Sarah Spanos here, I just want to thank everyone who has donated to this fund — your generosity has been incredible! We’re on the home stretch, with Niko’s surgery scheduled for mid-November.

GoFundMe automatically adjusts the goal in small increments until we reach the full $48,000, but thanks to all of you, we’re getting Niko the surgery he needs.

Please continue to share Niko’s story and help us spread the word. On behalf of Radi, Niko, and Tim — thank you. Your kindness and compassion are truly inspiring, and the growing list of donors is a beautiful testimony to the amazing people out there.

Slightly modified story!!

Hi, my name is Sarah Spanos, and I’m writing today to ask for help for the most amazing little boy, Niko. Niko, with his mom, Radi and dad, Tim, have been on a long and challenging medical journey. Right now, Niko is unable to put weight on his feet — something most parents take for granted, but for Niko, it’s a daily struggle. You’ll often see Niko riding piggyback on a parent’s back as they walk the dog or make their way to and from the car. Here is Niko's story.

Niko was born with a genetic condition called Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1). Because of this, he was born with a bowed leg and a broken fibula. He didn’t walk until he was almost two years old, and since then he’s faced more medical challenges than most adults do in a lifetime.

When Niko was four, he broke his leg playing in the ocean in Mexico. His family rushed back to Alaska for an emergency surgery where doctors installed a rod in his leg. Later, he needed another surgery to insert a nail in his ankle to help keep it straight. The rod was designed to grow with him — but over time it began to bend. For months, his parents have been preparing for another surgery, but before they could schedule it, Niko’s pain worsened and he stopped walking altogether.

About a month ago, Niko had an accident while jumping on a trampoline. What seemed like a sprained ankle turned out to be another fracture — in the same leg, in the same spot. With NF1, his bones don’t heal the way they should. To make things worse, the family recently learned that their health insurance had been cancelled without their knowledge — right when Niko needs urgent medical care.

A team of NF pediatric surgeons in Poland has agreed to perform a cross-union surgery that could give Niko the chance to walk, play, and grow without constant pain. The cost of this life-changing surgery and related travel expenses is $48,000.

Niko’s mom, Radi, is originally from Bulgaria and has lived in Seward, Alaska since 2013. His dad, Tim, is from Minnesota and moved to Seward in 2014. They both have built lives and community here. Niko was born in 2017 and has become one of the most loved seven (soon to be eight!) year olds in Seward — a bright, kind, and brave little boy who inspires everyone around him.

Every donation, big or small, will help Niko get to Poland and receive the surgery he urgently needs. If you can’t give, please consider sharing this campaign to help spread the word. The surgery is scheduled for November. A down payment is required before the procedure with final payment shortly after. Time is of the essence.

Thank you for helping Niko take his next steps — literally — toward a healthy and happy future.

With gratitude,

Radi, Niko and Tim