Slawek's Neuro Rehabilitation Fund
Donation protected
Dear All,
It breaks my heart to share this with you...
...but a life changing tragedy has befallen our beloved and dear Sławek during a boating trip accident on Lake Czorsztyn in southern Poland last week.
Sławek Turski and a hanfdul of his close friends took a holiday to go boating in a gorgous and relaxing part of the country and amidst what could have been a perfect getaway he has unluckily dived into a unexpected shallow patch.
Seeing him floating up to the surface motionless, his friends quickly rescued him from the water and he remained unresponsive for nearly 30 seconds once back on shore. With some help he came around and was placed in a recovery position while the emergency lake services were summoned. It was then first noticed that he has no voluntary control of his limbs although being fully aware and communicable. Once the rescue team arrived his neck was stabilized with a collar, he was secured to a transfer board and emergency helicopter transport was arranged to the Neurosurgery and Neurotrauma Clinic in the Jagiellonian University Hospital System in Krakow.
On site initial scanning revealed that he has sustained a profound hyperextension of his neck, which resulted in C4/C5 disc dislocation as well as a local spinal heamatoma, both of which contributed to the corresponding anterior spinal cord injury at that level. At this point Sławek was still fully communicable, and albeit tetraplegic, had full body sensation and was only complaining of neck pain and not much else. His head was shaved and bolts inserted for emergency traction in attempt to decompress his spine. Further scanning did not show a successful relocation of the disc and a only a minimal progression of the heamatoma.
It was then decided for Sławek to undergo an emergency overnight microdiscectomy and stabilization of his C4/C5 spine and partial heamatoma evacuation, in aim of minimising time from injury to intervention. The operation went smoothly with no acute complications. He is currently back on the ITU experiencing full sensation in all four limbs, and proprioception in his ankles, but no signs of motor function below the level of injury. He is currently graded having a C4/C5 ASIA B injury, which will require a tremendous effort.
It is extremely difficult for anyone to grasp the real reprecautions at the moment, especially for Sławek, who is alraedy experiencing a mental strain as he is struggling to find ways to cope with the cascade of mixed emotions. Luckily he is surrounded by his loved ones, and there is always hope for a recovery and ideally for independance down the line.
At the moment he is able to breath on his own and is not requiring a tracheostomy or ventilation. This is good news, as it not only carries a better prognisis, but also allows him to freely crack a joke from time to time as he armors up for the fight of his life.
For those of you who don't know my 32 year old friend, he is an all around wonderful family man, a great friend as well as a world class ballroom dancer. He is the oldest of 3, having two younger sister to always keep him busy as well as a massive family to look after. Deep down he is a fighter, and I hope with our help we can help carry him along the way as best we can.
He has always been one of the good guys; a grounded and compassionate team player loved and cherished by all that he came in contact with. His charisma is plentiful, and his presence powerful, and not many people I know have so many interests and hobbies that they are actually good at.
Sławek is a light to the world and no stranger to the outdoors. Mushroom picking and hiking are staples when it comes to monthly activities!
He is the quintessential family man as he comes from a genuinely kind-hearted and close family. The Turski's have struggled through their fair share of health issues within their members, but never with anything so tragic, debilitating and disproportional.
With his family at church.
Without hesitation he would be unanimously voted as the soul of every family gathering, being able to churr out jokes and stories to keep everyone laughing for hours on end.
He has a plethora of hobbies but primarily enjoys fishing with his dad, mushroom picking and being a hoss on the volleyball court.
Gone fishing!
With his Volleyball team.
The most profound of lifetime interests is one he has found on the dancefloor as a professional ballroom and Latin dancer. His career is a vibrant one, and has been sprinkled with many successes along the way.
With his beautiful sister and dance-partner Aleksandra.
Dancing Slideshow!
He has had a handful of TV time as well as the partner of Otylia Jędrzejczak (Olympic Swimmer) on Dancing With the Stars.
Ever since taking a step back from the professional competitive circuits, Sławek has found a calling teaching dance privately to couples of all ages. He is respected and loved in the community and above is a photo of him hosting a childrens dancing tournament in Krakow and me volunteering as a MC for this event.
A bit about me and this fund...
I am Sławek's friend Michael Felinski, and we have met in Poland while I was studying medicine in Krakow. We instantly became friends, and as our relationship flourished so did the my own personal relationships with his family and friends. I essentially feel as I have become part of the family over the years, and have frequented a plethora of family events. I have had front row seats and witnessed the big life that Sławek was living and how effortlessly he was inspirational to those around him. He is a gentleman, a leader and most importantly a good person, who always put the cares of others before his own.
"family" vacation.
