Every cancer diagnosis is difficult, and being told that your child has cancer is particularly harrowing.

Maya was born on 13th February 2010, a long-awaited and much loved only daughter to Agnieszka and Rafal. To her parents, she was just like any other child: a bubbly, bright, increasingly mobile and seemingly healthy girl. Not long after her 3rd birthday, in the months leading up to the initial diagnosis, Maya’s appetite reduced. She became very lethargic and pale and was noticeably more tired, demanding naps during the day. With little energy, Maya refused to walk or use her scooter and her parents had to put her in a buggy when leaving the house.

Something was seriously wrong.

Maya’s mother, Agnieszka says, “We visited the GP several times within two weeks and at first were told she had a urine infection.”

Maya seemed to get worse by the day and eventually couldn't walk as her knees were hurting. The pain in her leg and tummy increased and Maya became restless at night and tearful.

“We knew there was something seriously wrong with our little girl,” say Agnieszka and Rafal.

Blood tests and subsequent ultrasound and x-ray revealed a tumour in Maya’s adrenal gland. In September 2013, after further tests, Agnieszka and Rafal received the devastating news that their beautiful little girl was diagnosed with high risk neuroblastoma, a highly aggressive form of childhood cancer.

As with more than half of children diagnosed with neuroblastoma, the cancer had spread throughout Maya’s body by the time she was diagnosed, making her condition one of the most difficult kinds of childhood cancer to treat.

Maya’s parents admit to not having heard of this cancer. “We were in complete shock that this was happening to our little girl,” says Agnieszka, “words cannot describe the complete and utter devastation of having our precious child diagnosed with this very aggressive childhood cancer. It came as a huge shock for our family and friends too.”

Neuroblastoma is the most common cancer outside the brain in children under 5 years old. In most cases it is only diagnosed when it has already progressed to a late ‘high risk’ stage.

Maya has gone through so much during her treatment including an open lung biopsy, with often dangerous side effects. Agnieszka and Rafal reveal that they “felt our little girl slipping away, but even during these traumatic moments she was still showing us how strong she is!”

Agnieszka says “the fear of losing our child was terrifying and paralysing.  At every stage she has been amazingly courageous – the doctors and nurses can’t believe how brave she is. She hardly ever cries, she takes her medicines with no fuss. She is just an amazing fighter.”

The risk of relapse with high risk neuroblastoma is higher than with many other childhood cancers. A high proportion will relapse and in the case of relapse there is no standard treatment path to follow. Sadly, just as Maya began to put weight back on towards the end of her treatment, scans have revealed a new tumour behind Maya’s eye.

Maya has relapsed and her parents say that “their amazing little girl is fighting this horrible disease with everything she has. She has coped brilliantly with it so far. Her energy and smile makes everyone treating Maya adore her. As parents it really is so very hard to see your daughter so very ill. Maya is a very brave little girl..”

The family are fundraising for Solving Kids' Cancer to help Maya, and other children like her, should she need to follow an expensive treatment path which is not available in the UK. Through Maya’s Journey, Solving Kids' Cancer can ensure that every possible avenue for treatment is open to her.

Agnieszka says, “Please give Maya a chance of life by making a donation, help her by fundraising, or by sharing her story with everyone you know. The more people we can reach the more chance we have of raising funds that might be needed for Maya’s future neuroblastoma treatment. We can’t do this without you! I ask everyone who reads this to do whatever they can to give our little girl the chance to grow up.”

Maya is described as a happy, cheeky, energetic little girl and so full of character. Her parents say that “all we hope for is that Maya is given the opportunity to beat this terrible disease and have the best chance of survival.”

Please help us to help Maya, and children like her, by making a donation to Solving Kids' Cancer. Every donation, no matter how small, will make a difference.

If you can help by holding a fundraising event please contact the fundraising team at Solving Kids' Cancer on 020 7284 0800.

To read more about Maya and follow her story visit our website or Maya’s Facebook page.   

Journey Terms and Conditions

All donations are paid into Solving Kids' Cancer's general funds to further its general charitable purposes. The funds raised by this Journey are not restricted for the child's use. However, the trustees of Solving Kids' Cancer have agreed to designate 93% of funds raised by this Journey to help the child and their family pay for potential future treatment costs and all other associated costs including travel and accommodation. We will use the remaining 7% to pay for some of Solving Kids' Cancer's administrative and fundraising costs. If the child no longer needs the funds, or if the trustees decide, at their absolute discretion, that the funds should be used for a different purpose, they may redesignate all or part of the 93% for Solving Kids' Cancer's general charitable purposes. We are very grateful for your charitable donation.    

For further information about Solving Kids' Cancer and how we spend donations, please see our FAQs. 

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