I am a friend of Nikodem's family. I've set up this page to help Nikodem's parents to raise money for a very expensive surgery, Nikodem needs to undergo to be able to walk and have a normal life one day.

Nikodem and his Family's story is very touching. His parents were trying for a baby for nearly 9 years. They went through many fertility treatments, a few unsuccessful IVF treatments, 3 miscarriages and lots of stress. When in the end they almost lost hope, that they will become parents something wonderful happened.

Unfortunately their joy did not last long. On the 21 weeks scan they were told that one of the babies is not developing properly and it will be born with a very deformed leg. They were devastated. They could not stop crying. After all these years of thrying for a baby something again destroys their joy. They had to face another big problem in their life. Before the twins were born their parents seen thousand of website, photos, they read a lot of medical literature. They were determined to find the cure, possible treatment for their unborn son. They did try to prepare themselfes for the ballte they will have to go thru, when the babies will be born.

Nikodem and his twin sister Pola were born at 34 weeks. Soon after the labour they were put into the intensive care unit and for the first few weeks they were fighting for their lives. Kasia i Marek were so happy to finally see thise two beautiful angels, but their happiness was mixed with tears and the joy was overshadow with fear.

Nikodem was born with a severely deformed right leg. His condition is called fibular hemimelia on the right leg and it is very rare condition.

Fibular Hemimelia is a partial or total absence of the Fibular and is the most common form of lower limb deficiency present at birth. There are two long bones in the lower leg, the thicker one is called the Tibia and the thinner one is the Fibula. With Fibular Hemimelia the Tibia is shorter than normal and the Fibula is missing or underdeveloped. A leg affected by Fibular Hemimelia will look shorter than an unaffected leg. The Tibia may be bent and the foot may also be smaller than normal, bent outwards at the ankle and may have fewer than five toes. The knee is often also misshapen and may move abnormally.

Soon after the labour Nikodem's leg was assessed by the local orthopaedist who said that a leg amputation is the only option his parents have, they were devastated. Despite what the doctor told them, they never gave up searching for any possible treatment for their son. They visited numerous medical specialists in Poland to find somone who will help Nikodem.They did not give up hope and strived to find a doctor who would be able to help their little boy. Unfortunately the treatmen they get offered for Nikodem in Poland was not as they were hoping it will be. They will have to wait in a long queue and the scheduled operation date given by the hospital in Poland was one year too late. What is more there was no promisse, that this surgery will be succesful. They had to start to search internet for the help outside Poland.

They found Dr Paley, at the Paley Institute in Florida. They took all the necessary effort to take Nikodem for the consultation with Dr Paley in Switzerland in September 2017.

Finelly after nearly a year they have been given hope. Dr Paley is the only person who can cure Nikodem's foot and leg. He said that Nikodem needs a treatment which includes a SUPERankle at one and a half to two years of age with lengthening. The next lengthening of the right leg or growth stoppage of the left at age 10 or 11. The above described procedure is to make the foot straight and lengthen 5 cm. Dr Paley has done this procedure hundreds of times, it requires extensive knowledge and experience in treating severe fibular hemimelia. Nikodem's condition is a very difficult type of fibular hemimelia.

Unfortunately the whole procedure is very expensive and will cost $130,000

Nikodem and his sister are growing fast, they are both lovely little angels. Nikodem is a very happy, clever little boy. He is always smiling at everybody around him. Hi is well behaved, always good as gold. His little sister will be able to walk on her own soon. It is heart breaking for his parents to see how this little boy is trying so hard to stand on his feet and do what his sister is able to do.

Nikodem's parents are using all of their own money but it is nowhere near enough. They have only 8 months to raise the money they are need for Nikodems surgery.

I would be so grateful for your support and generosity. Nikodem's parents cannot do this without your help, which is why I am asking for you to share our page. Help spread the word and please donate whatever you can to help us save Nikodem's leg and make him walk, run and play football or just play with other children and enjoy his life one day.

Please help his parents, who went thru a lot in the last ten years, who in spite of all the pain and stress they are experiencing are very determined to help his son have a normal happy life one day.