A mother from the UK, Lucica Antohi, faced dismissal of her concerns about her baby’s health as “new mum anxiety.” However, her son, Matias, had to undergo emergency surgery while on vacation in Spain. Initially, doctors had reassured Lucica that her son’s swollen tummy was nothing to worry about. Nonetheless, during their trip to Spain in June of the following year, Matias experienced feeding issues and consistently dry nappies.
Lucica sought medical help at University Hospital in Alicante, where Matias underwent tests revealing a 21.5-centimeter tumor on his right kidney. Despite successful removal of most of the mass in July, the tumor reappeared a month later. Due to long waiting times in the UK, Lucica temporarily relocated to La Fe Valencia hospital in Spain, where Matias underwent multiple surgeries to remove the tumor and received various treatments like chemo and radiotherapy.
After exhausting treatment options in Spanish hospitals and the NHS, Lucica turned to fundraising for £20k to access alternative treatment called Osimetrinib at St Jude Hospital in the US. Facing a challenging journey, Lucica expressed hope that specialists could offer assistance to her son.
Matias was born with a swollen belly in January 2023, and despite multiple doctor visits, concerns were dismissed until his symptoms worsened in Alicante in June 2024. Diagnosed with a mesoblastic nephroma, Matias underwent surgery to remove the tumor from his right kidney. However, the tumor recurred, leading to subsequent treatments and surgeries in Spain.
The family’s struggle intensified as the tumor persisted, prompting Lucica to seek help for her son on LinkedIn. Despite challenges with getting access to Osimetrinib, a promising drug for fast-growing tumors, Lucica remains determined to explore all treatment options to save her son.
To support Matias’s treatment, donations can be made to the fundraiser linked here.