NADJA - WARRIOR PRINCESS
Donation protected
Two-year old Nadja has been fighting all her short life, but the past year has brought a heartbreaking series of health crises. Now she is in the toughest battle of her life.
NADJA’S STORY
Born with Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 and Autoimmune Hepatitis, her body is rejecting her own endocrine cells and liver, conditions that mean she couldn’t be safely given the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine.
In early January, having traveled to Belgrade from her hometown in Kragujevac for autoimmune treatment, she contracted measles. By early February, Nadja—beautiful, bright and beloved—had fought and survived pneumonia, sepsis, kidney failure, encephalopathy and liver failure.
And then, horribly, she went into respiratory failure, with brain and lung edema, Interstitial Lung Disease and ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). She was placed in a drug-induced coma on life support to allow her lungs to heal.
At the time of this posting she remains dependent on a ventilator and, despite the reduction of sedating drugs, remains asleep. Her underlying autoimmune issues—with the production of antibodies against her own body—are further compromising her ability to heal.
WHAT IS NEEDED?
Nadja’s father and big sister remain at home. Her mother, Dragana, is staying in a rented apartment in Belgrade in order to be close to Nadja, though the rules in Serbian hospitals only allow her a few minutes each day with her baby.
The ongoing cost of the apartment alone is a financial burden, but the extraordinary medical costs are truly overwhelming for this young family, and there is no end in sight for them.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Like me, you probably want to scoop this mother and child up into your arms but, sadly, even Dragana cannot hold her daughter.
HERE IS WHAT WE CAN DO:
~ OFFER a donation of any amount. Nothing is too small. It all adds up,
and be received with gratitude and put to the highest use.
~ SHARE Nadja’s story on your social media platforms.
~ EMAIL this page to your family and friends.
~ VISIT this GoFundMe page and Nadja’s Facebook page for updates.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/337211570103441/
~ AND....PLEASE PRAY!
HOW WILL FUNDS BE USED?
MONEY RAISED THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN WILL:
~ be used to cover Dragana's lodging costs in Belgrade, allowing her to remain close to Nadja
~ go toward Nadja’s ever-increasing medical costs
DRAGANA’S MESSAGE
“Please help us to bring our Nadja home. We miss her so much!"
FROM THE ORGANIZER
My name is Rachael, and I live in the U.S. I learned about Nadja in a Facebook support group for survivors and families of ARDS.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160706637735/
I am one of the very fortunate survivors of this devastating condition. I was healthy until the time I developed ARDS. The hospital was near my home, and friends and family were able to stay in my room, providing constant support to me and to my family. I had excellent health insurance, so there was no financial fallout from my illness.
Everything was in my favor—not because I had done anything right, or because I was especially deserving, but simply because I was lucky.
Under hospital policy, Nadja is solely in the care of nurses and mostly by herself, while her mother is alone in a strange city, with no soft place to land and facing crushing medical debt.
For me, this is a “there but for the grace of God” moment. How could I not be moved to help?
Alone, there is relatively little to offer someone who is literally on the other side of the world. But together, we can actually make a difference in the life of this one family: a family that could belong to any of us, with a precious child who--like every little one--is the child of all of us.
GRATITUDE
With Dragana, I want to offer my thanks to each of you who has taken the time to read and share Nadja’s story, to remember her in your prayers, and who is able to offer any measure of financial support to this deserving family.
BLESSINGS TO THIS CHILD!
NADJA’S STORY
Born with Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 and Autoimmune Hepatitis, her body is rejecting her own endocrine cells and liver, conditions that mean she couldn’t be safely given the MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella) vaccine.
In early January, having traveled to Belgrade from her hometown in Kragujevac for autoimmune treatment, she contracted measles. By early February, Nadja—beautiful, bright and beloved—had fought and survived pneumonia, sepsis, kidney failure, encephalopathy and liver failure.
And then, horribly, she went into respiratory failure, with brain and lung edema, Interstitial Lung Disease and ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome). She was placed in a drug-induced coma on life support to allow her lungs to heal.
At the time of this posting she remains dependent on a ventilator and, despite the reduction of sedating drugs, remains asleep. Her underlying autoimmune issues—with the production of antibodies against her own body—are further compromising her ability to heal.
WHAT IS NEEDED?
Nadja’s father and big sister remain at home. Her mother, Dragana, is staying in a rented apartment in Belgrade in order to be close to Nadja, though the rules in Serbian hospitals only allow her a few minutes each day with her baby.
The ongoing cost of the apartment alone is a financial burden, but the extraordinary medical costs are truly overwhelming for this young family, and there is no end in sight for them.
HOW CAN I HELP?
Like me, you probably want to scoop this mother and child up into your arms but, sadly, even Dragana cannot hold her daughter.
HERE IS WHAT WE CAN DO:
~ OFFER a donation of any amount. Nothing is too small. It all adds up,
and be received with gratitude and put to the highest use.
~ SHARE Nadja’s story on your social media platforms.
~ EMAIL this page to your family and friends.
~ VISIT this GoFundMe page and Nadja’s Facebook page for updates.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/337211570103441/
~ AND....PLEASE PRAY!
HOW WILL FUNDS BE USED?
MONEY RAISED THROUGH THIS CAMPAIGN WILL:
~ be used to cover Dragana's lodging costs in Belgrade, allowing her to remain close to Nadja
~ go toward Nadja’s ever-increasing medical costs
DRAGANA’S MESSAGE
“Please help us to bring our Nadja home. We miss her so much!"
FROM THE ORGANIZER
My name is Rachael, and I live in the U.S. I learned about Nadja in a Facebook support group for survivors and families of ARDS.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160706637735/
I am one of the very fortunate survivors of this devastating condition. I was healthy until the time I developed ARDS. The hospital was near my home, and friends and family were able to stay in my room, providing constant support to me and to my family. I had excellent health insurance, so there was no financial fallout from my illness.
Everything was in my favor—not because I had done anything right, or because I was especially deserving, but simply because I was lucky.
Under hospital policy, Nadja is solely in the care of nurses and mostly by herself, while her mother is alone in a strange city, with no soft place to land and facing crushing medical debt.
For me, this is a “there but for the grace of God” moment. How could I not be moved to help?
Alone, there is relatively little to offer someone who is literally on the other side of the world. But together, we can actually make a difference in the life of this one family: a family that could belong to any of us, with a precious child who--like every little one--is the child of all of us.
GRATITUDE
With Dragana, I want to offer my thanks to each of you who has taken the time to read and share Nadja’s story, to remember her in your prayers, and who is able to offer any measure of financial support to this deserving family.
BLESSINGS TO THIS CHILD!
Organizer
Rachael Carlson
Organizer
Lake Oswego, OR
