Hi everyone,

My name is Alex, and I’m raising funds for Ioana Mădălina Bărbosu, a brave 17-year-old girl from Romania who needs life-saving heart surgery.

I am asking for support on behalf of her sister, Miruna Bărbosu, who has been a close friend of mine since high school.

Ioana was born with a complex congenital heart defect and Down syndrome.

She has faced countless medical challenges since the day she was born: including open-heart surgeries, long hospital stays, and years of treatments.

Despite everything, she continues to smile, draw, and dream, just like any other teenager.

Her medical journey began when she was diagnosed at birth with several severe heart malformations:

In 2010, Ioana had her first open-heart surgery in Romania, but complications followed.

Two years later, her parents took her to Germany, to the Center for Congenital Heart Defects in Bad Oeynhausen, where an incredible team of doctors performed an 11-hour operation that saved her life.

For years, she did better, with regular check-ups and careful monitoring.

But in 2021, tragedy struck again.

Doctors said Ioana needed another procedure, and just before it could happen, my friend unexpectedly lost her mother to COVID-19. Leaving both sisters in the care of the father - their sole breadwinner.

The impact this had on their family was devastating.

After 17 years of struggle, their family is emotionally and financially exhausted. However, their spirit is not broken, and they continue to fight.

Ioana had another procedure in June 2021, but now, after a routine check-up in 2024, doctors discovered that the valve implanted during that surgery no longer works properly.

She urgently needs another heart operation, scheduled for the 7th of November 2025, with a total cost of £36,000 ... far more than the family can afford.

I’ve created this GoFundMe to help Miruna and her dad raise the money for Ioana’s surgery, as the resources available to them via online fundraising are limited in Romania. As such, I hope they will be able to reach a wider audience. The sole goal of this fundraising is to give this amazing girl the chance to live the life she deserves: a life without pain, where she can go to school, dance, and laugh like any other 17-year-old.

Every donation, no matter how small, brings Ioana closer to that chance.

If you can’t donate, please share her story. Your kindness and support can truly save a life.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and for your support and care.

With gratitude,

Alex,

on behalf of Miruna and the Bărbosu family

Update: Great news! With everyone's help we managed to raise a big portion of the money and we only have 4000 euros to go!

Thank you to everyone that shared and contributed to this fundraising!

I would like to share some of the links below fo anyone who would like to donate directly:

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1371906194326902&id=100045226043411&rdid=cvxmwmPiWDIhCXbZ

https://www.facebook.com/danicek.ro?rdid=wpL9ZaPIm6GG7flo&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1BfAMtugoT%2F

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553582897721&rdid=MWbDdA6eQr14JaTS&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1BUSuSKQyR%2F

Thank you very much to all the wonderful people that contributed to this cause!

I have attached the receipt as well.

Update 2: It is done. All the necessary money has been raised!

Thank you everyone. I would like to offer some special thanks to :

Dani Cek

Alexandru Lungu

and the Association in Suceava.

We could not have done this without you!