Light at the End of the Tunnel

On a beautiful November day in 2017, the Musteață family's world was turned upside down. Terrible news shattered their dreams: Stelian, their 3-year-old son, was diagnosed with cancer. Nothing foretold this pain, but it came uninvited, without asking permission.

Anna, the boy's mother, sadly remembers that period: "Stelian was in his first year of kindergarten, where he really liked it. He was barely 3 months old when he started making new friends, fitting into the group of children, even though he was frequently sick. At the beginning of November, he had bronchitis. Several weeks of treatment followed, but without any results, until I decided to go with him to the family doctor again, to ask for antibiotics. But while I was waiting, blood started flowing from his nose and his fever suddenly rose. That's when the doctors intervened, we called the ambulance and we were urgently transported to the "V. Ignatenco" Children's Clinical Hospital, Intensive Care Unit".

A difficult night followed for the entire family. Stelian remained alone in the hospital, and the boy's parents and sister went home, to return the next day. Overnight, the doctors decided that a computed tomography scan was needed, a device that the hospital did not have, that's why the child was transported to the Mother and Child Institute.

LEGO. PLEURESIA. PERICARDITIS

"Stelian was passionate about Lego toys. He often put the pieces in his mouth, and the doctors thought he had swallowed a smaller piece, which blocked a bronchus, because after the X-ray taken the night he was in intensive care, it was discovered that there was not enough air in one lung. At the Mother and Child Institute, we also found out that he had pericarditis, but also pleurisy, and his situation was very serious. We stayed there for 5 days, also in the intensive care unit, where the fluid from his heart was removed. Unfortunately, the doctors there told us that they could not help him with anything and we were transferred to another hospital again", says Stelian's mother.

De data aceasta au ajuns la Spitalul Clinic Republican „Timofei Moșneaga”, unde băiatul a fost internat în secția de Malformații Congenitale Cardiace și pregătit pentru operație, nu înainte de a i se face puncții pleurale, numeroase investigații și analize.

SUSPECTED CANCER. IMMATURE TERATOMA

„Înainte de a fi operat, medicul ne-a informat că există suspecție de cancer, dar un diagnostic clar a fost stabilit doar după intervenție — teratom imatur la timus. În ziua în care am aflat acest termen, am răscolit tot internetul și m-am speriat de ceea ce citeam și vedeam. Atunci am decis să nu mai caut nici o informație și să las totul pe mâna medicilor specialiști. Astfel, după operație, am fost redirecționați către Institutul Oncologic, iar în a treia zi de Crăciun, cu diagnosticul de Tumoră malignă a mediastinului (teratom imatur), Stelian a fost internat în secția Oncologie Pediatrică”, își amintește Anna.

In the hospital that became his second home for the next 6 months, the little patient found a very warm and friendly environment. Here, in addition to the long chemotherapy sessions, Stelian played with the other children in the ward, was visited by Santa Claus, received Easter gifts, became friends with the doctors and nurses, and discovered that the world that seemed scary to others, is beautiful to him, even though he has to endure needles and infusions every day.

About that period, the boy's mother tells with a twinkle in her eyes: "Stelian had just turned three, and the thought of having to spend a lot of time in the hospital scared me. For me, the Oncology Hospital was associated with death, as I think it is for many others, but after the door to the ward, I met many smiles, a lot of good cheer, many happy and confident people. That gave me courage and I knew from the first day that Stelian was strong and, with so many beautiful people by his side, he could not lose the fight. And the encouragement of the doctors, who told us that "every man has the right to a chance", gave us wings and hope".

After the 6 courses of chemotherapy, in June 2018, little Stelian left the Pediatric Oncology ward. He walked out the door victorious and with the confidence that he would never return here again (except for a visit).

WHAT IS STELIAN DOING NOW?

În prezent, Stelian este elev în clasa a doua. Crește fericit alături de părinți și de cele două surioare ale sale și își dorește să devină inventator. Încă mai este pasionat de lego, dar știe că această jucărie poate fi periculoasă pentru copiii mici, de aceea nu-i permite surioarei sale să se joace cu piesele mărunte. Merge regulat la controale, investigații și analize medicale, iar rezultatele sunt de fiecare dată îmbucurătoare. Este mândru că părinții săi au ales să fie tratat aici, în Republica Moldova, și spune că atunci când va crește mare, va scrie o carte în care își va spune povestea. Până atunci, istoria sa este povestită periodic de mama sa, jurnalista Anna Casian-Musteață, ca încurajare pentru toate familiile care trec prin această boală și cred că nu mai ajung să vadă lumina de la capătul tunelului.

The light exists, but it takes time, patience and hope to reach it. AO "Life Without Leukemia" helps children with cancer see the light and embrace it, then carry it forward!