The Fight of Her Life

One would think that being born into a poor and destitute Roma village would be the pinnacle of hardship. The battles of everyday life, just surviving, is more than most of us deal with in a lifetime. But now one of our most beloved families is facing a new kind of battle. Five year old Sidonia Gandac, a child we have known since birth, is battling a rare form of Leukaemia.

With Head Supervisor Alisha in 2011.

Many of our past volunteers will recognize Sidonia from her time in the Brasov Children's Hospital as a baby and toddler, and more recently as one of our most rambunctious and loveable Kids Club kids. Since birth she has been a joyful child, always smiling and laughing, and as we have watched her grow we have seen her blossom into an intelligent, sassy and kind little girl. We were shocked when she was sent to the the Children's Hospital this spring with an undiagosed illness. After almost two months of testing it was determined that she is indeed suffering from a rare form of Leukaemia.

Playing doctor, after being in the children's hospital so
much, she knows what to do.

Thankfully she has been transferred to a hospital in Cluj that specializes in treating this life threatening illness. The city is a four hour drive away so it is impossible for the family to visit. Sidonia's grandmother has been staying with her at the hospital for the past two weeks, and we will be sponsoring the journey for her father to go and trade places with her.

Decorating a tree this past Christmas in Budila.

This family is heavy on our hearts at this time and we ask that you would join with us in praying for healing for Sidonia. The doctors have a realistic perspective and know that this form of cancer is extremely aggressive. But we know that our God is bigger than any disease and He is holding Sidonia in his hands. Please forward this blog post to those who would pray for this precious little girl. She will begin chemotherapy in the coming days and we will keep you updated as we hear progress of her treatments. Thank you for your heart and love for these children, your prayers make a difference.

Swollen from the treatments, but still smiling. At the Brasov Children's Hospital, just before being transferred to Cluj.