For the past 12 years, Hania has been fighting a battle that no child should ever have to face. Born with cerebral cortical dysplasia and suffering from drug-resistant epilepsy, her life has been marked by daily, relentless seizures since she was just four months old. Despite countless attempts with various combinations of anti-epileptic medications, none of them have been effective. But it wasn’t until November 2022 that Hania’s condition began to escalate to an unimaginable level.
Up until that point, Hania had lived with the seizures, though they were spaced out and somewhat manageable. However, that all changed one fateful day when she began suffering from seizures daily. An MRI scan revealed a large, complex dysplasia deep in her cerebral cortex, an area that doctors found extremely difficult to access and treat. The seizures now came with terrifying frequency—sometimes as many as 50 to 60 per day. The situation was spiraling out of control.
Each attack is sudden, violent, and debilitating. Hania’s body folds like a penknife, and her loved ones are forced to act quickly, holding her hand to keep her safe from injury as she falls, completely unconscious. There’s no warning, no moment to prepare. A lapse in attention, even for a second, can lead to a heartbreaking fall, with Hania crashing into the floor, furniture, or any nearby object. It’s a life of constant stress for her family—an unrelenting waiting game where the next attack could come at any moment.
Her family is trapped in this cycle, unable to leave her side. Simple everyday tasks like making tea, washing their hands, or cooking dinner have become impossible. Epilepsy has stolen their peace, and every day they live with the dread that Hania could collapse at any time. And with each seizure, the stakes become higher. Every blow to her head, every fall, is a potential life-threatening injury.
But when Hania is not having a seizure, she looks like a healthy child—active, bright, and full of life. Her epilepsy is hidden from view, making it harder for others to understand the gravity of her condition. Hania’s parents, Agata and Andrzej, and her family are with her at all times—supporting her, protecting her, and loving her through this unimaginable struggle. But epilepsy doesn’t only affect the child—it affects the entire family, living in constant fear for her life.
In May 2023, Hania was hospitalized once again, marking the beginning of what has been a nearly continuous stay in the hospital. Despite undergoing her first surgery on October 10, 2023, at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw, the seven-hour operation to correct the dysplasia was unsuccessful. Hania’s seizures continued, with up to 30 attacks a day, and her family was left feeling helpless.
Doctors at the Children’s Memorial Health Institute, after numerous tests, made the heart-wrenching decision not to attempt another surgery. The dysplasia lies in a very deep and difficult-to-access part of Hania’s brain, where any attempt to remove it could cause severe neurological damage, including left-sided paralysis and the loss of the ability to speak or understand language. The risks were too great, and there was no guarantee that the surgery would stop the seizures.
But all hope is not lost. There is still a chance—an expensive, but promising one. The family’s only hope now lies in seeking treatment in the United States, where advanced methods for treating epilepsy are available. This treatment could offer Hania a real chance at returning to a life outside of a hospital bed. The cost of this life-changing journey is staggering, and Hania’s parents are asking for help, knowing they cannot shoulder this burden alone.
Agata and Andrzej are asking for every gesture of support—from donations to simply sharing their fundraiser. They believe that with help, they can give their daughter a chance at a normal life. A life free from the constant terror of seizures. A life where Hania can play, laugh, and live without fear. They believe that together, with the kindness of others, they can help Hania get the treatment she desperately needs.
Every donation, every act of kindness, brings them one step closer to making Hania’s dream of a normal, happy life a reality. The family remains hopeful and determined, knowing that with your support, they can overcome these obstacles and give Hania the future she deserves.
Please help us give Hania a chance. Share, donate, and spread the word—together, we can make a difference.
