Atacan, Poland

I had always envisioned my life moving in a straight line, building a successful career in computer engineering and IT project management, where I already held a master’s degree and worked in medical device R&D for many years. But everything changed the day I crossed paths with a five-year-old girl battling relapsed neuroblastoma. Seeing her bravery in the face of immense suffering and the love and desperation of her family shattered the life I once knew and redirected me onto an entirely new path.

As I started to follow the lives of families affected by pediatric cancer, I witnessed struggles that words often fail to capture: parents battling physical, emotional, and financial exhaustion, begging for a cure, and desperately hoping for better treatments for their children. I learned that pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death in children, yet the research is alarmingly underfunded. Most treatments are designed for adults and are far too toxic for children, often causing life-threatening complications. I saw the devastating impact of this gap, with children who were declared "NED" still losing their lives to the side effects of treatments.

In the face of these challenges, I realized that simply witnessing their struggles wasn’t enough. True strength, I believe, lies in more than just standing tall in the face of adversity. It lies in stepping forward to help others rise, even when the odds feel overwhelming. Using my drawing skills and imagination, I began creating portraits of children with cancer to raise awareness and funds for their families. What started as a small act of kindness quickly grew into a movement. Parents reached out, sharing their stories and asking me to draw their children. What I started as a side project became a mission. (@one.for.all_org)

But I knew I needed to do more. It wasn’t enough to observe or to raise awareness. I had to find ways to contribute more effectively to this cause. I immersed myself in learning, attending pediatric cancer conferences, taking courses on drug development, connecting with researchers and NGOs, and volunteering my expertise as a project manager. Each step brought me closer to the families and advocates fighting this battle.

However, I couldn’t ignore the growing realization that my life needed a drastic shift. While I had built a stable career in IT and medical device R&D, I knew I had to channel my skills and energy toward something more meaningful. I made the bold decision to pursue clinical psychology degree, stepping into a new field with the goal of addressing the psychological distress faced by parents of children with cancer. This shift was more than a career change, it was a transformation driven by purpose.

Pediatric cancer has changed my dreams, perspective, priorities, career objectives. It's totally OK that all my previous dreams may have gone wasted. My mission has now become to amplify the voices of those who are often unheard, advocate for those in need, and work toward a future where no child dies from cancer.

I believe that true change requires self-sacrifice and unwavering commitment. Our job is to take action to turn lip service into reality and promises into meaningful change. True impact comes from stepping forward, even when the path is uncertain, and committing to what truly matters. My story is not just about advocacy, but also about transformation through action. Together, our stories can form a collective voice, strong enough to create a better future for children with cancer and their families.