Support for Deya: Help a 5-Year-Old Fight Brain Cancer

Hello,

My name is JoAnn Smith. I have the privilege of being part of Deya’s extended family through marriage. I’m organizing this fundraiser on GoFundMe on behalf of Deya and her loved ones. Right now, they are facing the most heartbreaking fight of their lives and they need help desperately. What follows is a heartfelt letter from Deya’s aunt, Alexandrina, sharing Deya’s story. Please let’s band together and help.

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My name is Alexandrina, and I am the aunt of a truly extraordinary little girl—my niece, Deya. She’s just five years old, but already facing a battle no child should ever have to fight. She has been diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)—an extremely rare and aggressive brain tumor that attacks the brainstem and leaves very little room for hope.

Just weeks ago, Deya was full of life and joy. She loved riding her bike and snowboard, swimming, chasing her friends around the playground, and discovering the world with wide, curious eyes. But in a single moment, everything changed.

On March 18, 2025, only a week after she began showing sudden and frightening symptoms—eye misalignment, slurred speech, difficulty eating, and trouble with balance—we heard the devastating words no family is ever prepared for. Her diagnosis split our lives in two: before DIPG, and after.

What’s even more heartbreaking is that Deya understands what’s happening to her. She feels her body changing.

She asks, “Why can’t I ride my bike anymore?” “Why doesn’t my voice sound the same?” “Why is eating so hard?”

And we—her family, who love her more than anything in the world—are left without answers. All we can do is hold her tighter and keep fighting for her.

Right now, Deya is undergoing radiation therapy. On May 26, 2025, she has a crucial appointment in Munich, Germany, with one of the leading specialists in DIPG—Prof. Dr. Bernhard Mayer at TUM Klinikum. This consultation may open the door to further treatment and give us a fighting chance to slow the progression of this terrible disease. But it comes at a cost we cannot cover alone.

We have just 30 days to raise the funds needed for this trip, this treatment, and the hope it brings.

At the end of these 30 days, any donations will be brought directly to the family in Bulgaria, to be used immediately for:

• Travel to and from Germany

• Accommodations for Deya and her parents

• Medical consultations and procedures

• Daily expenses related to Deya’s care

Your support right now can help us reach our goal in time.

Please—stand with us. Share Deya’s story. Send this message to someone who might be able to help. Every single donation, no matter the size, every kind word, and every moment you spend helping us spread the word brings us one step closer to giving Deya more time… more smiles… and more chances to be the joyful little girl she still is inside.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for caring.

With love and hope,

Alexandrina

(Deya’s Aunt)

Please help us give Deya what DIPG tries to steal:

Time. Time to be a child. Time to be loved. Time to hope.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and donating.

With love and gratitude,

JoAnn Smith

(On behalf of Deya’s family in Bulgaria)