Operation or life in a wheelchair – please, help Lilianka!

Lilka is one and a half years old, and in danger to spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair. Her leg is deformed, the bone can break at any moment. Our little daughter doesn’t understand much, yet, but it’s a matter of time when she’ll start asking questions about why she can’t walk. We’re afraid– more and more every day. We hit the wall, however, because the price of the operation is enormous. We don’t have much time because the surgery was scheduled for the 21st of September! We have never been asking for this kind of help before, but if it is your own child’s future at stake, then there’s no other choice. Be with us in this fight, only with your help we can save Lilka’s ability to walk.

When she was born, there was already waiting for her older sister– Ala. Everything went well, and soon after childbirth we left hospital and came back home. We were all very happy. We, because our second daughter, that we dreamt of, was born, and Ala, because she couldn’t wait for her little sister. She was constantly asking about Lilka, and was saying that as soon as she’d learn to walk, they’d be doing everything together. Now, we’re asking ourselves if she will be walking at all...

One day, while I was changing Lilka, I noticed that her left leg was slightly more crooked then the right one. Back then, I wasn’t terrified by that- after all, children have curved legs. For piece of mind, I made an appointment to an orthopedist for consultation. When I went out from the doctor’s office, I had tears in my eyes... The moment he started to examine her leg, he immediately said it’s bad.

Our daughter suffers from congenital pseudartrosis of the tibia. What does that mean? Most probably Lilka’s bone was developing incorrectly already during pregnancy. Her leg is deformed, tibial bone is curved, and the foot is distorted. Every day the bone becomes weaker, more fragile and can break at any time by itself during sudden movement or changing diapers. If that happens, Lilka will be condemned to orthopedic cast and pain.

Orthopedists tell us that the operation should be done as soon as possible, so that Lilka can learn to walk already on healthy legs. After consultations with polish doctors, I was completely devastated. They gave only 50 percent chance of success of the surgery. The risk was too big... Looking for other solution, we found information about a clinic in The United States. We send there all the documents and after two consultations, the doctors told us, with absolute certainty, that they will fix our daughter’s leg. They gave us 100% chance that the operation will be successful, and Lilianka will have a healthy and efficient leg. They explained to us the whole process of the treatment. The bone tissue from ilium will be transplanted to tibia. Additionally, there will be implanted special protein in the place of fracture and a plate that will stiffen the leg.

After this operation, Lilka will be a healthy girl! This poured hope into our hearts... The operation will be conducted in Paley European institute in Warsaw. We were overjoyed, until we received estimated price for the surgery. Lilka’s health costs over 350.000 zl (82.075 €). This is a wall that separates our daughter from physical efficiency.

We will do everything for our child, but without your support we may fail. We trust, that one day we will see our daughters- Alicja and Lilianka- holding their hands and walking boldly ahead. Please, help...

–Parents