Our son, Maksymilian, was in such a rush to meet his family that he was born at just 25 weeks of pregnancy. From that very first moment, our lives changed forever. Instead of welcoming a newborn at home, we were thrust into the cold, sterile corridors of the neonatal intensive care unit. Doctors, seeing his extreme prematurity and fragile condition, initially refused to fight for his life.
But Maks had other plans. Against all odds, he chose to live, though every breath, every heartbeat, was a struggle. His early days were filled with challenges that no parent should ever face. Maks was diagnosed with respiratory distress syndrome, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, anemia, seizures, and hydrocephalus. For months, he remained in an incubator, struggling to breathe on his own. Countless times, he experienced apnea, and doctors had to resuscitate him—five times, each attempt a race against death. Watching him fight, feeling his fragility in my arms, was a pain I can barely describe. I felt as if my own heart was breaking with each shallow breath he took.
Despite the dire prognosis—that he might never develop properly or live a normal life—Maks did not give up. After five grueling months, we were finally able to take him home. But the journey had only begun. Intensive rehabilitation became our world. We invested every penny of our savings to give him a life as close to normal as possible. Endless doctor visits, specialist consultations, and therapy sessions slowly brought progress. We celebrated each milestone: the first swallow, the first eye contact, the first word, and the day he could hold his head upright. Step by step, Maks learned to speak in full sentences, his determination shining through every word.
By the age of four, he had learned to use a wheelchair and bravely took his first steps with our support. We invested in expensive walking therapy using the Lokomat, a robotic training device that helped strengthen his legs and balance. The results were promising—but our funds ran out too quickly. Supporting a family of six, paying off loans, and covering Maks’ ongoing needs left my husband and me stretched beyond our limits.
Just when we thought we were making progress, life threw another cruel challenge our way. In August 2016, Maks developed a high fever for no apparent reason. After weeks of tests, doctors discovered elevated protein levels in his cerebrospinal fluid, signaling a new struggle within his brain. What followed were eleven brain surgeries. Doctors once again gave a bleak prognosis. They told us to prepare for the worst, warning that Maks would face unimaginable suffering, that we would have to accept a life limited by disability. But we refused to accept this. We prayed, we argued, we never let go of hope.
Through these surgeries, three intraventricular shunts were installed, relieving some of Maks’ suffering. After six months in the hospital, he returned home weak and exhausted, having lost much of the progress we had painstakingly achieved over seven years. Yet when he left the house, holding our hands and riding his bike, I felt a flicker of hope. Seeing him smile, full of energy, his love for the ball and for playing with his siblings—it reminded us that life, despite everything, still had joy.
Today, Maksymilian cannot walk independently. His legs remain stiff despite muscle relaxants, he struggles to hold himself upright, his head droops, his eyes are crossed, and he has little strength to speak. He drools and cannot fully close his mouth. Maks requires intensive physical therapy, speech therapy, ophthalmologic care, and psychological support. Each day, the costs add up—about 600 złoty just for medications, with additional expenses for doctor visits and therapy.
We are devastated. We want to give Maks everything he needs, to see him laugh, run, and play with his siblings as any child should. But we simply cannot do it alone. Our other children sacrifice their own needs and pleasures, yet they love their brother deeply and understand why. For parents like us, happiness comes in small victories—a word spoken, a smile, a step taken. Every achievement feels monumental because it is earned through pain, perseverance, and unwavering courage.
Maksymilian is a fighter. He has already survived what no one thought possible, and he continues to inspire everyone around him with his strength. We want to give him every opportunity to reach his fullest potential, to enjoy life with his family, and to reclaim the childhood that illness tried to steal.
We are asking for your help. Every contribution, every act of support, brings Maks closer to the care and rehabilitation he needs to thrive. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for believing in him, for helping us give our son a chance at a better tomorrow.