At first sight, little Józio appears to be like any other infant — with soft cheeks, sparkling eyes, and a smile that could warm the coldest heart. Yet, beneath that smile lies a battle far more daunting than any child should endure. For nearly his entire life, Józio has been confronting a relentless, unseen adversary: drug-resistant epilepsy.
Daily, sometimes multiple times a day, his fragile body shakes and convulses under the weight of seizures that rob him of his strength, his progress, and the tranquility of those who care for him.
His parents, Agnieszka and Michał Drabik, vividly recall the day he was born — the surge of joy, the tears, the immense love that enveloped their hearts. They envisioned dreams, plans, and countless hopes for their little boy’s future. But at merely three months old, everything changed.
“It struck out of the blue,” his mother remembers. “He was resting in his crib when suddenly his little body stiffened, and his face turned blue. We were bewildered by what was happening. It was the most horrifying moment of our lives.”
That marked the onset of the first seizure — and the beginning of an ongoing nightmare.
In the ensuing months, the seizures increased in frequency. Sometimes ten a day, sometimes twenty. His parents would rush to his side, feeling powerless as his body convulsed and his breathing halted, his small arm frozen in paralysis. “It’s like watching a fire consume him from within,” his father states softly. “And no matter what we do, we can’t extinguish it.”
Doctors diagnosed drug-resistant epilepsy — a harsh, unforgiving variant of the condition that does not respond to treatment. Each seizure not only assaults Józio’s body but also his brain, erasing his learning and undoing every small triumph. A week of progress — vanished in moments.
Now, at nearly one year old, Józio is unable to walk, sit, or even crawl. He cannot grasp a toy or roll onto his stomach. His parents cherish the tiniest signs of life — a smile, a blink of recognition, a soft sound — because those moments signify their son’s ongoing fight.
“He smiles through it all,” his mother shares. “Even when he’s weak, even when his body won’t cooperate, he smiles. That smile gives us strength.”
For months, Józio has spent more time in hospitals than at home — his parents marking the days by the rhythm of machines, IV drips, and sleepless nights. Despite numerous medications and therapies, nothing has proven effective. Doctors in Poland attempted everything, including implanting a vagus nerve stimulator, a procedure intended to help manage his seizures. Yet, even that offered no relief.
“We were told there was nothing more they could do,” Agnieszka says, her voice trembling. “Can you imagine hearing that about your own child? That there’s nothing that can help?”
However, the Drabiks refused to accept that conclusion. They began searching for hope — and discovered it in Germany, where a clinic specializing in drug-resistant epilepsy treatment agreed to accept Józio for advanced diagnostics.
There, doctors will attach 36 electrodes to his small head to monitor his brain activity continuously for eight days. This procedure may finally uncover what’s occurring within his brain — the cause, the pattern, the area where the seizures originate. From there, specialists can determine if surgery or a new therapy could be beneficial.
It’s a glimmer of hope. Perhaps the only one remaining.
Yet, the financial burden is immense. Between diagnostics, travel, rehabilitation, equipment, and daily medical costs, the family is overwhelmed by expenses. Józio already requires a new specialized wheelchair, a standing frame, and orthotics to support his growing body. He needs constant rehabilitation, multiple therapies each week, and appointments with neurologists and physiotherapists.
Even the essentials — medication, travel fuel, hospital stays — have become insurmountable. “We’re striving to provide him with everything he needs,” his father states. “But we can’t manage it alone anymore.”
Time is of the essence. With each passing day, the damage to Józio’s brain intensifies. The longer they delay, the more challenging it becomes to reverse.
That’s why they are urgently seeking assistance.
“Please,” his mother implores. “Even the smallest contribution brings hope for our son. We just want him to have a chance — a chance to grow, to play, to live without suffering.”
Currently, Józio’s world is tranquil — filled with soothing melodies, soft blankets, and the love of parents who refuse to cease their fight. But within his tiny body, the struggle continues.
Every smile is a testament of resilience. Every heartbeat, a triumph.
For although epilepsy has taken so much, it hasn’t taken everything. Not yet. As long as there is love — and hope — there remains a chance.
And for little Józio, that chance is everything.
