Said’s Story: A Fight for Life We Cannot Win Alone
When our son Said was born, we dreamed of a happy childhood for him – the kind of life every child deserves. Days filled with laughter, school, play, and simple joys. We never imagined that his life would become a battlefield, that each sunrise would feel like another round of war, and that his survival would depend on strangers’ kindness.
This July, Said received a bone marrow transplant. It was a moment we had prayed for with every tear, every sleepless night, every whispered hope. To us, it felt like a miracle. For months, we had been living in hospitals, counting blood tests, and watching numbers rise and fall on screens. And then, finally, the transplant day arrived.
The donor was none other than Said’s sister, our brave daughter. She is still so young herself, but without hesitation she gave a part of herself to save her brother. We cannot describe the emotions we felt as we watched her being prepared for the procedure — her small body giving life to another. It was something extraordinary, something that will forever live in our hearts.
But even though the biggest step is now behind us, the fight is far from over. Said is extremely weak. Every day feels uncertain — will complications develop? Will he recover, or will the disease come back? This is not the first time leukemia has returned. And now, as treatment continues, we are running out of money.
We have already given everything we had to save our child. Our house, our savings, our dreams — all of it has gone to treatment. Without the help of donors, Said would not be alive today. Every single contribution has been a lifeline. And yet, now more than ever, we need help again to finish this fight and give Said a chance to live.
Every donation, no matter how small, is priceless. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has already supported us. But we are not at the finish line yet. Please, help us complete this journey. Please, let Said live.
How It All Began
We never expected our life to take such a turn. Said’s illness started as something we thought was trivial — a toothache. We assumed it was just a cavity, that all we needed was a simple dental visit. But that day changed everything. The dentist noticed his lymph nodes were swollen and immediately referred us to the hospital. Blood tests, a bone marrow puncture… and then the words that hit us like a thunderbolt:“Acute leukemia. Ninety-two percent of the cells in his bone marrow are cancerous.”
It was a shock so deep we could barely breathe. In that moment, the world around us blurred. Everything we thought we knew about our lives crumbled. We were thrown into a nightmare of IV drips, hospital beds, and medical jargon.
Said underwent five grueling cycles of chemotherapy in Azerbaijan. It was a brutal process, but to our relief, the treatment worked — he reached remission. Genetic testing sent to Turkey confirmed that the disease had retreated.
For a year and a half, we lived with cautious hope. Maintenance therapy, regular check-ups, counting the days. Every smile, every laugh felt like a gift. We thought, maybe, just maybe, the worst was behind us.
But a few months ago, our boy started feeling unwell again. He lost his appetite, developed fevers. We returned to the clinic. Another bone marrow puncture. The results broke us all over again:“Leukemia has returned. Eighty-seven percent of his cells are cancerous.”
We could not afford to lose even a single day. The doctors told us the only chance now was a bone marrow transplant — but it could only be done in Turkey. This was the sole hope left to save his life.
The cost of the operation was $85,000, plus at least two cycles of chemotherapy at $18,000–$20,000 each. It was an impossible sum for us, but without it, our son would die.
The Transplant – and the Fight Ahead
Thanks to incredible support from people like you, we were able to raise enough money to take Said to Turkey and proceed with the transplant. On the day of the procedure, our daughter became her brother’s donor. We will never forget her courage. In her small hands lay her brother’s chance at life.
The transplant itself was successful, but the danger is far from over. Said’s immune system is almost nonexistent. Every infection, every fever, every complication could take him from us. He is still undergoing chemotherapy and intensive post-transplant treatment.
We are exhausted — physically, emotionally, financially. We have nothing left but faith. Faith in the kindness of people, in the power of community, in miracles.
Why We Still Need Help
Without continued treatment and follow-up care, the transplant’s success may be lost. Complications can appear at any moment. Medications, hospital stays, tests, and supportive therapy cost far more than we can afford. We are a family living at the edge of our strength and resources.
We have sacrificed everything: our savings, our home, our dreams for the future. All of it went to saving Said. But now we have reached a point where we cannot continue without help.
Said asks us every day: “Will I live? Will I die?” And we do not know how to answer except to promise: “We will do everything we can.” But “everything we can” is no longer enough on our own.
That is why we are here, humbly asking again. Please help us finish this fight. Please help us give our son a chance at life.
How You Can Help
Every donation, no matter the size, brings us closer to saving Said’s life. Every share of this story means another person might read it and decide to help. Every kind word gives us strength on the darkest days.
Your support is not just money. It is hope. It is the medicine we cannot buy, the courage we cannot summon on our own. It is the difference between despair and possibility.
We will never forget those who have stood with us. You are all part of Said’s story now. You are part of his fight, his future, his chance to grow up, to go to school, to dream again.
From the Bottom of Our Hearts
We are the parents of Said Hasanov. We are fighting the hardest battle of our lives — the battle to keep our child alive. We have lost everything except faith. Faith in people like you.
Please, stand with us. Please, give Said a chance to live.
With deepest gratitude,
Said’s Parents
