Help Cancer Patients Pay for Travel Expenses!

At the age of 14, Didem was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). She went through an extremely difficult journey of treatment in her native Kazakhstan: multiple rounds of chemotherapy, surgeries, and long-term recovery. It was a time filled with pain, fear, and constant fighting for her life.

At 15, she went into remission and began learning how to live again — celebrating small victories, taking steps without pain, and slowly rebuilding her hopes for the future.

But after only six months of remission, something unimaginable happened. Didem was diagnosed with a secondary cancer — acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It is an extremely rare and devastating situation when a second oncological diagnosis appears so soon after the first one.

She is now 16 years old. Didem's family took her to Turkey for treatment. It will be complex and long-term, including intensive chemotherapy and a subsequent bone marrow transplant.  As a high-risk patient, Didem needed access to modern cancer care, which is difficult to reach in Kazakhstan. 

Unfortunately, the cost of treatment is overwhelming for Didem's family. Her parents have already exhausted all their financial resources.  Now they are forced to ask for help.  Any support means getting closer to giving Didem a chance to beat second cancer and live her life.

We will really appreciate your support for Didem and patients like her, whose survival chances improve greatly with access to modern care.  Please consider joining Little by Little campaign coming up soon!   On March 17-20, all donations up to $50 will be matched at 50% while funds last. Every small gift adds up to create real change for cancer patients and their families.   

Thank you for your care and support! 

In March 2025, four-year-old Mohammad complained of pain in his side for the first time. His parents took him to a local hospital,  in northwestern Kazakhstan, where after tests and CT scan, Mohammed was given a preliminary diagnosis of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.  Given the diagnosis, Mohammed was referred a hospital in capital, Astana, but after a week of waiting for a treatment quota, there was still no call. Realizing that there was no time to lose, Mohammed's parents raised as much money as they could, and with the help of relatives, friends and colleagues, they took their son to Turkey for treatment.

On March 17, 2025, Mohammed was urgently hospitalized in a clinic in Istanbul. In the first few days, he had blood tests, ultrasound, CT scans, and biopsy. The diagnosis of lymphoma was not confirmed — instead, the doctors diagnosed neuroblastoma of the right adrenal gland, stage IV, high risk. Mohammed was started on the first-line treatment: five courses of chemotherapy and one course of targeted drug, Qarziba. According to the latest results, the tumor has shrunk by about 50%.  Mohammed's family holds on to every number, every ray of hope - and believe that they are on the right path.

Traveling abroad was the only way for Mohammed to be diagnosed correctly and begin lifesaving treatment without delay.  Our project exists to support cancer patients like Mohammed.  Unfortunately, when cancer strikes and the local medicine is unable to help, traveling abroad becomes the only option.  We are very grateful to everyone who offers their support to patients like Mohammed.  There are few resources they can access and your help goes a long way.  

Thanks again for your care for cancer patients!