SUFFERING WORSE THAN DEATH

The face is our trademark. It is the first thing that makes an impression on people we meet. It is a cue for others judging if we are likable or not, and if they eventually decide to make contact with us. And what if the face is completely deformed, causing fear, repulsion, and in the best case, pity? What does the life of a child born with such a baggage look like? How does it feel when they look in the mirror or see the reactions of others?

14-year-old Iga from Łódź knows the answer to all of these questions. She knows that life can be very, very unfair and that not all people are born with equal opportunities. Equal opportunities for pursuing happiness… Igal is carrying the burden of a terrible disorder, for which there is no cure and to make matters worse, she is growing up without a mother. No child deserves such a life. The disorder Iga suffers from is called Apert syndrome. It is characterized, among others, by cranial and facial deformations, fusion of fingers and toes as well as a cleft palate. The 14-year-old experiences walking, speech, eating and breathing problems. Only one of her eyes is healthy and she is hard of hearing. The number of surgeries she has gone through is close to her age... They did save her life, yet did not make it normal. Neither did they bring any acceptance. Or friends. They did not give her equal opportunities for education, finding a job and starting a family. Iga is different and she notices that at every step – she can see that in the eyes of others. She can hear that in their whispers.

Unfortunately, it was not just the disease that made Iga’s life tragic. Her father is raising her and her brothers alone. Their mother was deprived of custody, as she used to leave all four of her kids unattended, hungry, dirty and louse-infested while she would go on a binge. Eventually, their father managed to get the children back, cuddled them and took them to a safe home – a home which used to be just a dream. Mr. Piotr does his best taking care of the siblings. He spends every penny on them. He gives them his whole heart. He sacrifices everything he has for them. He even had to resign from his job to take care of the sick daughter and their whole family lives off social benefits only. Their mother does not care about the children. Neither does she pay child support. All she left behind are debts and traumatic memories, which cannot be erased.

Having gone through so much pain and suffering already, Iga finally has a chance for a completely new life. A new life with a new face. Unfortunately, the price for such a chance is very high. It is a surgery called Le Fort III, which can be conducted at the Craniofacial Center, Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas, USA by an outstanding craniofacial specialist – Dr. Jeffrey Fearon. During the surgery the skull is cut through across the orbital walls and special metal plates are fixed to the bones using screws. Over the next weeks they are gradually separated, bringing the midface out. Thanks to that, Iga will be able to breathe, swallow, speak and see normally... And finally, she will get a completely new look. The whole procedure requires regular consultations with specialists and at the same time, Iga and her family will need to stay in the USA for about 2 months.

Iga’s father gives her love, teaches her how to be resilient and strong, and takes good care of her. He learned to cook and bake a cake for her and her brothers. He is ready to do much more, but there is one thing he cannot give his dear daughter - a surgery that would change her life. It is not about a new face only, but about saving her life and health. Iga’s brain is growing, but her skull is not… That is why we are asking you to help us collect funds for the surgery which the future of Iga relies on! We cannot do it without you. Every penny counts. Every penny takes us one small step closer to the goal. To make Iga’s dreams of normal life and happiness come true!

Iga is a sweet, warm and helpful girl, but due to her disorder and misfortune she has faced, only her home and family bring her comfort and security. She has been deprived almost entirely of a carefree childhood and has been forced to struggle with unimaginable hardships and the disfavor of others. We believe, however, that after the surgery Iga will catch up with all the hours spent in the operating room, all the days in hospital, weeks of pain, months of rehabilitation and years of shame and exclusion. We believe that she will grow to be a wonderful, confident young woman with the world at her feet…

And although such a journey and surgery brings a lot of fear and stress, this 14-year-old girl and her family are ready for it. They know this is the only way to go. That the stakes are high. And when it is going to hurt – hurt a lot, Mr. Piotr and the boys will hold Iga’s hand tight…