Our organization has stood by the brave Marko for several years. His story is proof that when enough good people come together, the lives of children who need help can literally change before our eyes.
We bring you an update on how little Marko is doing and what he is up to these days, thanks to the donors who allow us to support him through our organization.
How did you cope with the period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic?
The pandemic affected us, too. The worst part was that it literally forced us to stay still and greatly reduced our movement. Of course, at first, we were very, very scared, but over time, we learned to live with it. Though without much physical activity.
If I had to find a silver lining in that whole period, it would be that it brought our family even closer together.
How did the Covid situation affect Marko and his health?
There was a complete absence of rehabilitation. Movement is crucial for Marko. Of course, we tried to exercise at home and came up with new activities. We dusted off our old stepper, and Marko stepped and puffed. But let’s be honest, three-quarters of a year without professional exercise left its mark on him. His muscles tightened, he tires more easily, and sometimes we have to persuade him to move. Some things are harder for him to do. Even though we took walks around our street, his left ankle started collapsing inward. Given the limited options we had and the fact that the therapist we usually see wasn’t open, Marko’s condition worsened.
How did you respond when restrictions were lifted?
We decided to quickly kick-start his movement routine. We spent three days exercising at Villa Betula in Liptov, with the help of some four-legged “therapists” – a pony and a dog. Their energy, affection, and the warmth they radiate pushed Marko to work hard and exercise twice a day like clockwork. No complaints, and with enthusiasm.
And that’s exactly what we needed – to rediscover his joy in what he’s doing, to make him realize that his previous condition isn’t okay and won’t improve on its own. Most importantly, he saw that he has the ability to get better.
What are your plans for the coming months?
We’re still hesitant to travel abroad. We would love to return to dolphin therapy, which has fantastic benefits. For now, we know that Marko urgently needs high-quality rehabilitation exercises this summer.
We’d like to try a rehabilitation stay at the Axis Medical Center in Piešťany, which comes highly recommended. We’d also like to purchase special supplements that improve Marko’s physical and mental condition. I hope we can manage it because the supplements and the stay cost several thousand euros, and we can’t do it without help.
What has Marko done recently that surprised you the most?
Marko is a child who has been fighting since he was young and never gives up, so he surprises us every day. But I have a recent memory from when we were at the therapy with the ponies. During a card game, he pulled the question: “What are you most grateful to your parents for?”
We’d like to try a rehabilitation stay at the Axis Medical Center in Piešťany, which comes highly recommended. We’d also like to purchase special supplements that improve Marko’s physical and mental condition. I hope we can manage it because the supplements and the stay cost several thousand euros, and we can’t do it without help.Chlapča sa na chvíľu zamyslelo a potom s úsmevom a trošku zahanbene povedal. “Za to, že ma ľúbite.”
