“Fight for Antoś” — A Family’s Plea to Save Their Little Heart Warrior
When Antoś Sankiewicz was born on July 28, 2023, his parents anticipated the usual joy of welcoming a newborn — the soft warmth of summer, the sweet smell of new life, and the thrill of first milestones. Instead, their world was shaken by a life-altering diagnosis. Shortly after birth, Antoś was found to have a
HLHS is one of the most serious congenital heart defects a child can face. It affects the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively and requires multiple surgeries throughout the child’s early years. Antoś has already undergone
The journey, however, has been far from linear. Even with carefully scheduled operations, the condition remains unpredictable. Routine appointments can quickly turn into emergencies. A year after his birth, a
Beyond the physical and emotional toll, HLHS imposes a substantial financial burden. The cost of frequent hospital visits, specialist consultations, life-saving surgeries, rehabilitation, and ongoing monitoring is enormous. Antoś’s family cannot manage these expenses alone, and each new development in his condition threatens to overwhelm their limited resources. For them, asking for help is not just an option — it is a necessity. Without external support, Antoś’s access to life-saving care and treatment could be compromised, making the fight for his life even more precarious.
The family’s hope lies in the generosity of the community. They are seeking support to cover emergency medical care, upcoming surgeries, specialized treatments, and rehabilitation that is crucial for Antoś’s development and survival. Every donation, no matter how small, directly contributes to his ability to receive the care he desperately needs. Every contribution helps provide medical equipment, covers travel and hospital costs, and ensures that his treatment continues without interruption. Each act of kindness gives Antoś a chance at a healthier, stronger, and more independent life.
Despite the hardships, Antoś demonstrates extraordinary resilience and determination. Every small milestone — sitting up after surgery, responding to a parent’s voice, tolerating a therapy session — represents a triumph over adversity. His parents are steadfast in their care, ensuring he receives attention, therapy, and emotional support every day. They celebrate every heartbeat, every moment of alertness, and every sign of progress, however small. These victories, though incremental, are proof of the potential for recovery and improvement, and they fuel the family’s determination to continue fighting.
HLHS is not only a medical challenge; it is an ongoing battle for quality of life, hope, and normalcy. Antoś deserves the chance to grow, play, and experience childhood, despite the limitations imposed by his heart condition. For his parents, every step forward, no matter how small, is a reminder that hope and perseverance can make a difference. Yet, they cannot do it alone. Their plea is for a community to stand with them, to provide the resources that will allow Antoś to continue receiving the critical care he needs.
By contributing to Antoś’s treatment, donors can become part of his recovery journey. Each donation supports vital surgeries, medical consultations, therapy sessions, and equipment that enable him to thrive. Each share of his story spreads awareness and mobilizes support, increasing the chances that he will continue to grow stronger every day. For Antoś, these contributions are more than financial assistance — they are lifelines that sustain hope, strengthen his body, and offer the possibility of a brighter future.
💛 Support Antoś today. Every donation, every share, and every act of kindness brings him closer to life-saving care, rehabilitation, and the chance to live a healthy, fulfilling life. Together, we can help this little heart warrior continue his fight and give him the childhood he deserves.
A New Beginning: Finding Safety in an Empty Room
The photo I took the day after I left him captures an image that, at first glance, seems like nothing extraordinary—a mattress on the floor, a mirror propped against the wall, and my cat exploring our new reality. But for me, it was so much more than just an empty space. It represented something I hadn't felt in five years: safety.
The loft I rented was an old textile factory downtown. It wasn’t anything fancy—certainly overpriced for what it was—but it was mine. I paid the deposit using money I had secretly saved from my small business on the Tedooo app, where I sold hand-painted ceramics. Each coffee mug, each ornament I shipped out, was a step closer to this bare room that would eventually become my sanctuary.
When I finally left, our friends were shocked. "But he’s so charming," they'd say. "You two always seem so happy." They never saw the side of him I lived with—the constant critiques of my body, the invasive checking of my phone while I slept, or the way he'd “accidentally” break my art if I spent too much time working on it. The version of our relationship they saw wasn’t the reality I was living. It took me years to realize that the charm they admired was only a mask for control.
I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving until I was already gone. While he was at work, I packed everything I could fit into my car—my clothes, my pottery wheel, and, of course, my cat. The rest of the things felt like paying a toll to cross a bridge to somewhere better.
The first night in my new space was peaceful in a way I hadn’t experienced in a long time. The bare mattress on the floor, the silence—it felt so different from the luxury of the king-size bed we had shared, the one with the Egyptian cotton sheets, but the difference was profound. I slept better in that empty room than I ever did in a place that was meant to be “perfect.” My cat curled against my legs, purring softly, as though reassuring me that this new space was a safe one. No one monitoring my breathing, no one to tiptoe around. Just me, my cat, and all the space I needed to begin filling my life again.
Six months later, my Tedooo shop is thriving. I can now pay rent without dipping into my savings. Slowly, I’ve added furniture, each piece chosen only by me—no compromises. My cat has a window perch where she watches the pigeons, a small comfort in our new home. And most importantly, I’m dating someone who supports my work, who brings me coffee in the mornings and asks about my latest designs. This relationship is rooted in respect, encouragement, and love—everything I had been missing.
But despite all the progress, I keep that photo to remind myself of where I came from. Sometimes the richest moments in life look like nothing at all. An empty room, a mattress on the floor, and a simple feeling of safety—those were the foundations of my new life. It’s not always about the big moments; sometimes it’s the quiet, small spaces that carry the most meaning. They become the start of something bigger, something full of potential and peace. And those moments, though they may seem insignificant, are where real growth begins.
