Mój mąż nadal nie odzyskał sprawności! Przed nami lata rehabilitacji, ale nie możemy się poddać!
It was an apparently ordinary November evening, that we spent under a blanket watching a movie. Earlier, Łukasz had a very stressful day at work and kept complaining about feeling odd. All of a sudden, he felt a strong pain in his chest and was rushed to hospital. That is how he found out about a huge aneurysm in his aorta that was about to burst! Fortunately, the doctors were able to fix his aorta and Łukasz returned home after a month in hospital. We were delighted that the doctors saved Łukasz's life. At the same time, we remained full of fear because we also learnt about his inherited condition - Marfan syndrome. Doctors did not hide the prognosis that in the future, aneurysms will form on other parts of his aorta, and that these will have to be removed surgically. The disease imposed a myriad of restrictions on Łukasz’s life, but he never exposed his illness, and never complained. Although for years, Łukasz humbly followed his doctors' recommendations, in 2021 we learnt about a massive aneurysm that stretched along the entire length of his aorta and that two surgeries will be needed to replace the entire length of aorta! His aortic arch, closest to the heart, was replaced in December 2021, and the thoraco-abdominal aorta in October 2022. At that point, I would have liked to finish by writing that everything had gone well. Unfortunately, during the last surgery, Łukasz suffered a massive stroke. Our world has turned upside down again... Doctors did not believe Łukasz would have a decent chance of surviving, yet he regained consciousness. He started breathing on his own and is slowly beginning to eat on his own although he is also fed by tube. At the moment, he is only capable of moving his left hand, is able to understand and respond to simple commands, and occasionally answers questions, but has major difficulties with speaking. Luckily, he didn't forget how to smile. Currently, Łukasz requires around-the-clock comprehensive care and rehabilitation (neurological, neurologopedical and physiotherapeutical) that take into account his disease, Marfan syndrome. Łukasz will soon be discharged from the Intensive Care Unit and will have to face reality, committing to a programme of rehabilitation that could take many years. Unfortunately, no rehabilitation clinic financed by the Polish National Health Fund will accept a patient after such an extensive stroke. Everywhere we try, Łukasz is recommended to be sent to a nursing home... This means months-long waiting for admission and no prospects for at least partial recovery and any degree of independence. Łukasz, only 38 years of age, has a young body and is motivated to work, but living with this condition means that time is of the essence. Quickly undertaken rehabilitation and access to innovative therapies could speed his recovery and bring better outcomes. In the present situation, we are forced to resort to commercial facilities, where the monthly cost of care and rehabilitation reaches approx. 24000 zloty (over 5000 EUR/USD). Doctors predict at least a year of intensive rehabilitation so that Łukasz can be independent. In view of such a complicated situation, I am asking you with all my heart for financial support for Łukasz in his fight for recovery and a better tomorrow. Klaudia, wife