I write to you with a heavy heart to share a very sad story that happened to our daughter, Hannah — something that should never happen to anyone. Anyone who knows me knows that I am not someone who easily asks for help, but I will do anything for my kids, even if it means stepping out of my comfort zone.

On July 9, our daughter Hannah was viciously attacked by our neighbor’s Rottweiler, which caused severe and traumatic injuries. The attack resulted in the complete amputation of her right ear, multiple lacerations, and deep wounds to her head and right arm. After the accident, she was transported to the hospital, where she underwent a six-hour emergency plastic surgery in an attempt to save her ear. She remained intubated for seven days in the pediatric intensive care unit and spent a total of two weeks in the hospital. Unfortunately, after multiple follow-up surgeries, she lost majority of her ear.

Hannah is the kind of child who brings energy and joy into every room she enters. She even earned the nickname “Hurricane Hannah” at the hospital because, even while intubated, she never gave up. She fought every single day to wake up, get stronger, and face the challenges ahead of her. She truly is our superhero.

For us as parents, seeing her go through something so painful and traumatic at such a young age has been absolutely heartbreaking. There are no words to express how this accident impacted our life. We are doing everything we can to stay strong for her and for her sister, Chelsea, who also suffered a very traumatic experience.

As parents, we want nothing but the best for our children, even when the path is difficult. We have been fortunate to find one of the best plastic surgeons in California who specializes in 3D ear reconstruction. He has given us the light in the tunnel we were looking for — and the hope that one day Hannah will have her ear back.

Hannah is our little princess — full of joy, imagination, and love for all things beautiful. She adores wearing dresses, playing with makeup, and putting her hair up in cute styles. In the near future she will need ear reconstruction surgery to help her look and feel like herself again. As parents, our greatest hope is to give her the chance to grow up confident and happy, without feeling limited or different.

With your support, we can help Hannah get her ear back — and give her the gift of truly being herself. Every little bit helps — whether it’s a donation or sharing this page with others. Your support means the world to us and helps Hannah heal physically and emotionally.

Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity, the Sztachera Family