March of this year brought the arrival of our beloved son, Mateusz—a day we had awaited with hope, prayers, and countless dreams. From the very beginning, we knew life had set before him one of the toughest battles imaginable.
Before he even took his first breath, prenatal tests revealed a complex and critical heart condition: evolutionary hypoplastic left heart syndrome, critical aortic stenosis with reduced dimensions, and a restrictive foramen ovale. We held onto hope, but deep down, we understood that our journey would be defined by courage, resilience, and love.
Mateusz came into the world at just 35 weeks, by cesarean section, weighing only 1,970 grams. Because of oligohydramnios and fetal growth restriction, he was immediately transferred to the Children’s Health Center and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. The fragile lines of his tiny body, the soft rhythm of his heart, and the quiet beeps of machines became the backdrop of our days and nights. Every monitor, every infusion, every movement of his chest was a reminder of both his vulnerability and his remarkable will to survive.
The first weeks of Mateusz’s life were marked by a series of complex medical interventions. His premature birth and low birth weight complicated an already delicate situation, necessitating urgent cardiac surgery. Blood flooding his lungs meant banding both pulmonary arteries, followed days later by a cardiac catheterization to widen the restrictive foramen ovale. Each time he was wheeled away for surgery, our hearts shook with fear. Waiting, praying, and holding our breath became our reality. When he returned, motionless under layers of tubes and monitors, we trembled—but we never stopped believing in his strength.
Early April brought a terrifying turn. Mateusz suffered hypoxia and cardiac arrest. In those moments, fear gripped every fiber of our being, yet we clung to hope as doctors administered a last-ditch treatment to save his fragile heart. The procedures that followed were grueling, testing not only his small body but also our faith and endurance. He was no longer a candidate for the planned surgery to modify his heart into a single-ventricle system. Yet, after days of struggle, his heart began to recover slowly, though his overall condition demanded immediate surgical intervention.
The surgery that followed lasted eleven grueling hours. When our son returned to us, he was in critical condition—unable to breathe on his own, supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), his tiny body clinging to life by sheer will. Two days later, he developed kidney failure, requiring dialysis. The weight of helplessness threatened to crush us, but Mateusz’s indomitable spirit shone through every line on the monitor, every small movement, every heartbeat. He was a warrior from the very start, and we refused to let despair define our story.
By the end of April, small rays of hope began to pierce the darkness. Mateusz’s heart was beating better, and his kidneys resumed normal function, no longer requiring dialysis. Three days ago, he underwent cardiac catheterization and a right pulmonary artery bypass grafting. Despite these successes, he remains on a ventilator, fed through a feeding tube, and continues to struggle with oxygen saturation and heart rate fluctuations. We’ve faced two brain hemorrhages as well—thankfully minor, but their long-term impact will only reveal itself with time.
The road ahead remains long and uncertain. Mateusz will need at least two more heart surgeries, followed by specialized rehabilitation. He requires professional care, advanced medical equipment, breathing monitors, and ongoing specialist consultations. Each visit, each procedure, each step toward recovery comes with enormous expenses, and as parents, the weight of these realities is immense. Yet, our commitment is unwavering. Our love for Mateusz is limitless, and we will fight for him with every ounce of strength we possess.
With no other choice, we humbly ask for your help. Support from people of good will will give our little warrior a chance to grow, thrive, and one day live the life that began in our dreams. Mateusz is our son, our hope, and our heart, and with your kindness, he can continue to fight, continue to shine, and continue to teach us all about courage, resilience, and the power of love.
