Help kids in Kosovo cure cancer

While considerable efforts are being made to bring about a sustained economic recovery in Kosovo and there are signs of progress, the situation is bleak compared with the Netherlands. Unemployment is high, the average wage is low and, in terms of healthcare, the country still has a long way to go.

Wealthy people who need healthcare seek treatment at private clinics or go abroad for treatment and pay for their medical examinations and any medication they need. Those who are poor have no choice. Physicians do what they can with the limited resources at their disposal, but they often have only the most basic drugs and medical equipment.

Many people cannot afford to pay for life-saving medication, such as cytostatic drugs. So, up until 2013, children diagnosed with cancer that can be effectively treated, died if their parents were unable to pay for the drugs. In 2013 Care for Kosovo Kids started providing treatment and medication for these children.

Kosovo has more than 1.8 million inhabitants, most of whom are ethnic Albanians. More than half of the population is estimated to be under the age of 25. The country is approximately a quarter the size of the Netherlands.

"It took me fifteen years to get pregnant"

Four months ago, Florian (3 years old) was unwell. He stopped walking, vomited and blood came from his nose. His parents took him to the local hospital in Gjakove, close to their hometown.

The doctor instantly saw that there was something seriously wrong with Florian and told them that he should go to the hospital in Pristina. After several tests, the diagnosis of leukaemia was concluded.

'It is in God's hands', says his mother Elizabeta (28 years old). She cries. 'There are many good doctors and nurses here; I hope they can help him.' For his parents the illness is catastrophic. It is difficult to find work as gypsies. They barely earn any money and are dependent on the government and generosity of others. Even though her husband works as much as he can, life is expensive. The travelling costs from home to Pristina alone are already substantial. It is a blessing to them that Care for Kosovo Kids is covering the costs for treatment and medication.

'I hope it is God's will that it will be okay', she says. Elizabeta was married for fifteen years before she finally became pregnant. Florian couldn't have been more wanted and now he's deathly ill. 'I hope God will allow him to live.' Barely two months after his birth she became pregnant again. Tears swell again when she says that her youngest is being cared for by the neighbours during the day.

Florian and Elizabeta have already been at the hospital for nearly three and a half months. Sporadically she takes the bus home - a trip of over an hour and a half - but only when Florian is allowed to come. Thankfully, he is not in pain any more, though he is tired from the therapy. She doesn't know whether he will be cured but he appears to be doing better. He is at the start of the treatment and they will have to come back many times. Her husband is working hard to cover all of the additional costs.

After this conversation, they will leave to go home by bus, to return in a week. They stay in the hospital on alternate weeks. 'I have to say goodbye to my youngest son every time. I feel guilty that I can give him so little attention, he's still so young.' She wipes the tears off her face. 'When we are all home again, we are happy. Florian gets thrilled when he sees his little brother again too, he cuddles him the whole time.'

"My hair is almost the length it used to be"

The right leg of Diana Ferizi (6 years old) hurt. Diagnostics concluded it was caused by leukaemia. In 2014, the girl was admitted to the paediatric oncology unit of the University Clinical Centre in Pristina, where she received chemotherapy.

During the entire time - day and night - her mother Valbona stayed at her side, in the same room. The family with two other daughters and a son live in another city in Kosovo. It takes hours to travel from there to Pristina by public transport.

A year has already passed since Diana last had chemotherapy, yet she still she has to come in every fortnight for a check-up. How long these check-ups will continue, is still unknown. Valbona says her daughter dreads having to go to the hospital every time. On these days, the girl is nervous, stressed and easily aggravated.

Valbona herself gets worried before every check-up. 'I'm always afraid something else that's serious is uncovered during one of these examinations.'

With tears in her eyes, her mother says: 'My husband and I didn't dare to dream our little girl would recover from this illness. We are so grateful that she could be treated here thanks to Care for Kosovo Kids, because we wouldn't have been able to afford the chemotherapy.'

Meanwhile, Diana proudly shows off her long hair. 'Before the chemotherapy it reached down to my buttocks. Afterwards I was completely bald for a while, but luckily it grows back fast. It is almost as long as it used to be.'