In the daytime I am a doctor in the UK, having recently worked a lengthy amount of time on the Spinal Injuries Unit in Sheffield as a Senior House Officer.
At the Spinal Injuries Unit in Sheffield, not yet knowing we will be featured on BBC's The One Show.
Having first hand experience with the necessary adjustments that this type of injury will demand from Sławek and his family, I was hoping to start this fund in aim of alleviating (as much as possible) the upcoming inevitable financial burdens.
The Polish healthcare system is not renowned for excellence in neurorehabilitation as it only covers 8-12 weeks and a subsequent private approach is necessary as Slawek needs a full time medical staff given his level of injury (i.e. risk of diaphragm failure, chest infections, emergency intubation in case of respiratory failure). He was recently cleared to be accepted into Bydgoszcz Rehabilitation Services, which is a full time medical and rehabilitation center which is as renown as it is expensive.
I hope that we can raise enough money to cover private rehabilitation services, among others, so that the absolute best options will be available for Sławek on his slow road to recovery. He has been a selfless giver his entire life, and I hope that we can all muster a little bit to give back.
Upcoming costs will include:
Uncovered medical bills
Neurorehabilitation
Nursing care
Home adjustments and equipment
Medications
Transportation expenses
Car adjustments if recovery allows future driving
Applications for possible stem cell procedures
Any other expenses encountered by the Turski family
If you have an inkling to donate, we will be forever grateful, and if you are just passing by please help us by saying a little (or big) prayer for a full recovery.
Thank you new donators, colleagues, friends and family.... together we can muster up enough to make a difference!
Thanks for taking a peek.
We wish to cordially thank the entire personnel of the Trauma and Emergency Medicine Center at Krakow University Hospitals Kopernika Street 50, in particular the Chief of Clinical Anesthesiology and Intensive Care no.1, Professor Jerzy Wordliczkow, as well as the Head of the II Unit of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Dr. Wojciech Serednicki, for their professional medical care, understanding, warm words and constant motivation.
It breaks my heart to share this with you...
...but a life changing tragedy has befallen our beloved and dear Sławek during a boating trip accident on Lake Czorsztyn in southern Poland last week.
Sławek Turski and a hanfdul of his close friends took a holiday to go boating in a gorgous and relaxing part of the country and amidst what could have been a perfect getaway he has unluckily dived into a unexpected shallow patch.
Seeing him floating up to the surface motionless, his friends quickly rescued him from the water and he remained unresponsive for nearly 30 seconds once back on shore. With some help he came around and was placed in a recovery position while the emergency lake services were summoned. It was then first noticed that he has no voluntary control of his limbs although being fully aware and communicable. Once the rescue team arrived his neck was stabilized with a collar, he was secured to a transfer board and emergency helicopter transport was arranged to the Neurosurgery and Neurotrauma Clinic in the Jagiellonian University Hospital System in Krakow.
On site initial scanning revealed that he has sustained a profound hyperextension of his neck, which resulted in C4/C5 disc dislocation as well as a local spinal heamatoma, both of which contributed to the corresponding anterior spinal cord injury at that level. At this point Sławek was still fully communicable, and albeit tetraplegic, had full body sensation and was only complaining of neck pain and not much else. His head was shaved and bolts inserted for emergency traction in attempt to decompress his spine. Further scanning did not show a successful relocation of the disc and a only a minimal progression of the heamatoma.
It was then decided for Sławek to undergo an emergency overnight microdiscectomy and stabilization of his C4/C5 spine and partial heamatoma evacuation, in aim of minimising time from injury to intervention. The operation went smoothly with no acute complications. He is currently back on the ITU experiencing full sensation in all four limbs, and proprioception in his ankles, but no signs of motor function below the level of injury. He is currently graded having a C4/C5 ASIA B injury, which will require a tremendous effort.
It is extremely difficult for anyone to grasp the real reprecautions at the moment, especially for Sławek, who is alraedy experiencing a mental strain as he is struggling to find ways to cope with the cascade of mixed emotions. Luckily he is surrounded by his loved ones, and there is always hope for a recovery and ideally for independance down the line.
At the moment he is able to breath on his own and is not requiring a tracheostomy or ventilation. This is good news, as it not only carries a better prognisis, but also allows him to freely crack a joke from time to time as he armors up for the fight of his life.
For those of you who don't know my 32 year old friend, he is an all around wonderful family man, a great friend as well as a world class ballroom dancer. He is the oldest of 3, having two younger sister to always keep him busy as well as a massive family to look after. Deep down he is a fighter, and I hope with our help we can help carry him along the way as best we can.
