Courageous fighters: Mariella and Milane defy serious illnesses!

Courageous fighters: Mariella and Milane defy serious illnesses!

The Boldt family from Prenzlau is facing an enormous challenge. Her eldest child has already been through tough times, and now the youngest daughter, Mariella, comes into the picture. She was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022 and has since been torn from her usual everyday life. Long therapies are required, which not only puts a strain on Mariella, but on the entire family. The Kolibri association actively supported the family by providing Mariella with a learning robot at the Philipp Hackert School. This means she can attend classes despite her serious illness.

Unfortunately, Mariella's youth consecration was canceled, which not only represented an emotional blow of fate, but also prevented the hoped-for windfall for an iPhone. Her sister Milane has therefore decided to ask the Kolibri association for help with Mariella's heartfelt desire. This initiative led entrepreneur Mario Ruder from “Ruderküchen” to raise money through a spectacular race track of 72 km in 12 hours. As a result, Ruder was able to hand over an iPhone 16 to Milane because Mariella was unable to attend for health reasons. The gift brought Mariella a lot of joy and brought the family's happiness back a little. Father Marko Boldt thanked them warmly for their commitment and was proud of his daughters.

Hope for recovery

After four rounds of chemotherapy, Mariella has reason to hope: the doctors could no longer find any cancer cells in her blood. This represents a first ray of hope on the road to recovery. It was not only a physical but also an emotional roller coaster ride for the entire family, who are now preparing to ring a “recovery” bell at the Charité. The focus is on the support and concerns of parents. According to information from the Cancer Information Service, it is important that parents in such situations do not lose sight of the bureaucratic details and contact the clinic's social services for help and advice.

Emotional support from the family is crucial, especially with such devastating diagnoses. Many pediatric oncology centers, such as the KiTZ in Heidelberg, offer programs that help the affected children and their siblings to maintain their everyday lives despite the difficult circumstances. These include playrooms for sick children and care options for healthy siblings. Music therapy offerings are also part of the support and contribute to a positive atmosphere. Parents can learn about financial options, such as child care sick pay, while caring for their little “warriors.”

Emotional stress

Cancer is not only a medical challenge, but also an immense emotional burden for the entire family. It is recommended to talk openly about the condition so that children do not fill the information with their own fears and fantasies. Information from experts and supporting institutions helps to make dealing with the disease easier. It is important that parents include their children in the treatment process and provide them with a sense of normality. Although treatment may seem threatening, it is crucial that parents remain courageous and loving.

In Germany, around 2,000 children develop cancer every year, but the cure rate is high for four out of five affected children. Despite all the challenges, children show an admirable fighting spirit and the absolute will to get well. Support from relatives and exchanges with other families can provide valuable resources when dealing with the illness.

The Boldt family is on the right track, and the strengthening through their community and the support of clubs is having an impact. It remains to be hoped that Mariella will soon fully recover and the family can return to their usual rhythm of life.

For detailed information about cancer in children and how to support them, please visit the website Uckermark courier, Cancer Information Service and The cancer portal.