Gabriel was never anticipated to move his legs, let alone aspire to walk. Yet today, at the tender age of five, this cheerful and resolute little boy is doing just that — demonstrating that bravery can overcome even the bleakest forecasts.
His journey began long before his first cry.
A Startling Diagnosis Before Birth
Up until the seventh month of pregnancy, everything appeared normal. Each scan and heartbeat reassured his mother — until one day, her world was turned upside down.
“During prenatal testing, doctors informed me that my baby had spina bifida and hydrocephalus,” his mother recalls. “They also found clubfoot. It felt like my heart stopped. In an instant, my joy transformed into fear. I was uncertain if my son would survive.”
From that moment on, it became a battle for Gabriel’s life — a battle his mother pledged never to lose.
The Beginning of a Little Warrior
Gabriel was born on January 15, 2020, via cesarean section. The hernia closure surgery was successful, and doctors placed a shunt to help drain fluid from his brain, preventing further complications from hydrocephalus.
However, the medical warnings came swiftly and heavily. The doctors prepared the family for a harsh reality: Gabriel might never walk. He could experience paralysis, loss of sensation, and lifelong disability.
Then, just days later, a miracle occurred.
“Gabriel started to move his legs,” his mother says with a smile. “It was small — just gentle kicks — but it meant everything. It gave us hope that maybe, just maybe, he would have a chance.”
Living with Spina Bifida
Spina bifida presents numerous challenges that extend beyond mobility. For Gabriel, it results in flaccid paralysis in his lower limbs and bilateral hip dislocation. Even more serious are the internal complications — paralysis of the anal sphincter and a neurogenic bladder, necessitating daily catheterization and enemas.
“He can’t feel his feet,” his mother explains. “But he feels joy, love, and excitement — and those emotions are far stronger than any disability.”
Currently, Gabriel is under the care of a comprehensive team of specialists: pediatricians, surgeons, orthopedists, neurologists, urologists, nephrologists, osteopaths, psychologists, and physiotherapists. His days are filled with therapy, rehabilitation, and medical appointments — but also with laughter, music, and play.
“Despite everything, he is the happiest boy I know,” his mother says. “He’s curious, kind, and full of energy. He brings smiles to everyone around him.”
A Year of Milestones
In March 2024, thanks to the incredible generosity of donors, Gabriel underwent a complex surgery to lengthen his Achilles tendons and reconstruct his bones. It was a painful yet essential step in his journey.
And it transformed everything.
“This year has been a breakthrough,” his mother says proudly. “For the first time, Gabriel started exercising willingly. He began to stand upright — without fear, without resistance. It was as if he suddenly grasped what his body could achieve.”
Now, Gabriel is prepared for the next chapter — learning to walk.
The Aspiration: His First Independent Steps
Specialists have recommended a custom-made HKAFO orthosis — a full-leg brace that could assist Gabriel in standing and taking his first independent steps, even with dislocated hips. For a child like him, it’s not merely a piece of equipment — it’s liberation.
However, the cost is overwhelming: 50,000 PLN (over $12,000 USD). And that’s just the beginning. Rehabilitation, travel, medications, and additional therapies continue to strain the family’s finances.
“We’ve come so far, but we can’t do this alone anymore,” his mother confesses. “This orthosis could change everything — it could provide Gabriel with the opportunity to walk, to play with his friends, to feel genuinely free.”
A Boy Who Admires the World
Despite all he has endured — surgeries, pain, countless hospital visits — Gabriel remains radiant. He greets every therapist with a smile, every challenge with laughter.
“He loves the world,” his mother states simply. “He loves people, music, and animals. His joy fills every room he enters.”
Her dream is straightforward: to witness her son take his first steps, to see him stand tall and proud — not as a child defined by disability, but as a boy who refused to surrender.
A Plea for Assistance
Gabriel’s journey serves as a reminder that miracles do occur — but they often require helping hands.
Every donation, every word of encouragement, every act of kindness brings Gabriel closer to his dream of walking.
“Goodness always returns,” his mother says softly. “We believe that together, we can provide Gabriel with the future he deserves — a future filled with independence, laughter, and hope.”
Because some of life’s most remarkable victories begin with the smallest steps.
And for Gabriel, those steps are waiting — just within reach. 💙
