Remembering Max

He had his whole life ahead of him - like any young person, he was planning his future. Shortly after celebrating his 18th birthday, however, his life changed dramatically. Doctors diagnosed him with a brain tumor and recommended immediate surgery.

A seven-hour operation followed, the results of which unfortunately confirmed diffuse midline glioma, and Max was sent for specialized treatment in Brno. Here he underwent a series of radiation treatments, six cycles of chemotherapy, and immunotherapy, for which he traveled every 14 days.

In April 2024, an MRI showed a favorable result – the treatment was working. Max began to intensively prepare for his graduation exams, which he successfully passed. He planned to study at the VŠB - Technical University of Ostrava and looked forward to getting his driver's license.

Unfortunately, the September check-up revealed a significant worsening – the tumor had grown again - it had increased by 68%. Other difficulties soon began to appear. The tumor was successfully irradiated again, albeit with a smaller dose, and the problems were temporarily alleviated. However, the treatment options available in the Czech Republic were exhausted at that point. The only chance to prevent the tumor from growing further and the relentless prognosis was several months of experimental treatment in Paris. Unfortunately, even that did not bring a major breakthrough, and Max left us after a long and brave fight. 💔