January 2018 brought a moment of both hope and worry for Simone’s family. Born prematurely at just 28 weeks and weighing only 515 grams, she entered the world at an incredibly fragile state. From the very first moments of her life, Simone faced the complex and uncertain path that many preterm infants must navigate. Every hour was a rollercoaster—her tiny body responding to treatment, sometimes thriving, sometimes faltering—but throughout it all, the small hands of Simone reached for those of her parents and the dedicated neonatal care teams at CHU Sainte-Justine.
The first weeks of Simone’s life were filled with challenges that no family could anticipate. Born with significant growth retardation and a premature development, she required constant monitoring, specialized interventions, and the expertise of a highly trained medical team. The intensity of neonatal intensive care is difficult to overstate; each day demanded vigilance, expertise, and compassion to ensure her survival. Yet, Simone’s resilience shone through even in these earliest moments, providing a beacon of hope to her family and caregivers alike.
Pierre, Simone’s father, recalls those early months with gratitude and emotion. “CHU Sainte-Justine left a mark on us for life. They gave Simone a chance to thrive, even though she was born extremely premature with significant growth delays,” he says. His words highlight not only the skill of the medical teams but also their humanity, their ability to support both patient and family through the highs and lows of intensive care. For parents of preterm infants, this dual focus—medical expertise coupled with compassionate care—is invaluable, providing both life-saving treatment and emotional support during a period of intense uncertainty.
Simone’s stay at CHU Sainte-Justine lasted four months, a period filled with small victories and incremental progress. Each step forward, whether it was improved breathing, weight gain, or increased alertness, was celebrated as a milestone. Her family held on to these moments of hope, understanding that survival and growth for babies like Simone is often measured not in days but in hours and minutes. Throughout this period, the presence of dedicated caregivers, combined with the unwavering support of her parents, provided the stability and love essential to her recovery.
The expertise of CHU Sainte-Justine’s teams was complemented by the generosity of donors to the Foundation. Their contributions allow the hospital to advance treatments, research, and neonatal care protocols designed to give children like Simone the best possible chance at a healthy future. Every donation contributes not only to life-saving care but also to the ongoing development of innovative therapies that improve outcomes for the most vulnerable infants. It is through this combination of professional skill, compassionate care, and community support that children born extremely premature can grow into thriving, healthy individuals.
Today, Simone’s story serves as a testament to resilience, hope, and the extraordinary work of both medical professionals and supporters. What began as a precarious and fragile start has transformed into a life filled with possibility, thanks to the careful coordination of neonatal specialists, the dedication of her parents, and the impact of donors who believe in the potential of every child. The success of infants like Simone demonstrates the power of a holistic approach to neonatal care—one that integrates medical precision with emotional support and community engagement.
Her journey reminds us that every premature infant has the potential to thrive when given the right care, attention, and opportunities. It also underscores the importance of philanthropy and community support in advancing medical research and treatments that can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Through the dedication of medical teams and the generosity of donors, children like Simone are not only surviving—they are growing, developing, and embracing the possibilities of a brighter future.
Simone’s early days were a fight for survival; her growth and progress are now a celebration of life, resilience, and hope. The love, expertise, and commitment surrounding her enabled a precarious beginning to become a foundation for health, growth, and opportunity. Her story illustrates the profound impact that compassionate care and community support can have, ensuring that even the tiniest fighters can flourish against the odds.
As Simone continues to grow and thrive, her family and the teams at CHU Sainte-Justine celebrate each milestone as a triumph, each moment of laughter as a victory, and each new day as a testament to the promise of life. Through skill, love, and generosity, children like Simone are given not just survival, but a future filled with hope and possibility.
💙 With the support of donors, hospitals like CHU Sainte-Justine can continue to innovate, care, and nurture children like Simone—turning fragile beginnings into extraordinary futures.
Adaś’s Fight: A Family’s Journey Through Fear, Hope, and Courage.1746
In February 2025, our world shattered in an instant. Our beloved son, Adaś, had been struggling quietly for months with headaches, trouble swallowing, and sudden bouts of weakness. As parents, we watched anxiously, seeking answers that never came. We moved from doctor to doctor, underwent countless tests, hospitalizations, and consultations—but each visit left us with more questions than answers, and a growing sense of helplessness.
Then, in the blink of an eye, everything changed. Adaś’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and the diagnosis that no parent ever wants to hear was delivered: glioma—an inoperable, diffuse tumor of the medulla oblongata and cervical spine. The words hung in the air, crushing us with their weight. How could this be happening to our little boy? How could a vibrant child, full of curiosity and laughter, face such an unimaginable challenge? Fear, despair, disbelief—it all collided into a haze of helplessness.
Explaining this to Adaś was a heartbreak unlike any other. How do you tell a child that their world is about to change forever? That the journey ahead will be filled with pain, uncertainty, and countless medical procedures? In that moment, all plans, dreams, and normalcy vanished. The only thing that mattered was his fight—the fight for his life, for his childhood, for the chance to simply be a kid again.
We sprang into action immediately. Adaś underwent major surgery, where skilled neurosurgeons performed a biopsy and a decompression procedure to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and improve cerebrospinal fluid flow. For five long hours, we waited, hearts clenched, praying for his safety. When he finally returned to us, exhausted but alive, relief washed over us like a tidal wave. He was fighting, and we could see sparks of hope in his eyes.
In the days that followed, Adaś began to eat, smile, and show the playful spirit that had always defined him. Seeing him regain fragments of his normal self was a joy that words cannot capture. Yet, we knew the most arduous battle was still ahead. The histopathology results confirmed the diagnosis, and we were ushered into the oncology department—a place that would become our second home. Here began months of chemotherapy, rehabilitation, and countless tests, each day testing not just Adaś’s resilience, but our own.
The road ahead is grueling. Constant checkups will be necessary to ensure the tumor remains dormant. Adaś will require further intensive treatments, specialized care, and rehabilitation to regain his strength. As his parents, we must remain by his side through every stage of this fight, providing love, comfort, and encouragement when his energy wanes. Despite everything, Adaś’s spirit shines through—his will to live is extraordinary. We believe, with every fiber of our being, that he will prevail with your support.
We dream of a day when Adaś can run freely across the playground, laugh without care, and embrace life with the boundless energy of childhood. We dream of seeing him climb trees, ride his bike, and chase after butterflies—simple joys that, for now, are precious milestones we fight for daily.
Every act of kindness has already meant so much. Every thought, every share, every contribution has been a lifeline in this dark chapter of our lives. The outpouring of support strengthens not just Adaś, but our entire family, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, hope can flourish.
Our plea is simple: help us give Adaś the chance to reclaim his childhood, his dreams, and his laughter. Together, we can stand beside him as he fights this battle, and together, we can help make his world whole again.
From the bottom of our hearts, we thank everyone who has been part of this journey—every gesture of love, every prayer, every hand extended to guide us through the storm. Adaś is a fighter, and with your support, he will continue to shine, proving that even in the face of the most daunting challenges, courage, love, and hope can prevail.