An expensive surgery is a chance for recovery - Let's help Dominik!

Dominik is a happy, cheerful, and talkative boy. He asks a million questions and is curious about everything around him, like a typical 5-year-old. There's one thing that distinguishes him from other children, though. His right leg is visibly shorter and deformed, and the foot is missing one toe. 

It wasn't until he was born that we learned about his deformity, and we were worried it would affect Dominik's ability to walk. We received a diagnosis after three months - it was fibular hemimelia, a disorder where part or all of the fibula is missing, occurring in only 1 in 50,000 - 135,000 births. It is currently unknown why this condition occurs.

At ten months old, Dominik underwent surgery to correct foot and ankle deformity by repositioning the foot and reconstructing the ankle bone. The doctors put his little leg in a cast for 12 weeks. He even learned how to walk in it! He was so brave! During that time, we celebrated his first birthday. 

Dominik's right lower limb is shorter by 5,2 cm, and the foot is smaller by two sizes. The total limb length discrepancy is predicted to reach almost 10 cm! Today, Dominik handles the disorder quite well - he runs and jumps mostly barefoot, even though it's bad for his joints and spine. On the other hand, wearing a heavy, stiff cast with a 4 cm sole (thickened each year) is uncomfortable. 

The cast makes it impossible to ride a bike or scooter. Dominik also cannot play soccer and doesn't know what ice skates or skis are. Our family gave up many activities to prevent him from feeling left out, although as a mother, I wish I could take him to the ice rink. Dominik can have a chance to make up for the time he lost. 

Until then, he has a long-term, multi-stage treatment ahead of him that involves limb lengthening by 5 cm, with an innovative and advanced internal fixator approach using the PRECICE intramedullary nail. There is an alternative option available - the Ilizarov device. However, it is painful and invasive and could result in scarring. 

In Dominik's case, the magnetic-powered bone-lengthening device will be inserted inside the bone. The whole process is beyond our comprehension - and so is the cost estimate of the surgery, which is non-refundable in Poland. 

That is why we are asking you for help. Any donation brings us closer to our goal - Dominik's recovery and his chance for a normal childhood. After all, every child deserves it!

Parents