Staś, the guardian of the smallest animals

Update 18.03.2015 r. Dear Helpers, the amount of collection for Staś has been updated due to the change in cost estimate. It turned out that to be able to adequately protect the effects of the surgery, the doctors want the orthoses to be made in Germany.

 

Emotional, sensitive... He will take care of each ladybug, each fly in need. He knows what it means to be small and defenseless, and how much suport means. When it hurts a lot, we carry him in our arms. When he has a better day, he walks by himself.

 

Our Staszek needs help... otherwise he would spend his life in a wheelchair. Staś developed sepsis right after he had been born. How did it happen, and why him? – these questions were left without an answer. The doctors said it was a miracle, that he managed to get over the illness. For almost a month he was fighting for his life. Only few can make it.. But he won; predispositions, his will to live, pure luck – we still don’t know what helped the life to overcome death... However, the disease left a trace, which was soon to be discovered. We reached his first birthday with only “minor” problems, unaware of what life had in store for him... He took his first steps, and only a few weeks later there appeared the problem with which we have had to cope till now – he couldn’t walk any more. It turned out, that as the result of sepsis, his joints, mainly knee joints, were damaged. Delicate legs, that wanted to move, became immobilized. A strong contracture, and big pain appeared. And we had to listen to some doctors’ gloomy diagnoses that he will never be able to walk, and that we should leave him as he is, otherwise we would do him more harm. We never considered giving up without a fight. Because the diagnoses were inconsistent, we knew we should keep on fighting, and look for any kind of help, all over the country. In the meantime, Staś developed pneumonia, and, together with it, there came another contracture - this time of the shoulder joint - with suspected abscess.

 

Miraculously, he escaped shoulder surgery. We were informed that not only his knees, but all the main joints have been damaged. After a couple of months Staś again had to learn how to walk…

 

Unfortunately, because of the damage of the knee joints, we have never been able to fully straighten his legs. Staś still walks with bent knees, which burdens his other joints and the spine. He has to put a lot of effort into his unnatural gait, which sometimes ends in tears. Staś knows that it’s all not the way it should be. He has a sister. She is the mirror in which he can see his reflection, although she is younger, she’s faster. She doesn’t have to cope with pain, she just can do more. Staszek isn’t jealous.

 

He just wants to be as she is. 5 years of rehabilitating, 5 years of hopeless struggle interwoven with lesser, or bigger success. Living with pain became a part of his everyday life. During these 5 years we met people who tried to benefit from someone else’s suffering, people who tried to help no matter if the help would really bring any results, or not, and thus, making even more harm.. But also people who selflessly helped without expecting anything in return, with hearts full of sensibility. The people who brought us to this place where we are today. In December 2015 we learned about a great chance for Staś. If they say something is impossible to be done, it means that you consequently have to look for a man who, instead of on concentrating on obstacles, will rather focus on the opportunities. Such people can do more. They are successful. We managed to find a doctor, who will straighten Staszek’s ill legs, and later will lengthen his femurs, presently 30% shorter than his shins. Doctors in the clinic in Aschau successfully operate even on children who, in Poland, were doomed to spend their lives in a wheelchair, or even to amputations. We believe with all our hearts, that one day Staś will be healthy, and able to walk without effort, and any pain.. Maybe he will even run, or jump up with joy.. The cost estimate for the operation and orthoses, is only a piece of paper, but it additionally burdens our son, and limits his chances of regular walking. Staszek has no leniency for being a human, but he requires it to move...

 

Mummy, yesterday I saw a shooting star –Did you make a wish, Staś? ? –I did!! ! – hat ? –I don’t have to tell you... You will see for sure…

 

I do hope his wish will come true, and I will be able to finish another dialogue with Staś with the words “He turned round, and ran into his room, feeling happy” To reach such a happy ending, we need your help. Staszek needs it...

Stanisław Sułkowski