Mateusz Kunecki: A Little Warrior Fighting With Half a Heart.3525 Posted January 6, 2026. Hyn
Although hope for the second planned surgery—the so-called Glenn procedure—is slowly fading, we are still holding on with everything we have. Once again, the surgery has been postponed, and with each delay, the fear grows stronger. We don’t even know if it will ever happen at all.
At the beginning of February, Mateusz underwent a diagnostic cardiac catheterization that we prayed would bring good news. Instead, the results were devastating and far from what the doctors had hoped for. His right pulmonary artery was too small, and several critical veins—the left brachiocephalic vein, both femoral and iliac veins, and the lower segment of the inferior vena cava—were completely occluded.
Doctors tried to unblock the brachiocephalic vein, but it was impossible. Mateusz was admitted to the intensive care unit, where he slowly recovered and regained some strength. After a few days, he was transferred back to the cardiology ward, and about a week later, we were finally able to return home.
At the beginning of March, our fragile hope was shattered again. The results were still poor, and doctors decided another catheterization was necessary—this time far more complicated. The procedure required two access points, one through Mateusz’s liver and another through his elbow.
Once again, our son was taken to intensive care, and once again, we waited in fear. A few days later, he returned to the cardiology ward, where we received news that broke our hearts. Despite everything we had endured, Mateusz was not a candidate for Glenn surgery.
His arteries were not growing, blood flow was insufficient, and the fragile balance holding him together collapsed. The doctors were honest—they could not attempt this surgery without risking his life. In that moment, it felt as if the magic keeping our son alive had been cruelly taken away.
Back at home, we focused on rehabilitation, working tirelessly to improve the dexterity of his left hand. But even in these quieter moments, new worries appeared. We noticed that Mateusz did not react to loud sounds, no matter how close or sudden they were.
The diagnosis that followed was another devastating blow. Mateusz is deaf—100% in his right ear and 95% in his left. The brain hemorrhages he suffered after his first surgery had caused irreversible hearing loss.
At this stage, cochlear implants are not possible because they would disqualify him from crucial cardiac examinations. For now, we have been offered hearing aids, and we will do everything we can to help our son navigate his silent world. Still, his heart remains the most urgent and life-threatening concern.
We refuse to give up. Doctors have proposed another path—cardiopulmonary bypass surgery to redirect blood flow and improve circulation to the right pulmonary artery. During this procedure, plastic surgery will also be performed on the artery to give it a chance to grow.
This surgery may buy us time. Time for the artery to develop. Time for hope to return. Time, perhaps, for Mateusz to finally qualify for the Glenn procedure that could change everything.
Mateusz was born in March, a day we had awaited with love and fear intertwined. Prenatally, he was diagnosed with an evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome, critical aortic stenosis, and a restrictive foramen ovale. From the very beginning, we knew we were stepping into the hardest battle of our lives.
Due to oligohydramnios and growth restriction, Mateusz was born at just 35 weeks by cesarean section. He weighed only 1,970 grams and was transferred the same day to the Children’s Health Center. There, he was admitted directly to the neonatal intensive care unit.
Prematurity and low birth weight made everything more complicated. Within the first days of life, Mateusz required urgent cardiac surgery because blood was flooding his lungs. Doctors performed banding of both pulmonary arteries to save him.
Just days later, he underwent another cardiac catheterization to widen the restrictive foramen ovale. Each time he was taken into surgery, we felt our hearts stop beating. Even remembering those moments now brings tears to our eyes.
After these procedures, Mateusz never regained independent breathing. His condition continued to worsen, and fear became our constant companion. Then, in early April, the unimaginable happened—our son suffered hypoxia and cardiac arrest.
Doctors fought desperately to bring him back. After stabilizing his condition and obtaining our consent, they performed a last-resort treatment to save his heart. Against all odds, Mateusz survived once again.
Although his heart began to improve slightly after several days, his overall condition deteriorated so much that emergency surgery became unavoidable. After eleven hours of extremely complex surgery, Mateusz returned to us in critical condition. He could not breathe on his own, and his heart was supported by ECMO.
Two days later, kidney failure followed, and dialysis became necessary. We were shattered, but deep down, we knew our son was a fighter. And fighters don’t give up easily.
By the end of April, there was a small miracle. His heart began to beat more effectively, his kidneys recovered, and dialysis was no longer needed. Still, he required constant pharmacological support and remained in intensive care.
Just days ago, Mateusz underwent yet another cardiac catheterization and right pulmonary artery bypass grafting. He is currently on a ventilator and fed through a feeding tube. We continue to struggle with oxygen saturation and unstable heart rhythms.
Along the way, there have also been two brain hemorrhages. Doctors say they were not severe, but only time will tell what impact they may have. Every unknown feels like another shadow hanging over our son’s future.
