When parents dream about their child’s future, they imagine birthdays, first days of school, laughter in the backyard, and quiet evenings together—not hospital wards, endless treatments, and desperate pleas for more time. But for the family of five-year-old Franek, those dreams were abruptly shattered by a rare and devastating diagnosis:

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD).

This cruel genetic disease, in its cerebral form, attacks the nervous system with frightening speed. It gradually robs a child of the very essence of life—mobility, speech, sight, hearing—until existence itself slips away. For Franek, the nightmare began far too soon, at just five years old, when the first signs of ALD appeared, turning ordinary moments into urgent battles for survival.

---

A Race Against Time

At first, there was hope. Doctors prepared Franek for a bone marrow transplant—the only treatment known to sometimes slow ALD’s relentless march. He endured the long and grueling preparation process in the transplant ward. His parents clung to the belief that medicine, science, and prayer could give him a chance to live a fuller life.

But then came devastating news: neurological symptoms appeared earlier than anticipated. The disease was advancing too quickly. Specialists delivered a verdict no parent should ever hear—the transplant could no longer be performed. Intensive chemotherapy and immunosuppressive drugs, which had once offered a glimmer of hope, could not save him. They would likely either fail entirely or leave him permanently disabled.

“We were told there was nothing more to do,” his parents say, their voices trembling with pain. “But how does one accept that? How do you face your child, full of life yesterday, and surrender him to a disease today?”

---

A New Glimmer of Hope

Just as despair threatened to overwhelm them, a ray of hope appeared. Word came of a groundbreaking treatment program in Paris. A new drug, still in early stages of testing, shows real promise. For Franek, it could be the lifeline he desperately needs—the only chance to halt the disease before irreversible brain damage sets in.

If accepted into the program, Franek would be among the first boys from Poland to receive this experimental therapy—a pioneer not by choice, but by cruel necessity. Yet time is a merciless enemy. Each passing day allows ALD to steal more of his childhood, more of his abilities, and more of the future his parents have long dreamed of giving him.

---

The Crushing Reality of Cost

Hope has a price. The treatment requires three years of hospitalization, frequent travel to France, and extensive medical supervision. The medication itself may not be fully covered, leaving the family responsible for an enormous financial burden.

“For us, the sums are unimaginable,” his parents admit. “We want nothing more than to save our son’s life. But we cannot do it alone.”

---

A Family Struck Twice

As if facing one child’s battle were not enough, the family’s younger son has also been diagnosed with ALD. Now, the parents live with the unbearable knowledge that they are fighting not for one life—but for two.

“It feels like the ground has been ripped from under us,” they confess. “But we cannot stop. We will knock on every door, reach out to every ministry, speak to every heart. Our boys deserve a chance at life, and we will fight until the very end.”

---

The Call for Compassion

The parents understand the odds. They know ALD is rare, cruel, and unforgiving. They know that without urgent help, time will run out. Yet, amid despair, they still cling to hope.

“We believe that together, we can accomplish the impossible,” they say with quiet determination. “Every donation, every share of Franek’s story, brings us closer. Hope is all we have—and hope dies last.”

---

Why This Matters

Franek is not just a medical case. He is a five-year-old boy who loves, laughs, and plays when the disease allows him to. He is a child who deserves to celebrate his next birthday, to hold his brother’s hand, and to experience the simple joys of childhood that ALD threatens to erase.

Behind the statistics is a family shattered but unbroken. They are clinging to faith, courage, and the compassion of strangers to bridge the impossible gap between what modern medicine can offer and what they can afford.

---

A Plea From the Heart

Franek’s story is a powerful reminder of how fragile life can be—and how profound the impact of collective kindness is. Alone, this family cannot carry the burden. Together, with every prayer, every donation, every act of generosity, we can offer them something priceless: time, treatment, and hope.

“This is our only chance,” his parents plead. “Please help us save our boy. Help us give Franek and his brother a future.”

Because while ALD may be merciless, humanity is not. With compassion, Franek’s story does not have to end in tragedy. It can be rewritten into a story of survival, resilience, and love—one that refuses to give up.