Balnur, Dimash and the House Team Up to Fight
Every September, Ronald McDonald House New York marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with heartfelt intention. It's a time to raise awareness about pediatric cancer, honor the resilience of children in treatment, and highlight the vital role the House plays in offering families comfort, stability, and strength.
Since its founding, Ronald McDonald House New York has stood as a sanctuary for families facing one of life’s most terrifying challenges: childhood cancer. In fact, children battling cancer was the House’s sole focus when it first opened—a mission that remains deeply rooted in its identity even as we serve a broader range of pediatric medical needs today. The majority of families at the House are still here because of cancer. They come from across New York City, across the country, and across the globe, seeking hope in the form of the world-class cancer care available at New York's leading hospitals.
That journey to hope sometimes comes with heartbreak. But what families find when they step through our doors is that hope can be shared, and healing is a communal act.
One family who embodies this journey is that of 28-year-old Balnur and her younger brother, 16-year-old Dimash. Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan—a city nestled at the base of the Tien Shan mountains—the siblings have been living at the House for over a year. Their story is one of perseverance, devotion, and profound love.
A Diagnosis That Changed Everything
From Remission to Relapse
16-year-old Dimash was first diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in 2021. He began cancer treatment in Kazakhstan and went into remission, but shortly after completing chemotherapy, tragedy struck. “A few days later, our dad passed away,” Balnur recalled. "That six months when he was in a stable remission were pretty rough for us."
Finding Lifesaving Care Abroad
In early 2024, Dimash relapsed. As his condition worsened, the family looked for more advanced treatment options. Through a connection her brother-in-law had made years earlier, Balnur was introduced to a hematologist at NYU Langone, one of New York's premier pediatric oncology centers. When they landed in New York, the young man’s condition was fragile. Luckily, the doctor their brother-in-law connected them to in 2021 was available to continue his treatment and became Dimash’s lead physician upon his return.
Since arriving in June 2024, the two have been living at the House while Dimash receives ongoing treatment, including immunotherapy, a bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor, and now a second relapse treatment after a difficult GVHD (graft-versus-host disease) diagnosis.
An Unbreakable Bond
A Sister Becomes a Caregiver
While many assume Balnur is his mother, she is in fact his sister—and now, his primary caregiver.
“Everyone thinks I’m his mom,” she said, laughing gently. “But I’m just his sister. We have an older sister, I’m the middle child, and he’s the baby.”
Love, Laughter, and the Little Fights
The two share a deep connection strengthened by hardship and tempered by care. Dimash, who is soft-spoken and reserved, but always thoughtful when he speaks, lit up just a little when asked what he thought of his sister’s role in his care. “She’s good, yes, very good,” he joked. “But I think we need more space.”
Balnur chuckled at that, her voice warm and grounded. It's a truth most teenage siblings would share but layered with love. As the only family member able to make the journey with him, she has put her life on hold to ensure he’s never alone.
A House That Became a Home
First Impressions of RMH-NY
When they first arrived at Ronald McDonald House New York, Balnur had no idea what to expect. "Our social worker just said they would provide the room and you will go see," she recalled. "I was very focused on his treatment, so I didn’t really think about it. But when we arrived, I saw all the pictures, all the toys in the lobby, and I was like, oh wow, this place looks so amazing."
For Dimash, the first delight was a warm, familiar indulgence: McDonald's. “He wasn't eating much back then,” she said. “But we saw on the TV (advertising the day’s events in the House lobby) that they were serving burgers. He was so excited."
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Thoughts on the House #1
"Um, this place not so scary, and I think it's good place to get help, and place like a home when you can leave and get some help. Yeah, this place. Spaces give us some help cares about us and provide us more of the things and other events, they make events and we're happy, just happy for this."
-Dimash
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Relief from the Daily Strain
Now, more than a year later, the House has become more than a place to stay. It is a space of emotional rest and practical relief for families facing pediatric cancer.
“It feels like the backbone of our whole treatment journey,” Balnur said. “I don’t have to worry about lodging, food, or transportation. We’re already battling the disease and having so much suffering and struggle. Even if I’m smiling, we have a very serious battle going on. This is our safe space.”
She especially cherishes the Wellness Center. “Even getting a 15-minute massage, I won’t have that back home. It’s very relaxing—the music, the flowers, the aromatherapy. And I love coffee,” she added with a smile.
Finding Joy in the Small Things
Dimash, meanwhile, finds joy in the little things—Mexican food, his trip to the Statue of Liberty, and the sense of community.
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Thoughts on the House #2
"Oh, the staff is amazing. As I mentioned, 11th floor, Angelica. love them so much. And Hannah, social workers helping us a lot. I love the front desk. People there. They are always so helpful, so positive, always smiling. The other day, I was thinking, I see them at the House at 7am or 9pm I'm like, Are they go home day? When they go home? When they rest? They're here, 24/7, and they're always smiling, always positive, always being so helpful. Yeah, this is amazing. I love this stuff."
-Balnur
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Making Dreams in the Midst of Battle
Shifting Career Paths Through Personal Experience
While she devotes most of her time to her brother’s care, Balnur is quietly pursuing a dream of her own. With a background in international law and educational consulting, she transitioned into healthcare management after Dimash’s diagnosis. Before moving to the U.S., she served as a project director for a foundation focused on bone marrow donation and transplant development.
