The doctors told us to prepare for the worst❗️Emilia won the battle for her life, now she is fighting for her mobility. Will you help?

My longed-for daughter was born on 23 February 2022. The labour was very difficult...Emilia was stuck in the birth canal, was not breathing and turned blue, her collarbones were broken. I did not hear her first cry and I could not hold her in my hands. I was not even allowed to look at her. The doctors immediately transported her to the NICU. She was connected to medical devices at once.

The diagnoses were terrifying: central nervous system damage, brain swelling, congenital aortic valve stenosis, laryngeal stenosis and microcephaly. The doctors were uncertain if she would live. Due to the serious brain damage and swelling the doctors had been cooling her body down for three days – it helped to protect her brain.

She was lying on a cold mattress, fighting for her life and I was praying for her to just open her eyes and start breathing. These were the longest three days in my life.

Soon, Emilia was also diagnosed with a complicated heart defect. She was urgently transported to another hospital where a well-known cardiothoracic surgeon performed an extremely difficult and long procedure that saved my daughter from an imminent death.

But unfortunately, our nightmare did not come to an end. There were complications after the surgery – sepsis, pneumonia and couple blood transfusions. Then, one of the doctors suggested: “Perhaps it is time to baptise the child...”. I knew what he meant. He wanted me to be prepared for the worst. I was looking at this tiny body, so vulnerable, tangled in wires and tubes, and I could not imagine this world without her...

There was a statue of the Mother of God in front of the hospital. Every day, when I was leaving or coming back, I was praying to her for a miracle for my child. I do not know if my prayers were answered but a miracle happened! The test results were better and better each day and the doctors stopped speaking about the end and started talking about a chance.

How I survived that time – I still do not know. I do not remember much. Everything is behind a veil of fear, insomnia and waiting for every single breath taken by my daughter. I was taking one day at a time, hour by hour, guided only by my instinct and fear that kept me company all the time.

Today, Emilia is with us. Each day, she has to fight with her weaknesses. She has to cope with epilepsy, cannot drink or eat on her own – she is fed through the gastrostomy. She needs constant care and a person who helps her with daily activities. Despite her young age, she needs an intensive and regular rehabilitation to slowly learn how to function and gain some self-reliance.

The worst is behind us but now I need to ask for help. For Emilia, each donation means additional hours of rehabilitation, specialist equipment and therapy that would allow her to grow and fight for a better tomorrow. Please, do not leave us alone!

Maria, Emilia’s Mum