She is a lovable girl, always full of honesty and good will. She has been through a lot lately and every time she hugs her newborn baby, she trembles with anxiety and fear.
Rafaela Kirkes from Avgorou reports on ant1.com.cy:
"When I became pregnant for the first time, I felt so much euphoria inside me and an incredible joy of anticipation as if I had been waiting for it for years. In fact, when I learned that I was pregnant with triplets, I went crazy with joy. I was also a triplet but unfortunately, one of my little brothers died before he was even born.
The dream had unfortunately turned into a nightmare…
After two months and within a few days, I lost all 3 babies. They died before they were even born… Kill my soul…
Everyone told me you are young, you will have other children, but that did not comfort me until I got pregnant again. Everything was going well with my pregnancy and that filled me with optimism and joy.
I was 6 months pregnant when my wedding took place, it was on September 30, 2020. I was very happy, I thought that since everything was going well until that moment, they would go until the end. Unfortunately…
I had a premature birth…
I gave birth on 16/11/2020 to a beautiful baby boy. However, less than 5 minutes after his birth he suffered convulsions. He had neonatal convulsions and was intubated and transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Makareio Hospital.
He was hospitalized for a month and a half and I saw him for half an hour a day. Unfortunately he continued to have convulsions that were not controlled with antiepileptic therapy. When the MRI was done we learned what was happening to our little boy.
We suffered the biggest shock of our lives…
He was diagnosed with Semi-cerebral palsy, a rare neurological disorder in which one half of the brain (its left side) is abnormally larger than the other. As a result, the brain does not function properly. We all know that the brain is divided into right and left hemispheres that communicate, in the case of my son, do not communicate.
We also wanted a second opinion and that is why we went to Germany
There, in a Berlin hospital, we were told that seizures are not easily controlled by medication in these patients or that many side effects are caused by antiepileptics, and that the uncontrollable seizures have an adverse effect on the mental development of the child and us. suggested surgery. That's done! Our baby underwent surgery and was hospitalized there for 2 months.
Our life today…
Fortunately, since the operation, he did not have convulsions again and even started shaking his left foot and his toes. I think he sees me and hears me. But I do not know if I should be happy…
The doctors told us that they do not know how it will develop because it is so rare. He should be examined by an audiologist, an ophthalmologist and we should start physical therapy immediately. Later you will need speech therapy and occupational therapy. After 4 months, we have to go again
Germany. The doctors there told us that he might need surgery again. They told me what symptoms the hydrocephalus causes, they are very scared about it.
I am very anxious, I am very scared…
I do not know what else can happen to my baby. This uncertainty kills my soul, as if I are in a big cauldron and I am smoldering.
Everything is spinning in my head: How will my baby's health develop? Will it grow normally? Will he hear well? Will he see well? Will he speak well? It is also the financial problem we face, will I ever be able to leave my baby to work too? Only my husband works and the money is not enough even for the necessities, we only pay 400 euros for the rent (I was born and raised in Avgorou, my mom's village but now we live in Paralimni, we rent there).
I get angry at the slightest thing and often break out in anger and crying. I know that anger only has negative consequences and I try to manage it all but it is really very difficult for me…
May my God make my baby completely well but also all the babies in the world, no one to be in pain, no one to suffer. To always have a warm hug and never to get sick ".
Source: Ant1 / Christiana Dionysiou