When parents-to-be envision the arrival of their child, they often picture that first cry, the initial touch, and the moment their baby is cradled in their arms. For Oliwka’s parents, that moment was never realized.
“While I was still pregnant, we were informed that our daughter had a severe heart defect,” her mother remembers. “We were advised to prepare for anything — even the possibility that we might never meet her.”
Those words shattered their reality. Yet, against all odds, Oliwka was born — alive, beautiful, and delicate — at 39 weeks.
They were unable to hold her. Mere minutes after her birth, she was taken to a specialized hospital, her tiny body struggling for each breath. This marked the start of a fight that would define her brief life — a fight for her heart.
A Heart in Need of Assistance
Doctors diagnosed Ebstein’s anomaly, a rare and life-threatening congenital heart defect characterized by malformed heart valves. This condition meant that Oliwka’s blood could not circulate properly — her heart, which should have sustained her life, was instead struggling to keep her alive.
“They informed us that she required immediate surgery,” her mother states. “There was no time to think. No time to hold her. We just prayed for her survival.”
In the bright, sterile environment of the operating room, surgeons worked to save a newborn who hadn’t even opened her eyes to the world yet. The surgery was successful — for the time being. But it was only the first of many.
For three long months, her parents resided in the hospital, their lives dictated by the sounds of machines, monitors, and whispered prayers.
“The most challenging moments were in intensive care,” her father reflects quietly. “We couldn’t always be by her side. We stood behind glass walls, watching our baby fight for her life.”
A Small Warrior with a Big Heart
Since her birth, Oliwka has undergone multiple surgeries, including the placement of a stent to aid her breathing. Tubes, medications, and oxygen monitors have become integral to her daily life.
“She’s fed through a tube, and she takes numerous medications,” her mother explains. “We constantly check her oxygen levels — if they drop, her skin turns purple. It’s terrifying every single time.”
At just a few months old, this little girl has displayed a strength that inspires everyone who meets her. “She’s incredibly brave,” her parents share. “There are times when she smiles despite the pain — and that smile gives us the strength to continue.”
However, the journey ahead is long. Doctors have already planned another significant heart surgery for February. Each procedure carries substantial risk. Each recovery demands more from her tiny body — and from her parents’ hearts.
Life Between Medical Visits
Home for Oliwka’s family has changed significantly. Their days are filled with medical routines — monitoring oxygen saturation, sterilizing feeding tubes, and attending appointments with cardiologists, neurologists, and therapists. Nights are restless, with every sound triggering a wave of anxiety.
“Every day is a blend of fear and gratitude,” her mother confesses. “Fear that something could go wrong — and gratitude that she’s still with us.”
Despite the fatigue, they treasure every moment. Every coo, every small giggle, every heartbeat feels like a triumph.
A Heartfelt Appeal
However, survival comes with a price. The family is currently burdened by medical bills, travel expenses, medications, and specialized equipment. The upcoming surgery in February adds another layer of financial and emotional pressure.
“We’ve already faced so much,” her father states. “But we can’t stop. We’ll do everything we can to keep our daughter alive.”
They are reaching out for assistance — for compassion, for generosity, for hope.
Because this struggle isn’t solely about medicine. It’s about providing a little girl with a broken heart the opportunity to live, to grow, to laugh — to simply be a child.
A Glimmer of Hope
Even though the future is uncertain, the family clings to hope. “When we see her fighting, we know we can’t give up,” her mother states. “She’s shown us what true courage looks like.”
Every donation, every kind word, every prayer brings them closer to that hope — a future where Oliwka can live without fear, where her heart beats strong and steady on its own.
“She’s our entire world,” they whisper. “Please help us give her a chance — a chance to live, to love, to grow.”
đź’— Join us in the fight for little Oliwka’s heart. Every contribution brings her one heartbeat closer to tomorrow.
