Naomi Giro

Dear friends, family, and kind strangers,

Our daughter Naomi, just 6 years old, recently went through something no child should ever face — a life-threatening stroke caused by a rare congenital condition that enlarged several major arteries leading to her brain.

She was first admitted to Firule Hospital in Split and placed in an induced coma. Because it was too dangerous for her to fly, she was urgently transported by ambulance to Rebro Hospital in Zagreb. There, doctors discovered one aneurysm had already ruptured — and another was an alarming 20 mm in size (the safe upper limit is just 5 mm).

She underwent her first emergency brain surgery the very same day. In the days that followed, doctors uncovered five more aneurysms. About a week later, Naomi had a second surgery, during which a stent was implanted to redirect blood flow in her brain. It’s also important to share that during her initial stroke, her brain was without oxygen for some time — making her survival nothing short of a miracle.

A third operation followed, and all three were successful. Naomi is now on lifelong medication, and additional tests revealed a hole near the heart that will require ongoing monitoring.

Naomi is home now, but her recovery has only just begun. She needs daily medication, careful supervision, and regular checkups. She’s too fragile to return to school and will have to miss at least the first semester to give her body the time it needs to heal.

Her 7th birthday will still be celebrated next week 25.07. — quietly and gently. She’ll be there, smiling, just without the running and jumping this year.

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Doctors told us that what happened to Naomi is incredibly rare — only 0.4% of people have this condition, and when a stroke like this occurs, 90% don’t survive.

But Naomi did. She’s defied the odds. She’s our miracle. Our fighter. Our light.

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This journey has taken a toll on us — emotionally, physically, and financially. While it’s not easy to ask for help, we’re doing so for Naomi. Any contribution, big or small, will go toward her continued care, rehabilitation, and medical needs.

And if you’re not in a position to donate, please share Naomi’s story — and keep her in your heart.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your love, strength, and support.

With love,

Naomi’s family