What does Marysia suffer from?

It localizes most often in the worm and causes walking disorders and movement problems. Medulloblastoma has different subtypes. The anaplastic type is the least promising type of this cancer. 

Initially, Mary was diagnosed with just this type. The first symptoms involve nausea and vomiting, among other things. Dizziness and headaches appear. Lymph nodes and skin lesions within them can also be seen. Treatment of this cancer is very difficult, as patients' reactions vary greatly. Metastasis and growth disorders can occur. 

A histopathological re-examination, performed by doctors from Italy, showed that the Marysia suffers from desmoplastic strain, which is a much better prognosis than the anaplastic type.

It's been several years since the beginning of little Mary's oncology treatment abroad. Today we know that this treatment has brought positive results: Marysia is getting fitter in her disability, and there is no trace of the cancer for now. However, this is not the end of the fight for the full recovery of this brave girl. The most important thing now is intensified rehabilitation.

Marysia Szlazak - a nine-year-old from Swidnik - has been suffering from malignant brain cancer since 2018. The first symptoms of the disease appeared in April 2018. At first, they only gave gastrointestinal symptoms (frequent vomiting), and then neurological symptoms (motor coordination disorder). Quite quickly there was also a diagnosis, which for the girl's parents was terrifying. During the first neurosurgical operation, doctors removed an almost 5cm tumor from the baby's head, which turned out to be a malignant tumor - anaplastic medulloblastoma, which, of all the varieties of this tumor, had the worst prognosis. The girl was initially treated at the University Children's Hospital in Lublin, where there were further complications related to her treatment (cerebrospinal fluid infections, hydrocephalus, several visits to the ICU, seizures, insertion and removal of brain valves).

Thanks to the efforts of parents, friends and, above all, people who took an interest in the fate of little Marysia - it was possible to raise a sufficient amount of money, which allowed Marysia to be transferred to the specialized Infant Jesus Hospital in Rome. Thanks to the oncological therapy administered, the cancer was stopped, and the latest test results show that there is no trace of the cancer. Unfortunately, however, a year and a half of illness has wreaked havoc on the child's body. Marysia had to re-learn how to look and, thanks to increased rehabilitation, sit stably, walk (more and more independently over time) and communicate better and better with the environment.

Over the past few years, Marysia's story has touched thousands of people, signing on with the common hashtag #kotekMarysi. Parents and Marysia have also managed to participate in theIt even reached the First Lady of the Republic of Poland, Agata Kornhauser-Duda, who visited Marysia in an Italian clinic and asked Pope Francis to pray for the girl. General Audience at the Vatican and meet Pope Francis in person. Marysia's Roman apartment was also visited by Father Adam Szustak, who made a pilgrimage on foot to the Holy Land via Rome, as well as many people of good will who supported Marysia's Parents in caring for her.

Oncology treatment at the Rome clinic is now over, and we are left with regular check-ups to check the condition of the brain and spinal cord for cancer. Intensive 8-week physical rehabilitation at the specialized center of the Bambino Gesu Hospital in Palidoro has also come to an end. This would not have been possible if not for the involvement of thousands of people in fundraising on siepomaga.pl, and if both Marysia and her parents had not been surrounded by prayers from all sides. So today is the time to thank: the doctors, for their effective care of Marysia, the physiotherapists, nurses and medical staff for all their help, the friends and all the donors who do not forget Marysia, and all the people of good will who remember Marysia in their prayers.

Marysia on 5.10.2021 was hospitalized with high fever and vomiting. She was diagnosed with sepsis and a cerebrospinal fluid infection with a dangerous pseudomonas bacterium. We decided to transfer Marysia for further treatment to Rome, under the care of doctors who have been treating her for 3 years. We were able to quickly raise funds for the medical transport, which took place on 15.10.2021. 

Marysia was then treated at the Infant Jesus Pediatric Hospital in Rome, under constant neurosurgical supervision. Treatment was complicated, requiring various neurosurgical procedures and frequent examinations. Fortunately, the Roman staff managed to beat the infection and cure Marysia. She was discharged on Christmas Eve, and the next day she was already home with her family, to continue fighting from scratch for physical and intellectual fitness in the following months....

On March 16, 2025, Mary flies to Rome to meet her new adversary - this time something very dangerous is happening in her femur. In order to understand how to help her, doctors will have to do a lot of detailed diagnostic tests and then develop a treatment plan. 

We will update as new data comes in....