Valeria, 16 years old
Diagnosis – Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Valeria was just 13 when she began feeling unwell. A sporty, active teenager, she had recently recovered from COVID-19 and was preparing for another season of training. But during a routine check-up in May 2022, her blood tests showed alarming abnormalities. By July, she developed a persistent fever and sore throat. After a long month of uncertainty and home treatment, Valeria was admitted to her local children’s hospital and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
The diagnosis marked the beginning of a long and complex treatment journey that continues to this day. Valeria underwent chemotherapy, CAR-T cell therapy, and a bone marrow transplant from her father. These aggressive treatments were necessary to combat not only leukaemia but also a rare complication called macrophage activation syndrome.
Despite enduring dozens of serious complications, including viral infections, gastrointestinal disease, and kidney failure, Valeria remained strong. Her condition frequently required intensive care and highly specialised medications to manage life-threatening post-transplant issues.
In September 2023, Gift of Life funded 30 vials of the antiviral medication Foscavir at a cost of £7,059. This drug was essential to controlling CMV, a virus particularly dangerous for children with compromised immune systems like Valeria.
Later, Valeria faced further complications due to the intensity of her treatment, including serious side effects that required continuous medical care. Through it all, she showed remarkable strength and resilience.
Valeria is now 16. While her condition remains serious and complex, she is stable. She continues to receive peritoneal dialysis, immune therapy, and monitoring for long-term transplant recovery. Her mother is now undergoing assessment to potentially become Valeria’s kidney donor.
Even after more than two years in and out of hospital, Valeria hasn’t lost her strength. She dreams of life beyond hospital walls and each small step forward is a victory, possible only thanks to timely support.
To everyone who supports Gift of Life – thank you. Your help has given Valeria a chance to keep fighting. Life for children with cancer in the CIS is unimaginably hard, but together, we’re giving them hope, healing, and the medical care they deserve. Please continue to stand by these children. Your generosity changes lives.