Náš príbeh | Peťo a jeho rodina

Our story

Hello friends and dear strangers!

Since you have found yourself on this page, you probably want to know more about us and our situation. If we do not know each other personally, I would like to introduce us.

We are a family of five - Dad Peťo (39), Mom Majka (37), first-grader Tobiáško (7), almost 5-year-old kindergartener Laurinka, and 2.5-year-old Šarlotka. The reason I am writing these lines today is the health condition of our dad Peťo.

Peťo studied at Zlín university and his roommates started calling him Bilbo while playing the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic. And so, our entire family got the nickname Bilbo among friends in the Czech Republic

By the way, why the Bilbo family?

We knew something was wrong with our dad Peťo for a while. He began having trouble expressing himself, which worsened in the weeks leading up to the diagnosis. He gradually developed problems with reading and writing and could no longer go to work. The MRI appointment was over a month away when, the day after our youngest daughter Šarlotka's 2nd birthday, Peťo told me he couldn't feel half of his face. I didn't hesitate and called 155.

On the night of October 8th to 9th, 2023, I waited anxiously for a call from Peťo, who had been taken to the hospital by ambulance. Around 1:30 AM, the phone finally rang. I heard Peťos distressed voice: "They did a CT scan, and it's there." Although I had an idea of what it might be, I didn't want to believe it. I didn't sleep all night, and the next day, when I visited Peťo in the hospital, the doctors informed us after an MRI scan that there was a huge tumor in Peťo's brain and the prognosis was very poor.

On October 18th, 2023, Peťo underwent resection of part of the tumor, measuring 4.5x4x5 cm unfortunately, the rest of the tumor could not be removed. Histological and genetic results confirmed it was a grade 4 glioblastoma, the most malignant type of brain tumor, with parameters indicating almost no success of chemotherapy treatment.

Peťo had an epileptic seizure during the operation and another one several hours afterward, complicating the situation and prolonging recovery. Fortunately, Peťo managed to pull through, and a few days later, we welcomed him home with the children. It took him several days to remember everything and everyone and a few weeks to regain stability and be functional. Unfortunately, his speech did not improve after the operation, and there was also a problem with the sensitivity of the right side of his body, which was affected during the surgery. This was the lowest price to pay for removing part of the tumor.

He began learning to do everything with his left hand (eating, brushing teeth, shaving, dressing, etc.). We also started visiting a speech therapist, but after several months, there was no progress.

We also started visiting a speech therapist, but after several months, there was no progress. Four weeks after the operation, Peťo started a cycle of radiotherapy (Cyber Knife radiation) combined with chemotherapy. Over five weeks, he underwent 28 high-intensity radiation sessions. He also finished chemotherapy before Christmas, and a period of waiting began. Waiting for a follow- up MRI to show what had changed in his brain since the surgery. The results we received at the beginning of February 2024 took away our hope. A post-radiation cyst measuring 5 cm had formed in place of the removed tumor.

Peťos condition significantly deteriorated. He stopped speaking, his mobility worsened to the point where we had to support him with every step to prevent falls, which happened quite often. He could no longer care for himself and needed full-time care, including nighttime diaper changes.

Current condition
and situation

Doctors statements both in Slovakia and abroad agree that Peťo's condition is so severe that he has only weeks left to live. When we heard this verdict for the first time, it took away all our hope and wind from our sails. However, nearly three months have passed since then, and Peťo underwent another procedure. An Ommaya reservoir was implanted in his head, allowing fluid to be drained from the cyst.

This brought significant relief to Peťo. He started talking more and moving better. It brought a sense of ease to the household and renewed hope that things might improve. Unfortunately, this improvement did not last long. After three weeks, his condition worsened again. The cyst filled up once more, pressing on critical centers in his brain.

Since the last surgical procedure, doctors have performed three punctures, but the recent improvements in his condition were minimal. In Peťo's head, there is also a large tumor growing into healthy tissue, making it inoperable. It is growing toward the brainstem, where the respiratory center is located. Additionally, the cyst, which also contains tumor cells, continues to fill with fluid, and frequent puncturing through the reservoir in the head is very risky due to the possibility of introducing an infection into the brain.

Family situation

We are currently in a very challenging situation. Peťo requires 24-hour care. He is now, unfortunately, immobile, unable to speak, incontinent, and has difficulty swallowing. Until now, our family has been helping us, but after eight months of struggle, we are all running out of physical strength and positive mental attitude. I have contacted the National Oncology Institute for palliative care for Peťo and psychological support for our family. At the same time, I am trying to find caregivers who will help me daily with Peťos care.

Tobiáško is a student, and although he is very smart, he needs my assistance with school preparation. Laura goes to kindergarten and is the most sensitive to the current situation. I feel that regular connection with a child psychologist is essential.

In the short time we have been together with Peťo, we have experienced many difficult moments. Šarlotka was born with a heart defect that gave her no chance of survival without surgery, and she underwent surgery at the Children's Cardiology Center in Bratislava when she was 5 days old. Consequently, due to the stressful situations, I developed acute eczema all over my body, which, even after 2.5 years, is not cured, and I have been undergoing injectable biological treatment for the past year. Despite the treatment, the eczema worsens intermittently due to significant psychological and physical stress.

Fortunately, we have many friends and good people around us who help us in various ways, and we are extremely grateful for them. Even though we are fighting a serious illness, we have found one great positive: we have confirmed that there is still good in people.

Transparent account

Since October 2023, we have been without Dad's income, and our friends have convinced us that it is time to ask for help. Therefore, we have set up this page and opened a transparent account.

All the money that is deposited into the transparent account will be used primarily for caregivers and to cover Peťo's treatment, psychologists, the purchase of medical supplies not covered by insurance, transportation costs, nutritional supplements, and the general functioning of the household (food, loan repayments, footwear, clothing, activities for the children such as clubs and camps...).

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for any contribution that will help us get through this challenging period.