MARTA SALACKA, A 27-year-old mum of one, who lives in Castleconnell, Co Limerick with her husband Mariusz and four-year-son Nikodem was diagnosed with leukaemia earlier in the year.
“Leukaemia has returned and doctors no longer give me a chance. They did everything for me, and they are no longer able to do anything more,” she writes in her blog called Biała Krew, which means ‘White Blood’.
Her dying wish is to fly home to Poland to spend her final days with her family and friends. But because of Martha’s condition, she needs a special medical flight. Her friend Monika Ni Habrych came up with the idea of organising a fundraising campaign to raise €25,000 so Marta can travel in comfort with an extra €5,000 so the family will not have to worry about finances while they are in Poland.
Marta Salacka in her hospital bed holding a picture of her family. Image Biała Krew.
Monika explains why she set up the fundraising campaign:
Marta is fighting with leukaemia but unfortunately she has got bad news recently and the doctors said they have done all they can for her. She would like to go back to Poland and we will need to raise some money to help her and her family. We have a big goal to achieve but we can all do it for Marta, I know she would do it for you as well.
So far the campaign page has raised €19,089, even after a problem with the PayPal account for a while yesterday. The amount donated increases every time you refresh the page.
The mum of one in happier times. Image Biała Krew.
The beautiful mum describes the moment she found out about her cancer diagnosis:
I could not deal with it, the fear stuck in me. You are probably wondering what were the symptoms? It started very innocently. That’s why everyone was in severe shock. My mother began to cry. I… We were afraid. My husband hugged me. He said ‘do not worry. baby’, but I could feel his body shaking with nerves.
Marta has been flooded with kind thoughts from people all over the country, and she asks people not be “angry” about not replying, if she “had to write back to everyone she would not have enough days.” At the moment she says she is resting and sorting “things” out.
“I’m trying not to cry but when I look at my family, my heart breaks. I can not even tell them that I feel it,” she says.
A fundraiser will be held tonight at Ahane GAA clubhouse in Limerick at 8pm. There is also an online page for donations – www.gofundme.com/1chbnw.
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