Michał Grzesik has been fighting for his life since the moment he entered the world. Born at just 28 weeks, he arrived tiny, fragile, and surrounded by machines meant to keep him alive. His first sounds were not cries but alarms. His first home was an incubator.

At seven months old, the unimaginable struck. Michał suffered a severe brain bleed, one so damaging that doctors warned his parents — Jola and Rafał — that the consequences would follow him for life.
They were right.

A Childhood Defined by Pain

Within months, Michał developed drug-resistant epilepsy known as West syndrome. Seizures took over his days and nights. He could not hold up his head. He choked when eating. His body stopped gaining weight. His world became a cycle of spasms, exhaustion, and survival.

For eleven years, rehabilitation has been a non-stop routine. Daily therapy sessions. Endless stretching. Specialized equipment — active wheelchairs, standers, braces. Repeated botulinum injections to fight the muscle spasticity taking over his body.

Two years ago, a baclofen pump finally brought a small miracle: the first nights of uninterrupted sleep Michał had ever known. It eased some of his stiffness, gave his parents a brief breath of relief, and allowed his body to rest.

But no victory lasted long.

A Devastating Discovery

Recent X-rays uncovered the harsh truth his parents feared: both of Michał’s hips have dislocated.

His femur is no longer held in place. His legs pull inward unnaturally. His posture twists. His spine and internal organs are now at risk. Even standing in his stander — something meant to help him — has become agony.

His right leg appears shorter. His knees collapse inward. The pain is written across his face every time he tries to move.

Doctors were clear:
Without surgery, everything will get worse.
And quickly.

The Only Chance Left

The orthopedic surgery planned at the Paley European Institute is now Michał’s only hope. It will reposition his hips, protect his spine, and stop the progression of his deformities. It is not cosmetic. It is not optional.
It is his chance to escape constant pain.

Each day that passes makes the operation more urgent.

His parents describe it simply:
“Every cry, every hesitation, every grimace of pain tells us we cannot wait any longer.”

A Boy Who Still Connects with the World

Despite everything, Michał remains beautifully responsive.
His eyes brighten at familiar voices.
He reacts to soft touches.
He engages with his surroundings in ways that show his mind is still present and eager, even when his body cannot keep up.

Moments like these — small, fleeting, powerful — remind everyone that Michał is more than his diagnoses.
He is a child who feels, who understands, who hopes.

A Family That Has Given Everything

For more than a decade, Jola and Rafał have rearranged their lives around Michał’s needs. They learned specialized care techniques most parents will never need to know.

They’ve managed:

• Dozens of specialists

• Countless therapy sessions

• Custom medical equipment

• Surgeries, medications, and emergencies

• Sleepless nights filled with fear and monitoring

They have poured every resource — emotional, physical, financial — into giving their son the best possible life.

But the cost of this surgery, along with the rehabilitation and equipment he will need afterward, is far beyond what they can carry alone.

Why the World’s Help Matters

This surgery is not simply about correcting bones.
It’s about dignity.
Comfort.
Mobility.
A future.

It’s about giving an 11-year-old boy the chance to sit without pain, sleep without waking in agony, and go through therapy without screams of discomfort.

Every donation becomes a lifeline.
Every share spreads hope.
Every bit of support brings Michał closer to relief.

His parents admit the toll openly:

• Nights without sleep

• Constant fear he is getting worse

• The pressure of decisions no parent should have to make

• The heartbreak of watching their child suffer

They say:
“We have done everything we can. But we cannot do this alone.”

A Fight Bigger Than One Family

Michał’s story extends beyond Piaseczno. Beyond Poland.
It resonates wherever people understand what it means to fight for a child’s life.

This is a story of:

• Perseverance

• Courage

• Parental sacrifice

• The resilience of a child who has never known a pain-free day

And now, a race against time.

The Paley European Institute offers the surgery that can change everything — but the window is tight. Every day without it risks more damage, more pain, and more complications.

Hope for a Different Future

If Michał receives the treatment he needs, he could:

• Sit comfortably

• Stand without agony

• Reduce his risk of spinal deformity

• Protect his internal organs

• Improve mobility

• Experience therapy without overwhelming pain

It is not a cure.
But it is a chance.

A chance for comfort.
A chance for dignity.
A chance for a childhood that has been stolen from him.

A Story Still Being Written

Michał’s life has been filled with obstacles — West syndrome, cerebral palsy, spasticity, endless seizures, and physical limitations.
But his spirit has never stopped shining.

He smiles.
He reaches for toys.
He reacts to sounds and touches.
He communicates in his own ways, showing everyone that he is present, aware, and fighting.

And now, his next chapter depends on people willing to help.

You Can Change Michał’s Story

Every contribution — small or large — directly funds:

• His surgery

• Post-operative care

• Rehabilitation

• Specialized equipment

• Mobility aids

• Continued therapy

Your help can transform suffering into relief.
Fear into hope.
Pain into a chance for healing.

This is not just a medical case.
It is a human story — about love, endurance, and the fight for a child’s future.

Michał’s battle is far from over, but with support, he can finally experience something he has been denied for eleven long years:

A life with less pain — and more hope.