Klaudia Radzikowska was only 17 years old when her life changed in an instant. A passionate young woman with dreams of working with horses, Klaudia had moved far from home to pursue her dreams in Janów Podlasie. She enrolled in a Horse Breeding Technician program, dedicating her life to learning about and working with horses. The smell of the stable, the sound of hooves, and the thrill of caring for these magnificent animals were her joys, and she knew they were her path in life.
But on March 25, 2025, during a practical session at the stud farm, everything changed. What was supposed to be just another day of learning turned into a nightmare. As she fell from her horse, a scream echoed, followed by silence. Klaudia lay there, unable to feel her arms or legs. She tried to rise but couldn’t move. The ambulance rushed her to the hospital, and the news was devastating—Klaudia had suffered severe spinal cord damage, leaving her quadriplegic.
For a mother, there is no worse feeling than hearing that your child’s life has been turned upside down in such a way. Just two weeks before this, I had been diagnosed with a serious illness that had already begun affecting my own mobility. Yet, in that moment, my own struggles felt insignificant. I rushed to Klaudia’s side, fearing the worst, and when I arrived at the hospital, the gravity of the situation became all too clear. She could not feel her legs, her body had lost its ability to function as it once had, and her future was uncertain.
Klaudia was transferred to a hospital in Warsaw, where doctors confirmed the severity of her condition. Her fifth and sixth vertebrae had been crushed. She underwent eight surgeries, each one more painful than the last. Watching my daughter suffer in such agony was unbearable. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare—watching their child endure pain and not being able to take it away. There were moments when Klaudia’s pain was so overwhelming that she couldn’t communicate with us. It was a constant battle, not just for her body but for her spirit.
Klaudia spent nearly five months in the NICU, clinging to life with the help of medical equipment. During this time, we watched her fight for every breath, every movement. She had two tubes in her nose, two in her throat, and a Broviac tube for medication. Klaudia couldn’t speak and was fed through a PEG tube. I had to teach her how to eat again, a task no mother should ever have to face for their child.
Throughout this struggle, Klaudia’s dreams of working with horses, of being independent, seemed to vanish. She no longer had the ability to do the one thing she loved most. The girl who had lived for horses now faced a future where every task, every simple movement, required help. Yet, even through her pain, Klaudia’s spirit never wavered. She dreamed of riding again, of feeling the freedom that horses had once given her. Despite the challenges, Klaudia was determined to regain her mobility and independence.
The road ahead is long, painful, and expensive. For Klaudia to have any chance of regaining mobility, she needs intensive rehabilitation and specialized treatments, all of which come with a high cost. Rehabilitation can cost up to a thousand złoty a day, and we also need to adapt our home to her needs, as she will be wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life. A specially adapted car is also necessary so that she can travel safely.
As a mother, I am pleading for help. Klaudia’s journey is not just about fighting for her dreams anymore—she’s fighting for her life. She needs your support to continue her rehabilitation and to live a life beyond the hospital bed. Every penny, every share, and every kind word is a lifeline. Together, we can help Klaudia regain the future she was so cruelly robbed of.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for any support you can offer. With your help, we can give Klaudia the chance to live, laugh, and someday ride again.