A Deferred Dream, Not a Lost One
And now, she has been accepted to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She was supposed to start in August 2025—until Dimash relapsed in March. “I got the acceptance letter on February 27th. Four days later, the relapse came. So, I had to defer.”
Still, she has no regrets.
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Thoughts on the House #3
“I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get him to the hospital when he when we need to go to the ER, or when our doctor is calling us and asking to come to get a lot of tasks done, because I know that our mission can help us cool."
-Balnur
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A Vision for Cancer Care in Central Asia
Balnur’s dream? To build a Central Asia Cancer Research and Innovation Hub. “I want to help all patients from Central Asia, so they don’t have to travel to Turkey, Korea, or Israel. They should be able to get care at home,” she said. Her focus will be cancer care delivery. “Families shouldn’t have to go through what we’ve gone through.”
Supporting Siblings at the House
Programs for Emotional and Academic Support
While the House is a refuge for children in treatment, it is also a place that embraces their brothers and sisters—those who often become the quiet heroes in the background. Siblings carry invisible burdens: they worry, they wait, and they adapt. At Ronald McDonald House New York, we make sure they are seen, heard, and cared for.
When siblings arrive at the House, they are met with programs designed specifically for them. From support groups with our Family Support team where they can express their feelings, to special events and activities that give them moments of joy and normalcy, the House ensures siblings are never forgotten in the care equation. For those who stay long-term, many are enrolled in local public schools so they can continue their education without falling behind their classmates at home.
Family-Centered Care in Action
This is all part of how the House prioritizes family-centered care—a model that understands healing doesn’t just happen at the bedside, but in the community that surrounds it. By taking siblings and caregivers into account every single day, the House ensures that every member of the family receives the support they need.
Whether it’s movie nights, holiday celebrations, game rooms, or simply a new friend down the hall who understands what it’s like to have a sick sibling, the House is a sanctuary for the whole family. Because we know that when one child is sick, the whole family feels it—and when one is lifted up, the entire family is stronger.
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Thoughts on the House #4
"It was amazing. It feels like a backbone of our whole treatment journey, like I don't have to worry about it, and I still worry, because besides living in the House, we have other expenses, right, and other things to worry about. But still, it's like 50% of our thoughts are not bothering us. Yes, and we're already battling and battling with the disease. We're already having so much suffering and struggle, even if I'm smiling and like, I'm very optimistic, in a good mood, but behind that we have a very serious battle going on. So, this is, as I said, this is our safe space. I know that we have people here who will be able to support us emotionally, like taking care of the emotions well. And the best thing for me is that this place takes care, not only of patients, but of caregivers too."
- Balnur
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Why This House Matters
The Hidden Costs of Cancer
Ronald McDonald House New York provides essential services for hundreds of families like Balnur and the Dimash’s every year—families uprooted by pediatric cancer, often navigating an unfamiliar country, culture, and language, while carrying unimaginable emotional and financial burdens.
The House as a Support System
From free lodging and daily meals to 24/7 front desk support, the House allows caregivers to focus on what matters most: their child’s health.
“This place takes care not only of patients but of caregivers too,” Balnur emphasized. “I had this chance to focus on my Harvard applications while taking care of him. I never worried about where I’d send my application. I used the library to do my interviews.
Looking Ahead
Holding On to Hope
Today, Dimash is still receiving treatment, with hopes to return home by the end of the year. But their timeline remains uncertain. Despite everything, they remain rooted in gratitude.
“Ronald McDonald House New York is more than a house. It’s our second family,” he said.
Balnur added: “It’s a safe space and a home away from home.”
A Community That Celebrates Wins
And while the Fourth of July fireworks from last year remain one of her favorite memories—“I bottle up my emotions as a caregiver, and those fireworks just made me feel better,” she shared—it’s the people who stand out most.
“Even yesterday, Juliet from the Wellness Center was reminding others that I got into Harvard. I’ve been so focused on treatment, I almost forgot. But the people here didn’t. They are cheering for me. I feel special.”
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Thoughts on the House #5
"Because mostly cancer battles are very energy and time consuming. It's not a one-day thing. It takes years. In our case, it's been four years, and for the first three years, we were by ourselves, and for the last year, we've been relying a lot for the outside help. And yeah, families need this support, emotional, financial, whatever support they can provide. Families need that, not only the patient, but the whole family is affected by the treatment, by the disease.
- Balnur
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Giving Can Transform
Balnur once dreamed of becoming a doctor. Now she dreams of building a cancer care hub to serve thousands more like her little brother, Dimash.
Her journey didn’t pause when she became a caregiver—it transformed. And this House made space for that transformation.
Your support does more than provide housing, it can transform. Your support protects hope, fuels ambition, and lifts a weight no family should carry alone.
Every meal, every hospital visit, every sibling supported—it’s all possible because someone chose to give.
This September, as we honor the bravery of children and young people like Dimash and the dedication of caregivers like Balnur, we invite you to remember what this House was built for: to make sure that no family fights alone.
Cancer doesn’t care where you come from, what language you speak, or how far you’ve traveled, but Ronald McDonald House New York does. Here, families from every corner of the world find warmth, rest, and resilience. Here, hope has roots, and healing has room to grow.
Celebrate Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with us this year! Find out how you can help more families like Balnur and Dimash.
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