On August 31, 2015 we were admitted to the Children's Hospital "prof. Ivan Mitev", with suspected fascialis. Valery was dropping everything he caught with his left hand, swinging his left leg, and hiding his mouth. After a number of examinations on 03.09.2015 an MRI of the head was performed. The imaging showed an 8 cm tumor mass. According to the neurosurgeons at birth, located in the right ventricle. An emergency surgery was required, which was performed at St. Ivan Rilski" town. Sofia on 07.09.2015 by Dr. Surchev, Dr. William and prof. Marinov. Extremely difficult, risky surgery, no one knew what the outcome would be. Fortunately the tumor was removed completely. On 16.09.15 we were discharged with a diagnosis of choroid plexus carcinoma grade 3. An extremely rare and aggressive tumor. We did a second histology which confirmed the diagnosis. In search of a cure, at this difficult time at the end of September, we met Zvezdi and Eleni, who reached out to us and accepted our fate as their own.
I will never forget how confused, desperate and how much I cried. How I thought there was no light in the tunnel. However, my conversation with them gave me the strength I needed. We sent the paraffin blocks to Turkey for testing, where they also confirmed the diagnosis. Several clinics were consulted and quotes for treatment were sent to us, with a detailed treatment plan.
We chose Liv Hospitall. 8 courses of chemotherapy were planned. We made an urgent donation campaign to raise funds for our little boy's treatment. I can't enumerate here the names of all known and unknown donors , relatives, friends, acquaintances, media and all who responded. We left at the end of November. They were long and difficult months but everything the professor told us step by step was happening.
The professor - the MAN Hilmi Apak, who was by our side, who in the most difficult moments entered our room like a bright ray and gave me the strength to continue, to keep telling myself that we were in the right place and my child was in safe hands. Stars, who every day wondered what was going on, how we were, if we were having problems at the clinic or anywhere else, if we needed anything. I will never be able to repay you.
And now my tears are flowing writing this. We had a hard road, but patience was the crown of success. 5 courses of chemotherapy and there was no trace of the tumor. One surgery to put in a vein port and surgery to remove the sebum that was raising the pressure in the brain. I can't count how many times he was anesthetized because of the interventions and the MRIs, but we persevered, our little fighter made it!!! In May we finally came home, and every 6 months follow-up imaging tests are done and sent to the professor. To date Valerie is in remission.
THANKS STARS!!! A bow for your professionalism and humanity! Thank you to the entire team at Medical Carnage, if I have missed anyone please be excused. And last this is not a job, this is a CALL!!! Thanks for having you!!!
With gratitude: Videlina Grchkova
