When their son reached the age of two, Paulina and Mateusz Wawak received news that no parent wishes to hear. The doctors spoke softly, their expressions grave: “Your son has spastic quadriplegia with cerebral palsy.”
In that instant, time seemed to freeze. The dreams they had for their son felt distant and unattainable. “It was a shock,” Paulina recalls quietly. “You never expect to hear that your child will have to struggle just to move, to speak, to grow. This wasn’t the life we envisioned for him… but it’s the reality we face, and we will support him through every challenge.”
Antoni — or “Antoś,” as he is affectionately known — is their second, much-anticipated child. His parents had envisioned his first steps, his laughter, and his first day at school. However, before those moments could materialize, they discovered that something was amiss. Complications arose even during pregnancy, and the anxiety they felt then has never fully dissipated, evolving instead into a fierce determination.
Since his birth, little Antoś has encountered more medical hurdles than most adults face in a lifetime. He has already battled sepsis twice. He has undergone ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery to alleviate dangerous pressure on his brain, and posterior urethral valve surgery to ensure his body functions correctly. He also copes with a ureteral fistula and requires catheterization at home to avoid recurrent infections.
“Every time we thought we had overcome the worst, something new emerged,” his father, Mateusz, shares. “It feels like the struggle never ends.”
When Antoś turned two, the fight intensified. Doctors confirmed the diagnosis of cerebral palsy — a lifelong condition impacting muscle tone, coordination, and mobility. The news was heartbreaking. Yet, his parents were determined not to succumb to despair. “If he has to fight for every step, then we’ll fight alongside him,” Paulina asserts.
And fight they have.
Their lives now revolve around therapy — dozens of sessions each week. Antoś spends up to 20 hours a week in rehabilitation outside their home, diligently working with physiotherapists, a speech therapist, and a typhlopedagogue. He practices using Vojta and Bobath methods to enhance muscle control and balance. Progress is slow, often measured not in steps or words, but in small victories — a new movement, a longer gaze, a sound that wasn’t there before.
Each of these moments feels miraculous.
However, progress comes at a cost. Nearly all of his therapy sessions are private. The family travels frequently for consultations across Poland — to urologists, nephrologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and ophthalmologists. Each month brings new tests, new medications, and new financial burdens.
They have adapted their home to support his growth: a standing frame, orthopedic seat, specialized wheelchair, hip and leg braces, and a stabilizing vest. Each item is both essential and a financial strain. Yet without them, Antoś wouldn’t be able to begin his journey toward independence.
Just when it seemed they were finding their footing, another challenge arose. In September 2024, despite all precautions, Antoś experienced a dislocated femur, necessitating complex surgery in Kraków. Shortly thereafter, new eye issues surfaced — yet another concern, another fear, another series of specialists and tests.
Nevertheless, they persist.
“All these efforts, all these sacrifices,” Paulina reflects, “are worthwhile when we see him smile, when he accomplishes something he couldn’t do before. Those moments empower us. They remind us that every effort counts.”
For beneath the tubes, braces, and medical records, there is a little boy — bright, loving, and full of life. Antoś adores music, laughter, and cuddles. He listens intently to his brother’s stories, responds with a glimmer of understanding in his eyes, and daily shows his parents that his spirit is far more resilient than his body’s limitations.
“He’s our hero,” Mateusz states. “He has taught us more about courage and love than we ever imagined.”
The Wawak family’s journey is far from complete. Each new milestone requires funding, and every therapy session is another leap of faith. But they have faith in their son — in his strength, in his future, and in the hope that one day he might take his first independent step.
And they believe in the kindness of others — in the strangers whose support makes that dream achievable.
“From the depths of our hearts, thank you,” Paulina expresses. “Thank you for standing by us, for giving our son a chance. Every donation, every prayer, every word of encouragement helps us move forward. Antoś has been fighting since the day he was born — and with your support, he will continue to do so.”
Because while life has presented him with challenges, it has also blessed him with something even greater — a family that will never stop believing in him.
And a world filled with people who may help him rise.
