The beginning of our pregnancy was filled with joy and excitement, as we learned that we were expecting twins. However, our dreams of welcoming two children into our lives were shattered when, at just 25 weeks, we were faced with the premature birth of our son, Igorek. His arrival marked the start of a journey that no parent could ever prepare for—a journey that would be filled with challenges, uncertainty, and endless love.

Born far too early, Igorek spent the first four months of his life in the sterile environment of a hospital room, far from the warmth and comfort of home. The weight of his premature birth was something we could never fully comprehend until we saw him fighting for each breath and each heartbeat. Extreme prematurity brought with it a multitude of health problems, ones that Igorek continues to face today and will struggle with for the rest of his life.

One of the most devastating blows came when doctors informed us that Igorek had suffered grade 3 and 4 strokes. The damage to his optic nerves was irreversible, and the trauma to his tiny brain left him with long-term impairments. To combat the post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus that developed as a result, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was inserted to drain the excess fluid in his brain. While this procedure gave us some hope, it came with its own risks—there’s always the possibility that the shunt could fail, which could require another urgent operation.

Our time in the hospital was filled with terror and uncertainty. Every day, new diagnoses and complications arose. Igorek battled sepsis, received multiple blood transfusions, and underwent surgeries to address an inguinal hernia and to reverse his retinopathy. Each setback felt like a blow, and every moment was a reminder of how fragile our son’s life was.

Despite all the trauma, Igorek continued to fight. His resilience amazed us, but we knew the road ahead would be long and filled with challenges. His brain damage, caused by the strokes, left him with developmental delays that are impossible to predict. But there is one thing we know for certain: Igorek is a fighter. His strength, his determination to thrive, and his joy despite everything are what keep us going. He has already won the most important battle—he is alive. Now, our fight is for his future.

Today, Igorek is undergoing intensive rehabilitation. His progress is slow, but we are determined to give him every opportunity to succeed. We hope that, with the right therapies, his brain will adapt and that he will be able to regain as much mobility and independence as possible. Vision therapy is still a crucial part of his treatment, and we are doing everything we can to provide him with the care he needs.

The path to recovery is a long one. Igorek requires constant care from an array of specialists—surgeons, ophthalmologists, cardiologists, audiologists, pulmonologists, speech therapists, and more. Each visit requires frequent travel, which is both physically and emotionally exhausting. The costs of these treatments, combined with the constant need for rehabilitation equipment and therapies, are overwhelming. We are doing our best to provide for him, but the financial burden is simply too much for us to handle alone.

That is why we are reaching out to you, our community, with a heartfelt request for help. We need your support to continue Igorek’s treatment and rehabilitation. His brain may be partially damaged, and his future development may be uncertain, but we will do everything in our power to ensure he has the best possible start. Every contribution, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in his fight for mobility and independence.

Igorek has already defied the odds by surviving, and now it’s time for us to help him thrive. With your help, we can give him the chance he deserves to live a life filled with hope and possibility. We are incredibly grateful for your support, and we will continue to fight for our son’s future with all the strength we have.

Thank you for standing with us and supporting Igorek on this difficult journey. Your kindness and generosity give us hope for the future. Together, we can make a difference in his life, and we will never stop fighting for him.