In Their Own Words: What SurPass Means to Survivors and Families in Croatia

Maks Cvilinder (18): “SurPass Means Peace of Mind Wherever Life Takes Me”

I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in mid-2020 and completed my treatment at the beginning of 2021. I recently turned 18.

I am proud to be among the first survivors in Croatia to receive SurPass. To me, it means peace of mind. It keeps all the important information about my treatment and recommendations for future follow-up care in one place.

It is reassuring to know that no matter where I end up studying, working, or living, my doctor will be able to access my medical history and understand exactly what follow-up care I need. I won’t have to remember every detail or retell my whole story every time I see a new doctor.

I am truly happy that something like this now exists. For young people like me who have overcome cancer, it makes it much easier to stay on top of our health and look ahead with confidence. I genuinely believe it will make a real difference for many survivors, and I’m grateful to be among the first to benefit from it as it becomes available in Croatia.

Ljiljana, Mother of Antonija Vuletic (29): “Bringing All Information and Experience Together Gives Us Confidence for the Future”

A key aspect of the lives of children who have survived malignant diseases—and a growing focus for the medical community—is the monitoring of long-term effects following recovery, a priority driven by today’s higher cure rates. Much has changed since we first stepped onto the oncology ward in 2005, including our understanding of tumors, treatment methods, and the associated late effects. Consequently, it is vital to consolidate all details, information, and experiences in one place to better address these long-term effects and improve the children’s quality of life.

Both Antonija and I are genuinely happy that this resource is now available in Croatia. Knowing that all this information and experience has finally been brought together gives us confidence that survivors and their families will be better supported in the years ahead.

Firefly Association (Krijesnica): “Our Goal Is Not Just to Cure, But to Ensure Long, Fulfilling Lives”

We are proud and delighted to welcome the introduction of SurPass in Croatia. For years, we have listened to young survivors share the same challenges: having to retell their medical history to every new doctor, searching for old medical records, and facing uncertainty about the long-term effects of treatment. That is why this milestone means so much to us.

SurPass is much more than a digital passport. It is a personalized survivorship care plan that brings together each survivor’s treatment history, information on possible late effects, individual risk assessment, and recommendations for lifelong follow-up care. It will help survivors receive the right care wherever life takes them.

This achievement reflects years of dedication and collaboration between Firefly and dedicated professionals, especially Dr. Jelena Roganovic, whose expertise and commitment have been instrumental in advancing survivorship care in Croatia.

We are more than happy that the first survivors have received their SurPass and that Croatia is now part of the growing European community committed to improving lifelong care for childhood cancer survivors.

Because our goal is not only to cure children of cancer—it is to ensure they can live long, healthy, fulfilling lives.

Dr. Jelena Roganovic: “A Shared European Milestone for Childhood Cancer Survivorship”

This milestone belongs to all of us. Without the trust and support of survivors and their families, this achievement would not have been possible. Thank you for believing in this vision and for helping us build a brighter future for every childhood and adolescent cancer survivor—together.

Dr. Jelena Roganović, pediatric hematologist and oncologist at Children’s Hospital Zagreb and the Croatian lead of the e-QuoL project