Spine surgery in Chicago

Lester and his mom spent 7 months in the USA (Sept 2013 - April 2014). At first Lester had appointments at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. On 16th Dec 2013 he was admitted to the hospital for spine surgery. The first surgery was on the 17th December. He had a halo attached to his skull, two ribs removed and his spine loosened. There were weights attached to the halo (up to 21 pounds) pulling his head upwards. He was wearing that day and night for 7 weeks.

On the 4th February 2014 Lester had a final surgery. Doctor Gupta and his team put metal rods along Lester's spine to keep it straight. They took off the halo, too.
The surgery was a success. After 2 months we were able to fly back to Poland. We are very thankful to Shriners Hospital in Chicago, Gift from the Heart Foundation in Chicago and all who helped us make it happen!

Before...

After!

How to donate towards Lester's surgery

Our children have an account in a Fundation: Fundacja Dzieciom "Zdążyć z Pomocą" where we raise money for their medical needs. If you would like to donate towards Lester’s surgery, please go to his site in Foundation and copy the second account number from the top. As a title of a bank transfer you should write: “3258 Popek Lester - darowizna na leczenie”. This account number is appropriate for transfers in dollars, euros, zlotys and other currency. The money will be converted to zlotys by the bank and it will appear on our children's account in 2-3 weeks.


The Fundation don't take any provisions for themselves. They monitor the way parents spend the money- they require invoices for the medical services or rehabilitation the child has been given. If you have any questions feel free to contact us.

Thank you for your help!

Wiesława Popek
wispop@gmail.com

How Lester learned to read

When I was a Faculty of Education student I came across a book about teaching babies to read. I decided to try it with my firstborn child. In fact Lester seemed to be interested in books from the very beginning.

It's fun to hear the pages of the Bible rustle...

Here is my son Lester

13 years ago a doctor doing ultra sound of my unborn baby, cross that we wouldn’t consider abortion, said to me: Congratulations. Your life and your child’s life is going to be a gehenna.

Six months later when I was leaving the hospital with my 3 month old boy I heard from another doctor: You are going to have a lot of trouble with him…