Fought death, now fights for health - Sebastian needs your help

It’s been 6 years since the terrible day when my right as rain son suddenly turned to fatal state. His little body was ravaged by the cerebral oedema and half year spent in coma. Sebastian differs much from his twin brother, although we try our best to help in catching up with him. Being an equal is all Sebastian dreams about. Unfortunately, the money for rehabilitation which is his only chance for a normal life, has already run out. Today we are asking for your help. We believe Sebastian can make it to the perfect health!

When I look at my sons, I feel not only limitless love, but also great sorrow. They should be alike now, both joyful and in good health. Meanwhile, Sebastian has barely escaped death. After the tragedy, he started to differentiate from his brother. Despite the suffering he went through, we make every effort to reach his happiness; we can’t allow him to feel worse than his brother. Thanks to a great will power to fight with the disease, my son progressed rapidly throughout the years! However, the path to health is still long ahead...

It all happened 6 years ago, just before Christmas. Instead of making preparations, we ended up in hospital. Sebastian suffered from stomach pain and was throwing up. We thought that it’s just acute poisoning, but the series of medical examinations pointed at diabetes. The level of sugar in my son’s blood reached 1340! We were aghast at the news, but didn’t give up; people can live with diabetes, so we can make it too. I supposed that our life is going to change, but little did I know how much...

I underestimated it. Diabetes is a devious and fatal enemy, also far too often ignored. My son’s condition was getting worse with each minute. Soon, there was another diagnosis: kedoacidosis. In the morning in perfect health, now my son was fighting for life. His little brother, struck with terror, was holding my hand asking when Sebastian is going to wake up...

The doctors couldn’t wait. The sugar level in his blood had to be lowered as soon as possible. However, when the sugar was brought down, we were faced with another tragedy; first cerebral oedema, then coma... For the next few weeks, my son teetered on the edge of death. We were trying with all our hearts not to get devoured in despair. A month, two, three... We lived in apathy. They told us to prepare for the worst. We were about to lose our sonny and Maks to lose his twin brother. Death sneaked into our family, trying to take away what’s most important for us. When at coma, Sebastian was dying several times; his heart was giving up and the doctors broke him free from death’s clasps time after time. Asking if he’s ever going to come to consciousness, we heard: miracles happen.

And a miracle happened! Each and every day, we stood next to our boy, praying and practising with him almost 12 hours per day. At last, his eyes gave pupillary response to light; for us it was a sign that our son is coming back! Then, he started to point his eye, ear, nose... We were mad with happiness and thanked God for giving back our baby. Sadly, the disease ravaged his body: his brain was damaged (central nervous system), he also suffered from tetraparalysis, spastic facial paralysis and speech disability. Sebastian required constant supervision and help to survive.

The most important was that our son was alive. However, people didn’t have hope for him. They said he won’t be the same as he used to be... We didn’t believe them; he was our son and a brave warrior! Day after day, we fought for him. Thanks to regular rehabilitation, he was making progress step by step. We heard that he won’t be sitting, walking and he won’t make any contact with us; profound mental retardation was foretold. The doctors said that brain damages reached really far and speech area was so influenced that Sebastian won’t speak. We couldn’t agree to that and we prayed for another miracle.

Our son again proved his strength and confirmed it’s worth to believe. After many years of rehabilitation, today Sebastian can speak and walk! The right side of his body still requires intensive care. He also suffers from highly noticeable facial palsy. His memory and concentration are still a problem, but the worst enemy turns out to be refractory epilepsy.

Not everyone knows about what Sebastian’s went through, but it’s hard to blame them. When he got an epileptic attack during the walk and I couldn’t hold him down, people were crossing the street indifferently. No one would help us; they just stared at my boy and went their way...

We fight for normal life at full speed for Sebastian. Our son has to be under constant and intensive rehabilitation; the therapy cannot be disrupted. Thanks to your help, we didn’t need to worry about the costs last year, and Sebastian made huge progress; he can walk longer and longer distances. However, we are constantly asking ourselves if he is ever going to be as happy and healthy as he used to be before coma. Facing lack of friends and solitude becomes harder. Our constant love and presence cannot substitute for friendship of children his age and normal life led by his twin brother and other siblings.

Sebastian is my miracle, life and happiness. His smile, even after an epileptic attack, gives me power to fight for his health. I am determined to do anything to spare him the rest of his life on a wheelchair. Thus, I am kindly asking for your help in this joint fight for my warrior. I cannot forget the happiness in his eyes when he talks about the past and how healthy he used to be. My love will never heal him, but people with good hearts can; Sebastian calls them his Angels of Kindness. He will do anything to regain his health. Please – support Sebastian in his fight for normal life.

Basia, Sebastian’s mother