At first glance, Kubuś Kuligowski looked like any other child.
Born healthy and full of life, he entered the world with bright eyes, curious hands, and the gentle restlessness of a boy eager to discover everything around him. His parents, Jakub and his wife, imagined the simple joys ahead—first steps, playground laughter, scraped knees, bedtime stories, and a childhood defined by wonder.

No one could have imagined how quickly those dreams would be replaced by hospital corridors, medical scans, and a battle no five-year-old should ever have to face.

The First Signs Something Was Wrong

As Kubuś grew, small warning signs began to appear. He complained of stomach pain. He vomited more often than seemed normal. Fevers came and went without explanation. At first, these symptoms seemed like common childhood illnesses—nothing alarming on their own. But together, they told a different story.

Concerned, his parents sought medical advice. During a routine ultrasound, doctors discovered something devastating: a large mass located between Kubuś’s spleen and kidney. Further testing followed quickly. An MRI confirmed the diagnosis no parent is prepared to hear—neuroblastoma, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer.

Worse still, genetic testing revealed the presence of the n-MYC amplification, a marker associated with high-risk, fast-growing disease.

From that moment, life changed completely.

A Childhood Replaced by Hospitals

The days of carefree play disappeared overnight. Instead, Kubuś and his family entered a world of oncology wards, treatment schedules, and constant uncertainty. His parents watched helplessly as cancer took over their son’s small body.

Surgery became the first step. Doctors removed the tumor, along with Kubuś’s left kidney, in a complex and risky operation. For a child so young, the procedure was immense. Yet Kubuś faced it with a quiet bravery that left medical staff in awe.

Just five days later, chemotherapy began.

The RIST protocol—an intensive and unforgiving treatment—was his only immediate option. Each dose was meant to destroy cancer cells, but it also took a toll on his fragile body. Nausea, exhaustion, pain, and weakness became daily companions.

When the Cancer Spread

For a brief moment, there was hope. Early scans after surgery showed encouraging signs. But that relief did not last.

Tests soon revealed that the cancer had spread to Kubuś’s bone marrow. Neuroblastoma had found new ground. The fight was far from over.

Life at home became increasingly difficult. Their rented apartment, once perfectly adequate, now posed challenges. Narrow staircases made moving Kubuś in his specialized wheelchair exhausting. Feeding him, administering medication, and monitoring his breathing required constant attention.

Every night, his parents listened carefully to the sounds of his breathing. Every morning, they feared what the day might bring.

A Child’s Spirit That Refused to Break

Despite everything, Kubuś remained unmistakably a child.

Even in hospital rooms filled with machines, IV lines, and harsh medications, he found moments of joy. A favorite cartoon. A soft toy by his side. A brief smile that lit up the room.

His laughter became rarer, quieter—but when it appeared, it meant everything.

Those moments reminded his parents why they kept fighting. Each smile, each spark of curiosity, was proof that their son’s spirit had not been taken by disease.

A New Hope in Barcelona

As conventional treatments reached their limits, doctors presented another option—advanced gene therapy in Barcelona. This innovative approach targeted the genetic drivers of neuroblastoma, aiming to slow or stop its progression at its source.

It was not a guaranteed cure. But it was hope.

Preparing for the treatment was a battle of its own. Kubuś had to be stabilized. His body needed to be strong enough to travel and endure another round of therapy. His parents worked tirelessly—organizing medical records, coordinating care, and ensuring he would receive immediate, personalized treatment upon arrival.

Every detail mattered. Timing was critical.

Living with Pain and Perseverance

The physical toll on Kubuś is immense. Surgery, chemotherapy, and ongoing treatments have weakened his immune system and drained his strength. Headaches, nausea, and body aches are constant challenges.

Yet he endures them with a courage far beyond his years.

Simple actions—sitting upright, watching television, holding a toy—require effort. Each small achievement is celebrated like a victory. In Kubuś’s world, progress is measured not in milestones, but in moments.

A Family Transformed by Love

Kubuś senses everything. He feels the anxiety in his parents’ voices, the exhaustion in their movements, the hope they place in every treatment. Though young, he understands more than most realize.

A smile. A glance. A small gesture of recognition. These are his ways of saying, I’m still here. I’m still fighting.

His parents have become warriors alongside him. They have learned medical language they never wanted to know. They make impossible decisions every day—balancing aggressive treatment with the emotional needs of a child who deserves joy, play, and normalcy.

They celebrate small victories: improved blood counts, fewer side effects, a day without vomiting. These moments are not minor—they are lifelines.

More Than a Medical Story

Kubuś Kuligowski’s journey is not just about cancer. It is about resilience in its purest form. About a child whose early years have been stolen, yet whose spirit remains unbroken.

The coming months are critical. The gene therapy in Barcelona represents a race against time. But no matter the outcome, Kubuś has already shown the world something extraordinary.

He has shown that courage does not depend on size.
That strength can exist even in the smallest bodies.
That love can sustain hope even in the darkest moments.

Kubuś dreams of running across a playground, of grass under his feet, of laughter without pain. His parents hold onto that vision with everything they have.

And every single day, this five-year-old boy proves that even against one of the most aggressive childhood cancers, the human spirit can still shine—brave, determined, and unyielding.