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Stand by Oskar that is fighting Leukemia! We have only a few days to collect EUR135,000 and save his life!
The Backstory
Oskar is 25 years old, and he lives in a small town in southern Poland. He is suffering from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) since 2015, and he is currently awaiting the CAR T Cell treatment at Sheba Medical Center, Israel. This innovative method of curing cancel is his best and unfortunately the only chance to fight the tumor.
In Poland, he had passed several chemo treatments and bone marrow transplantation. There were ups and downs, but when cancer came back for the fourth time, the doctors were helpless. Oskar’s body was too weak for another chemo, and the chances for a total recovery were almost as little as zero. He was about to spend the rest of his days at the hospice facilities, but he loved life way too much to give up the fight. Knowing there are no alternatives at his own country, Oskar started to seek for treatment abroad, and that's how he found out about CAR T Cell - an innovative therapy that is collecting and using patients immune cells to treat their cancer.
Until recently, the use of CAR T-cell therapy has been restricted to small clinical trials, mostly in patients with advanced blood cancers. However, these treatments have nevertheless captured the attention because of the remarkable responses they have produced in some patients—both children and adults—for whom all other treatments had stopped working (up to 90% of cases are curable).
Oskar got a chance for CAR T Cell at Sheba Medical Center, in Israel, nearly 2000 miles away from his hometown. All the European clinics denied his application due to the age limit (CAR T Cell works best when the patient is under 25 yo while Oskar is only a few months older). Therefore, he flew all the way to Tel Aviv on June 2nd, 2018 hoping that's where he is going to finally say goodbye to Leukemia and give his last, winning fight.
Unfortunately, after the first exams at the Israeli hospital, the doctors found out that over the past few weeks, Oskar's cancer had progressed significantly. 90% of his bones marrow were already infected, and there were not enough healthy cells to start the therapy. Given the situation, the doctors had no choice but to apply additional immunology treatment, using Inotuzomab - an antibody drug, trying to eliminate infected tissues and preparing Oskar's body for CAR T Cell therapy.
That's when things got complicated as Oskar and his family could not self-fund both of these treatments (Inotuzomab+Car T Cell). Oskar, his family, and friends - both from Poland and Israel started to raise money to sponsor the therapy but the time was running out.
Oskar's medical condition was so critical that on the 1st of July 2018, Oskar’s relatives caught the first plane to Israel, fearing the worst case scenario was just about to become a reality. Oskar couldn’t talk and he bearly breathed. The medics asked him if he is aware of his situation and if he wished to keep the life support on. He didn't. One of Oskar friends, who was standing by his bed and helped him to get through this terrifying night, said there were times where Oskar had only eight breaths per minute, but even then Oskar didn’t lose his hope and didn’t give up the fight, he adds.
Today, just two weeks later and after 47 days of treatment at Sheba Medical Center Oskar feels much better. He walks, laughs and.. dreams about all those things he is going to do when the Leukemia nightmare is finally over. The doctors are impressed by his courage and such a quick recovery - the latest biopsy had proven that Oskar is finally ready for CAR T Cell treatment - the bone marrow is clean. Oskar got all the power for the final battle. He got big plans too. What’s still missing though is money.
The Costs
The funds initially collected for CAR T Cell therapy were spent on Izonutomab and Oskar's treatment in the Israeli hospital for the past month and a half. In fact, Oskar needs another EUR135,000 to start CAR T Cell. Sadly, there is not much time left, only a few days! - it may be the only time for Oskar to gain his life back. Any moment, tables can turn again and what's even worse, if Oskar won't get the fund needed, he will go back home, awaiting the worst.
- I was promised to get another chance, and I got it here, in Israel. - he says. - I came over here with Leukemia, but I want to go back home alone. I want to shout to the whole world that after four years of hospitals, chemo, pain, and uncertainty, I overcame Leukemia! - he adds. - I want to live. I've faced way too many obstacles, but I will never give up fighting.
How you can Help
Car T Cell is Oskar’s last chance. Help us to write this story a happy ending. Any help will be blessed!
To help us get the word out, you can share our link to your Facebook Timeline!
With Love –
Friends of Oskar
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