#nieduzywojtek dreams of healthy legs, not discovering the world from the wheelchair…

“Will Wojtek walk again!? Or due to lack of funds, will he be stuck in a wheelchair forever?!” 

THIS NIGHTMARE haunts me every day… I‘m begging you, do not let it come true! 

I am asking you for help. We cannot allow the joint damage - we need surgery ASAP! There is a long waiting list for free medical appointments! It is also impossible to perform all necessary procedures during a single surgery! 

Immediate surgery is necessary to avoid further health issues! His legs are positioned incorrectly, which contributes to health deterioration and causes enormous pain! 

Surgery in the Paley Institute in Warsaw is scheduled for August 2023, and we must pay 20% of its costs by June! 

A complex surgery performed by Dr. David Feldman will not only prevent Wojtek from the progression of the disease and hip, knee, and spine strain but also allow many everyday activities currently out of reach! 

Dr. Feldman will perform surgery on both legs at once. It will be a single procedure, which is good news for Wojtek! Due to the Pierre Robin sequence, Wojtek suffers from, resulting in an underdeveloped jaw and cervical spine abnormality, every head movement backward can end up in paralysis! 

The money from the fundraiser will cover medical supplies, hospital stay, pre-operative qualification (including a visit to an orthopedist and anesthesiologist), orthoses, specialistic equipment, and physical therapy. 

Postoperative rehabilitation will take 12 weeks (5 days per week) to help Wojtek gain leg fitness. 

The orthopedic surgeon consulted our son in March and will perform the aforementioned complex surgery at the Paley European Institute in August, a European branch of the renowned Paley Orthopaedic & Spine Institute in the USA, specializing in the complex treatment of advanced and complicated orthopedic cases. 

Like every mother, I cannot stand the suffering of my child caused by multiple health issues that take away his abilities... I do my best to help him regain fitness and have a better future. However, the amount required for surgery is too high! 

It is why I am asking you with humility and trust to donate and support our fundraiser. 

Patrycja, Wojtek's mom

Wojtek turns 8 this year, but his childhood is far from carefree. Due to congenital defects, my son's stature is much shorter compared to his peers. He's only 33 inches tall and weighs just 29 pounds. He has bone abnormalities, including shortening of limbs caused by growth disorder and short stature. 

He's also been diagnosed with other defects, like hip dysplasia and decreased hearing in both ears. In November 2022, he underwent tympanoplasty (eardrum reconstruction surgery using a graft), ossiculoplasty (ossicle replacement), and tympanostomy (to place ear tubes). He was tube-fed for nine months, and taken care of by an at-home hospice in Opole. 

Wojtek goes to a public school as the only child with disabilities. He loves to perform with a microphone on a stage and dance in front of a mirror. He is a boy scout in the local fire department, and he wants to become a firefighter in the future. He is so courageous and full of joy which is infectious! 

I thought we still had much time to prepare for further challenges.However, the X-ray ordered by the orthopedist showed that my son's leg condition worsened to the extent that now his knees tilt inward, causing strain to the joints and enormous pain. This condition is called knock knees.

Surgery is required to prevent joint damage. Although the hips and the spine are in good condition, the defects that make it hard to perform many daily activities include short stature, hypotonia, and body disproportion. Bad posture and joint strain cause hip and knee disorders. 

It breaks my heart to see my son's suffering and how his defects deprive him of his physical abilities. So I do my best to help him regain fitness and have the best future possible. I am a single mom, but thankfully I get a lot of help from my son's grandparents, whom he adores! However, I can no longer afford to cover the costs of his treatment, surgery, and rehabilitation. Please, donate! 

Patricia, Wojtek's mother