He has always been one of the good guys; a grounded and compassionate team player loved and cherished by all that he came in contact with. His charisma is plentiful, and his presence powerful, and not many people I know have so many interests and hobbies that they are actually good at.
Sławek is a light to the world and no stranger to the outdoors. Mushroom picking and hiking are staples when it comes to monthly activities!He is the quintessential family man as he comes from a genuinely kind-hearted and close family. The Turski's have struggled through their fair share of health issues within their members, but never with anything so tragic, debilitating and disproportional.
With his family at church.Without hesitation he would be unanimously voted as the soul of every family gathering, being able to churr out jokes and stories to keep everyone laughing for hours on end.
He has a plethora of hobbies but primarily enjoys fishing with his dad, mushroom picking and being a hoss on the volleyball court.
Gone fishing!With his Volleyball team.The most profound of lifetime interests is one he has found on the dancefloor as a professional ballroom and Latin dancer. His career is a vibrant one, and has been sprinkled with many successes along the way.
With his beautiful sister and dance-partner Aleksandra.Dancing Slideshow!
He has had a handful of TV time as well as the partner of Otylia Jędrzejczak (Olympic Swimmer) on Dancing With the Stars.
Ever since taking a step back from the professional competitive circuits, Sławek has found a calling teaching dance privately to couples of all ages. He is respected and loved in the community and above is a photo of him hosting a childrens dancing tournament in Krakow and me volunteering as a MC for this event.
A bit about me and this fund...
I am Sławek's friend Michael Felinski, and we have met in Poland while I was studying medicine in Krakow. We instantly became friends, and as our relationship flourished so did the my own personal relationships with his family and friends. I essentially feel as I have become part of the family over the years, and have frequented a plethora of family events. I have had front row seats and witnessed the big life that Sławek was living and how effortlessly he was inspirational to those around him. He is a gentleman, a leader and most importantly a good person, who always put the cares of others before his own.
"family" vacation.In the daytime I am a doctor in the UK, having recently worked a lengthy amount of time on the Spinal Injuries Unit in Sheffield as a Senior House Officer.
At the Spinal Injuries Unit in Sheffield, not yet knowing we will be featured on BBC's The One Show.Having first hand experience with the necessary adjustments that this type of injury will demand from Sławek and his family, I was hoping to start this fund in aim of alleviating (as much as possible) the upcoming inevitable financial burdens.
The Polish healthcare system is not renowned for excellence in neurorehabilitation as it only covers 8-12 weeks and a subsequent private approach is necessary as Slawek needs a full time medical staff given his level of injury (i.e. risk of diaphragm failure, chest infections, emergency intubation in case of respiratory failure). He was recently cleared to be accepted into Bydgoszcz Rehabilitation Services, which is a full time medical and rehabilitation center which is as renown as it is expensive.
I hope that we can raise enough money to cover private rehabilitation services, among others, so that the absolute best options will be available for Sławek on his slow road to recovery. He has been a selfless giver his entire life, and I hope that we can all muster a little bit to give back.
Upcoming costs will include:
Uncovered medical bills
Neurorehabilitation
Nursing care
Home adjustments and equipment
Medications
Transportation expenses
Car adjustments if recovery allows future driving
Applications for possible stem cell procedures
Any other expenses encountered by the Turski family
If you have an inkling to donate, we will be forever grateful, and if you are just passing by please help us by saying a little (or big) prayer for a full recovery.
Thank you new donators, colleagues, friends and family.... together we can muster up enough to make a difference!
Thanks for taking a peek.
We wish to cordially thank the entire personnel of the Trauma and Emergency Medicine Center at Krakow University Hospitals Kopernika Street 50, in particular the Chief of Clinical Anesthesiology and Intensive Care no.1, Professor Jerzy Wordliczkow, as well as the Head of the II Unit of Anaesthetics and Intensive Care, Dr. Wojciech Serednicki, for their professional medical care, understanding, warm words and constant motivation.
Sincere acknowledgments to the nursing staff, physiotherapists and support workers for their care, patience, empathy, benevolence and dedication they showcased in their day-to-day nursing.
Thanks to the conditions that this modern center provides, we were able to garner strength and faith in this difficult recovery process.
Mrs Barbara Bulanowska
Director SPZOZ Krako University Hospitals
We wish to deliver sincere acknowledgments into the hands of the Director for the entire medical staff of the Trauma and Emergency Medicine Center for their brilliant and professional care.
We would also like to direct thanks to the neurosurgical team of the Clinical Neurosurgery and Neurotraumatology Unit, led by Head Professor Dr. Mark Moskal, Dr. Jaroslaw Polak as well as Dr Pawel Lopatki for their professional and earnest surgical interventions.
Organizer
Michael J Felinski
Organizer
