Our daughter Laurka was born extremely premature—at just 22 weeks of pregnancy. She weighed only 480 grams and measured 30 centimeters. At her tiny size, doctors said she had almost no chance of survival. But from the very first breath, Laurka showed an
incredible will to live. She proved herself a warrior, surprising everyone around her with her determination to fight.
The beginning was terrifying. We couldn’t hold her, kiss her, or reassure her that she was safe. Laurka was immediately placed in an incubator, surrounded by machines, while doctors worked tirelessly to help her breathe. Every sound of alarms, every flash of monitors, made our hearts pound. It was the worst nightmare imaginable, but even then, our daughter refused to give up.
Just two weeks after her birth, Laurka faced her first major surgery. Her intestine was fused to her duodenum, and doctors had to remove a section and create a stoma. At the time, she weighed only
600 grams, and her fragile skin was as thin as parchment. Two weeks later, when the stitches were removed, her intestines became exposed, requiring another urgent surgery. Against all odds, our little girl survived—her tiny body resilient, her spirit unbroken.
The months that followed were filled with constant monitoring, treatments, and struggles. Laurka developed numerous complications from extreme prematurity, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy (requiring two laser treatments), and a thyroid condition. For two and a half months, a ventilator breathed for her. Later, she required oxygen to help her lungs manage even the simplest breaths. Every day was a battle, every hour a test of her willpower—and of our strength as her parents.
Just as we began to hope we might finally bring her home, another crisis struck. On May 18th, we received a call that Laurka needed urgent surgery once again. She had a twisted small intestine and had suffered asphyxiation. Surgeons were forced to remove
three-quarters of her small intestine and create a new stoma. Today, Laurka depends on parenteral nutrition, her tiny body continuing to recover from challenges most children will never face.
Laurka’s journey is far from over. She requires ongoing rehabilitation to manage increased muscle tension, and regular visits to numerous specialists, many of whom are far from home. Every appointment, every therapy session, every necessary intervention comes with
significant financial costs, travel expenses, and emotional strain. As her parents, we want nothing more than to give her the care, attention, and opportunities she deserves—but we cannot do it alone.
Despite everything, Laurka remains a fighter. She has already defied the odds more times than we can count. Her determination, resilience, and spirit inspire us every day. Every small improvement—taking a breath on her own, tolerating a new therapy, responding with a smile—is a triumph that feels monumental. She is growing stronger, slowly reclaiming the childhood that was stolen from her by prematurity and complications.
We are sharing Laurka’s story to ask for your help. Every donation, big or small, contributes directly to her care: medical treatments, therapies, travel for specialists, and ongoing rehabilitation. Every contribution gives her another chance to recover, to grow, and to experience the joys of childhood that she has fought so hard to reach.
We also ask for your thoughts, prayers, and support. Emotional encouragement, shared messages of hope, and spreading Laurka’s story help sustain our family through the long days and nights of worry, hospital stays, and uncertainty.
Laurka’s life is a testament to courage, resilience, and the incredible strength of a child who refuses to give up. She has already survived challenges that would overwhelm most adults. With your support, she can continue to fight, heal, and thrive—reclaiming a life that is hers by right, full of health, love, and hope.
Please join us in supporting Laurka. Help us give this tiny warrior the future she deserves. Together, we can make a difference in her life—help her grow, smile, and experience the childhood she has fought so valiantly to survive.
— Laurka’s Parents