Humanitarian Foundation BUDI HUMAN - Aleksandar Šapić

raises funds for Sofija Bančević (2017)

Sofija is the first child born prematurely in 35th week, after a properly controlled twin pregnancy by cesarean section. In the 3rd hour, she was transferred from the maternity ward to the neurosurgery department of the University Children Hospital in Belgrade due to a split in the lumbar spine with hydrocephalus (Dg.Q05.2 Spina bifida lumbalis cum hydrocephalo) and indicated neurosurgical operative treatment, which was performed the day after admission. After birth, she was diagnosed with: severe suffocation of the newborn (P21.0 Asphyxia neonatalis gravis), congenital anomaly of the spinal cord, unspecified (Q06.9 Malformatio medullae spinalis congenita, non specificata) and spastic (convulsive) paralysis of two symmetrical limbs (G82.1 Paraplegia spastic). The neurological findings showed hypotonia of the lower extremities, absence of spontaneous motor movements without grasping reflexes on the legs. On the 14th day after birth, she had VP shunt installed for the derivation of cerebrospinal fluid, which was then revised when she was 10 months old. In October 2020, she was operated on at the University Clinical Center, Neurosurgery Clinic due to tethered cord syndrome - release of the congenitally tethered spinal cord, and in June 2022, she was operated on due to the subsequently diagnosed Chiari malformation type II (Q07.0 Arnold-Chiari Syndrome), and cranial fossa was decompressed. Due to her neurogenic bladder, she had frequent urinary infections, so intermittent catheterization is regularly performed at home. Since birth, she has been undergoing various rehabilitation therapies and treatments in state and private health centers and rehabilitation institutions and exercises daily at home.

Sofija is a mentally preserved child, before the last brain surgery she walked with the help of a pusher and with support, and even after the surgery she can walk but  loses balance. Sofija needs continuous physical treatments in order to prevent further progression of spinal curvature, improve balance and establish stable walking. She needs new types of robotics treatment that gives hope to her parents because it has good results in treating her diagnoses. She needs continuous long-term bladder treatments in order to improve the state of the urodynamic tract, as well as rehabilitation in specialized institutions in the country and abroad. Until now, Sofija's parents have managed to finance the treatment costs, but the new robotic exercises and bladder rehabilitation are extremely expensive and they need additional financial support.

Funds are needed for neurorehabilitation with robotics, spa rehabilitation, physical therapy, specialist and diagnostic examinations, training for the implementation of therapies at home, medical consumables, medicines and supplements.

For Sofija's stable step! Let's be humane!

Let's help Sofija!