“Oliwka’s Fight for Every Breath: A Story of Hope and Survival”.

Oliwka’s Story: A Little Warrior’s Fight for Life

We are the parents of Oliwka, our brave little warrior, who has been fighting unimaginable battles since her very first days of life.

Oliwka was born on November 8th, 2024, and just two days later, instead of enjoying the warmth and safety of our home, she was transferred to a hospital in Kraków. From that moment on, her childhood has not been filled with carefree moments or laughter—it has been a continuous fight for survival, a series of operations, specialist visits, and endless tests. And while it is our daughter who suffers most, the constant stress and exhaustion also weigh heavily on us as her parents.

The First Battle: Feeding and Survival

From the very beginning, Oliwka struggled with something as simple and natural as eating. Her tiny body could not digest food, and the doctors suspected a duodenal obstruction. For days we lived in fear, watching our baby fail to gain the nourishment she so desperately needed. Finally, the doctors managed to surgically open her duodenum, and for the first time, our little girl was able to eat.

It may sound small to others, but for us, this was a huge victory. To see her swallow and to know that her body could finally accept food gave us a glimmer of hope. Yet, as quickly as we celebrated, new struggles began to appear.

Breathing Troubles and a Shocking Diagnosis

As Oliwka grew, it became clear that she was not breathing as she should. Her breaths were shallow, interrupted, sometimes alarmingly weak. Doctors performed countless tests, and the results devastated us: she was diagnosed with a

genetic syndrome that caused floppiness of the airways.

Her oxygen levels began to drop, and the gasometry results painted a grim picture. Several times, Oliwka had to be intubated just to survive. We heard the words no parent should ever hear—that our little girl might not live to see tomorrow.

Eventually, the doctors told us there was only one solution if we wanted her to keep breathing: surgery. They performed a tracheostomy, inserting a tracheostomy tube into her tiny throat. From that day on, our daughter has lived with a tube to help her breathe. It was terrifying at first, but also life-saving. Without it, she would not be here with us.

From a Feeding Tube to a PEG

Because of her condition, Oliwka also could not eat on her own. At first, she was fed through a nasal tube. Later, doctors placed a PEG (a feeding tube directly into her stomach). We were told not to expect her to ever eat independently. The words were crushing, but we tried to focus on what mattered most: that she was still alive, still fighting.

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We remain in the hospital with her, but we know that once we are discharged, an even greater battle will begin. At home, Oliwka will need constant rehabilitation, specialized therapies, and regular electrostimulation sessions. We will need to provide all of this ourselves as her parents, and the costs are far beyond what we can afford.

More Challenges Ahead

Sadly, breathing and feeding are not Oliwka’s only struggles. She also suffers from scoliosis, which will require specialized treatment, braces, and careful monitoring. In addition, she will need the attention of a long list of specialists: neurologists, speech therapists, audiologists, maxillofacial surgeons, ENT specialists, orthopedists—the list feels endless. Each appointment means not only financial costs but also emotional strain.

Sometimes we wonder how such a tiny child can carry such a heavy burden. Yet every time we look into Oliwka’s eyes, we see strength, determination, and a will to live that inspires us to keep going.

Life in the Hospital

Every day in the hospital feels like a test. We wake up to the beeping of machines, monitor screens, and the constant presence of doctors and nurses. There are moments of fear when alarms sound, moments of exhaustion when procedures seem never-ending, and moments of hope when Oliwka makes even the smallest progress.

But the truth is, the hospital is not the hardest part. We know that once we leave its walls, we will carry the full responsibility of her care on our own shoulders. At home, we will not have nurses to help us, or doctors just a few steps away. We will be Oliwka’s only lifeline.

A Future Filled with Uncertainty

The road ahead is uncertain and frightening. We know that without continuous medical care, therapies, and equipment, Oliwka will not have a chance at anything resembling a normal childhood. She will need rehabilitation to strengthen her tiny body, electrostimulation to support her breathing, special braces for her scoliosis, and the constant presence of specialists to monitor her progress.

And yet, we are determined to fight for her. We cannot accept that her childhood should be nothing but suffering. We want her to smile, to play, to discover the world, even if her path looks different from other children’s.

Our Plea for Help

We are not asking for much. We know we cannot do this alone, which is why we are reaching out with open hearts, asking for help. Every small donation, every share of this story, every prayer or kind thought brings us closer to giving Oliwka the chance she deserves.

Your support is not just financial—it is hope. It is the belief that our little girl’s life matters, that her future is worth fighting for. We are endlessly grateful for every gesture of kindness, every word of encouragement, and every contribution.

For Oliwka, this means more than we can ever express in words. It means the chance at a childhood, the chance to grow, to laugh, to live.

From the bottom of our hearts—thank you.