My name is Emily. I live in Switzerland, where I run a practice for medical massage. I have been dedicated to manual therapy for many years. Privately, I am the aunt of my brave nephew. I started this fundraiser to support him in his fight against his illness.

Michał is Fighting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) – And He Needs Your Help

Together for Michał – Fighting DMD

Michał has been diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), a rare and progressive genetic disorder that leads to irreversible muscle loss.

He was born a healthy, energetic child. Until the age of four, he developed just like any other child – running, laughing, and enjoying his childhood. But one morning, he suddenly couldn’t stand on his leg. That’s when everything changed.

What followed was a long journey – from one doctor to another, from one hospital to the next. Eight long months of uncertainty, until we finally found specialists in Poznań, Poland. There, we received the devastating diagnosis: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy – a progressive, incurable muscle disease. It was a shock. My cheerful, full-of-life nephew – now facing a lifelong battle.

Common symptoms of DMD include:

Progressive muscle weakness

Enlargement of the calf muscles

Fatigue

Muscle pain

Toe-walking

Difficulty climbing stairs

Frequent falling

Breathing difficulties

Learning difficulties, especially short-term memory

Scoliosis (curvature of the spine)

Problems with sitting, standing, and walking

Waddling gait

Trouble running or jumping

Balance issues

How DMD is affecting Michał’s daily life right now:

Even at this stage, Michał already needs help with many everyday activities:

Getting out of bed

Getting dressed

Brushing his teeth

He needs assistance getting into a car – he can’t even open the car door by himself.

Simple tasks like opening a bottle or a snack package are difficult for him.

Because of his condition, Michał now attends a small local school in the village of Piecnik, which offers a safer environment. Every injury could drastically worsen his condition.

As long as it’s possible, we want him to continue attending school – to stay connected with other children and maintain social interaction.

However, he can’t use the school bus on his own – he needs help getting in and out. He also needs assistance carrying his school backpack. During school trips, he already relies on a wheelchair.

A powered wheelchair costs 4,900 CHF (22,000 PLN).

At home, Michał also needs support with:

Getting up from the floor

Climbing stairs

Opening doors

Dealing with balance issues

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support.

– Emily, Michał’s aunt

Michał (8) is my nephew, and he has his whole life ahead of him. That’s why I’m doing everything I can to give him the most comfortable and fulfilling life possible.

This also includes treatment and care for his condition – Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a rare genetic disorder that causes progressive and irreversible muscle degeneration. It is one of the fastest-progressing neuromuscular diseases affecting boys.

Michał Needs Medical Support

Michał is fighting every day against the progression of muscle degeneration. The disease has advanced to the point where he can no longer walk.

An operation on his Achilles tendons is urgently needed – due to muscle contractures, Michał can no longer properly move his legs.

The surgery costs 17,700 CHF.

In addition, Michał needs:

Intensive rehabilitation at least 5 times a week (700 CHF per month)

Specialized medical care (approx. 500–600 CHF per month)

Rehabilitation equipment (orthoses, wheelchair, special care bed) (approx. 400 CHF per month)

Regular check-ups with neurologists, cardiologists, orthopedists, endocrinologists, pulmonologists, psychologists, dietitians, and speech therapists (approx. 700–1,000 CHF per month)

A Spark of Hope

There is a glimmer of hope – the opportunity to participate in a clinical trial in Belgium, led by one of Europe’s leading DMD specialists.

This chance could be life-changing for Michał – but the costs for travel, accommodation, and medical support are high: 5,000–6,000 CHF (one-time cost).

The Most Expensive – and Most Promising – Treatment

The most expensive, but also potentially most promising treatment is a stem cell transplant from Michał’s father. This therapy can slow down the progression of the disease. It is a form of gene therapy, and unfortunately, it is not available in the country where Michał lives.

That’s why we are raising funds or looking for a sponsor in the United States, where such procedures are performed.

The cost of a single transplant is approximately 3,000,000 USD.