Hello, everyone

Lola was born on Friday, 8 September 2023 There were complications during the birth and, sadly, this left Lola’s right arm paralysed. She was taken away immediately after the birth and monitored for two days, kept under observation. They monitored her because she needed help breathing after birth, and they were waiting to see if there would be any further complications; however, she didn’t receive her final diagnosis until Monday, following a neurological examination. The examination went ‘well’, meaning her brain remained undamaged. But in hospital, they told us we would be able to get her arm moving again.

We didn’t have a follow-up appointment with the neurologist until 9 October, when the doctor told us that her little arm wasn’t right at all (which I could see for myself) and that she might need an operation. Lola needed tests such as an EMG and then an MRI, which we didn’t get until December. So we waited and did Vojta therapy.

Our wait was over and on 12 December we had the EMG test. The results weren’t great; no nerve or muscle activity was detected in her palm. On 14 December we had a follow-up with the neurologist, who immediately rang the head consultant at NUDCH; he asked her to forward the results to him. Based on this, Lola had an MRI scan the following week. She coped brilliantly. But there was no longer any doubt; surgery was necessary.

They don’t perform this operation in Slovakia, so we went for consultations in Hungary and Austria. Lola had a nerve torn from her spinal cord, so we decided on Austria. We had to pay for the operation in advance. We managed to raise a third of the cost, and the rest was lent to us. The total cost of the operation was over €24,000, of which the insurance company reimbursed a mere €3,000.

Lola still needs to have her arm rehabilitated. Rehabilitation isn’t cheap, and she may need another operation (we won’t know until November, following a check-up in Vienna). But we’d like to be prepared and have that money ‘to hand’ already. If the operation isn’t necessary, we’d use that money for rehabilitation (specifically 10–12 two-week intensive rehabilitation sessions at the centre in Piešťany).

Thank you all for your help and support. We are very grateful for the contributions and shares so far.