Five-year-old Paula needs public support to fund cancer treatment in the US
Five-year-old Paula has spent nearly a year battling a malignant kidney tumor, and her family hopes she can join an experimental CAR-T therapy trial in the United States. The charity 'Palīdzēsim viens otram' is calling for donations to cover the trip's costs.
For nearly a year, five-year-old Paula's daily life has revolved around hospitals, tests and chemotherapy rather than the usual concerns of a kindergartner. The charity 'Palīdzēsim viens otram' (Let's Help Each Other) is now appealing to the public for support.
Diagnosis and treatment
In September 2025, Paula was diagnosed with a malignant kidney tumor — a Wilms tumor, or nephroblastoma, with a diffuse anaplastic histological subtype at stage III. She underwent complex surgery during which her left kidney was removed along with the tumor, followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The family had hoped the treatment would succeed, but check-up examinations in March this year brought difficult news: the disease had progressed and metastases had formed. Doctors, working with international pediatric oncology specialists, adjusted her treatment plan. According to the charity, recent tests show positive trends, though full remission has not yet been achieved.
Hope in the United States
One remaining option is participation in a clinical trial in the US studying the use of CAR-T cell therapy for tumor treatment. The charity notes this is an experimental treatment with no guaranteed outcome, but for Paula's family it represents another chance to keep fighting.
The family needs an estimated 150,000–250,000 US dollars to make the trip and cover treatment-related costs. The CAR-T therapy itself will be provided free of charge as part of the trial, but the family must cover accommodation, tests, analyses and treatment of possible complications.
The charity stresses that behind the diagnoses and costs is a child with simple dreams — to return to kindergarten, start school and play with friends. A fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover the expenses, with the public invited to contribute to Paula's fight.
