer. After days of uncertainty, we realized we needed a new path, and that’s when we found hope in a clinic in Switzerland.
The doctors in Switzerland have years of experience treating children with retinoblastoma. Through an online consultation, we learned that the treatment we had received so far had been inadequate. Time was of the essence—retinoblastoma grows quickly, and every day counted in terms of saving Amir’s life and vision.
When we arrived in Switzerland, the doctors confirmed that Amir’s cancer was present in both eyes. But thanks to their expertise and modern treatment methods, Amir’s life was saved, and both of his eyes were preserved. The left eye has perfect vision, and we’ve managed to restore some sense of light in his right eye, though his vision remains limited. After seven months of intense treatment, we’ve seen an improvement in his right eye’s vision—now at 10%. It’s a long way from what it should have been, but it’s a sign of hope.
However, in October, Amir experienced a relapse in his right eye. A new cancer cell appeared, but thanks to early detection through monthly checkups, the relapse was caught in time. Amir is now undergoing local treatment, but the risk of relapse remains high until he turns four, when his eye is growing rapidly. We’ve also learned that Amir has an RB1 gene mutation, which means some of his cells are healthy, while others are mutated, raising the risk of future tumors.
According to international medical protocols, remission can only be confirmed after two years without treatment, and Amir will need to continue monthly examinations under anesthesia, regular MRIs, and retinal monitoring. While we live in Ukraine, we travel to Switzerland for these crucial tests.
Until now, we’ve managed to cover the costs with the help of our family, friends, and acquaintances. However, the financial burden is overwhelming. The biggest expenses are for monthly tests, treatments, logistics, medications, and medical supplies. These costs are more than we can sustain on our own, and stopping the treatment would put Amir’s life in mortal danger.
The treatment Amir is receiving in Switzerland is not just about saving his life—it’s about giving him a chance to live without pain, to grow up seeing the world around him, and to have a normal childhood. It’s about preventing disability and allowing him to thrive despite the challenges he faces. His future, his ability to see, and his quality of life depend on whether we can continue the treatment with the specialists who have already saved his vision.
We are humbly asking for your support. We are raising funds to cover the ongoing medical expenses for Amir’s treatment in Switzerland. Every donation, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to giving Amir the chance he deserves. Your help means everything to us.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for seeing Amir, for being part of his journey, and for giving him the opportunity to live a life filled with light and hope.
Karyna, Amirek’s mother
All funds raised will be managed by Give.Asia and paid directly to the hospital.