Mateusz still faces at least two more surgeries and long-term rehabilitation. He needs professional care, specialized equipment, and constant monitoring, including a breathing monitor. Frequent travel to Warsaw, specialist visits, and ongoing treatment generate enormous costs.
We are exhausted—emotionally, physically, and financially. And we know this is only the beginning of a very long road. With no other choice left, we are asking for help.
We ask everyone with a kind heart to stand with us. To help us fight for the life of our son—our little warrior with half a heart. Every gesture of support gives Mateusz another chance to keep fighting.
— Beata and Andrzej, parents of Mateusz Kunecki
A Mother’s Unwavering Love: The Heartbreaking Struggle of a Dog Protecting Her Puppy.2922
In the most gut-wrenching moment, a mother dog found herself helpless, tied up and unable to protect her precious puppy from the cruelty of the world. As another dog launched an attack on her defenseless young one, the mother’s instinct to protect was nothing but a silent, futile cry for help. Her body was bound, each movement strained and restricted. Despite the fierce need to intervene, the ropes that held her in place only grew tighter, a cruel reminder of the limits placed upon her.
With every nerve in her body screaming to act, she could only watch in helpless horror as her puppy was savagely attacked. Her eyes, wide with fear and urgency, never left her child, conveying a deep anguish that only a mother could understand. Each moment felt like an eternity, as sahe struggled with everything she had to break free from her chains and run to her baby’s side. But the restraints held firm, binding her body, preventing her from rushing in to protect the one thing in the world she loved most.
The cries of the mother pierced the air, a mournful wail that could only come from a creature who felt the pain of watching their child suffer and being powerless to stop it. The attack was unrelenting, brutal, and harsh, but the mother’s resolve never wavered. Her muscles strained, and her paws clawed at the earth beneath her, desperately trying to get free. She tugged at the chains, her face twisted in desperation, but each pull only seemed to reinforce the harsh reality she was trapped in. The pain of seeing her baby helpless and injured was etched across her face, a mixture of sorrow and disbelief at the cruelty that had been thrust upon them.
As the attack continued, the bond between mother and puppy was unmistakable, even though the puppy could do nothing to protect itself. The mother’s eyes reflected deep pain, but also an overwhelming love, a love that would never falter, no matter the circumstances. Her every breath, every tremor, spoke to the purest instinct of a mother’s desire to protect her young, no matter the cost. But the ropes that bound her held her back from reaching her baby, and her love, as strong as it was, could not break through the cruel confinement.
Finally, as the aggressor backed away, the attack subsided, leaving the puppy battered, but miraculously alive. The mother, emotionally and physically exhausted, slumped to the ground, her spirit crushed, but her devotion unwavering. The once frantic gaze in her eyes was replaced with deep despair, but it didn’t erase the bond between them. Despite the trauma she had just witnessed, she immediately turned to her puppy, showing a tenderness that could only come from the deepest maternal love. Though her body was weak and her heart broken, she gently nuzzled her little one, offering what comfort she could, her body language still radiating the protection she was unable to give during the attack.
Witnesses who saw this tragic scene unfold were left in stunned silence, unable to process the cruelty of it all. The mother had been left bound at a time when she needed to be free the most. Not only was she physically restrained, but her emotional suffering was also impossible to ignore. The bonds that tied her weren’t just physical—they were a symbol of the emotional toll this mother had to bear, watching her baby in pain without being able to intervene. The sheer helplessness and despair of the situation were profound, and it left everyone who witnessed it deeply disturbed by the cruelty and negligence that had allowed it to happen.
This heartbreaking event is a stark reminder of our responsibility to care for the animals we take into our lives. As a species, we have the power to provide safety, shelter, and protection to those who rely on us, and yet, this mother was subjected to the worst kind of neglect. The emotional and physical trauma she endured was preventable, yet it still unfolded before our eyes. Her suffering should not be in vain—it should serve as a call for compassion, urging us to do better for the animals we share this world with.
The physical scars from this encounter may eventually fade, but the emotional scars will remain, not just for the mother and her puppy, but for all those who witnessed this cruel act. The love between mother and child, however, is not something that can be easily erased. Even in the face of such adversity, the mother dog’s devotion to her puppy never wavered. It was a love that transcended the physical pain, a love that refused to be extinguished, no matter the circumstances.
Her story is a reminder of the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child, a bond that can endure even the most difficult of trials. The trauma she endured, both emotionally and physically, serves as a testament to the strength of a mother’s love. It also calls upon us to do better, to be more aware of the suffering that many animals endure under human care, and to act with compassion and empathy to prevent such pain in the future.
As we reflect on this heartbreaking story, let it ignite a sense of responsibility within us to protect all creatures in our care. The mother dog’s resilience, despite the overwhelming circumstances, is a testament to the love and sacrifice mothers make for their children. Let her story remind us of the importance of kindness, compassion, and the duty we have to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
