Marcelinka Szrót: A Little Girl Still Fighting — and a Family Holding Onto Hope. Hyn
For the first time in a long while, Marcelinka’s parents were finally able to share something other than fear and heartbreak. After months filled with hospital corridors, emergency surgeries, and sleepless nights, a fragile sense of calm entered their lives.
“Our Marcelinka is still fighting,” they wrote, “but the last few months have been a little kinder and calmer.”
The lump doctors discovered in her intestines — a finding that instantly reignited every parent’s worst nightmare — turned out not to be cancer. Marcelinka underwent surgery to remove it, and for now, everything is stable. It was a moment of relief they desperately needed, a rare pause in a battle that has defined their daughter’s young life.
But even in this calmer chapter, fear never truly disappears.
Although the intestinal crisis has settled for now, Marcelinka’s parents know they are living with a ticking time bomb. Her condition can worsen at any moment. Stability, in their world, does not mean safety — it simply means time. Time to breathe. Time to heal. Time to prepare for what may come next.
Today, the oncological situation remains stable, but the greatest challenge has shifted to something just as daunting: preserving Marcelinka’s ability to move. Her spine and legs require constant care, intensive daily rehabilitation, and specialized orthotics. Without them, she struggles to move independently. Every day is filled with exercises — not play — all aimed at keeping her body from giving up.
Marcelinka is under the constant supervision of a long list of specialists. Recently, a urologist was added to that list. Another MRI is scheduled for March, bringing with it the familiar anxiety that accompanies every scan. Yet through it all, Marcelinka continues to surprise everyone around her. She is gaining weight. She is growing. She is managing life with a stoma. And, most importantly, she smiles — wide, genuine smiles that remind her parents why they keep fighting.
“She’s a true warrior,” they say. And anyone who has followed her journey knows those words are not an exaggeration.
Just weeks earlier, that fragile calm was shattered again.
In November 2024, Marcelinka was rushed into another emergency bowel surgery. Adhesions from previous operations had caused painful lumps, twisting her intestines and leading to a dangerous obstruction. What was meant to be a brief escape from hospital life — even a long-awaited family vacation — ended abruptly under bright operating room lights.
Doctors made it clear: surgery was not a permanent solution. It was only buying time. Marcelinka would likely need several more operations in the future.
After surgery, she woke in pain so severe that she required high doses of morphine every day. Her gait worsened as well — weeks without orthotics meant her body had to readjust once again, painfully and slowly. The only small comfort was one piece of good news: her spinal curvature had not progressed. The exhausting, daily rehabilitation was working.
But it comes at a staggering cost.
Marcelinka’s monthly treatment and rehabilitation expenses reach nearly 30,000 złoty. Medications, therapies, equipment, dressings — the list never ends. For her parents, this burden is overwhelming. They have had no choice but to organize large fundraising campaigns, knowing that without help, their daughter’s condition would be far worse.
This has been their reality for years.
What began as a routine checkup turned into a nightmare when an ultrasound revealed a massive pelvic tumor. Marcelinka was just thirteen months old when doctors discovered a 10-centimeter teratoma extending into her spinal canal. Within moments, her life — and her family’s — shifted from normalcy to oncology wards.
Chemotherapy followed. Then surgery. The tumor was malignant and resistant. Though much of it was removed in a high-risk operation, part of it remained embedded in her spine. Complications came one after another. Recovery was long, painful, and incomplete.
Today, Marcelinka lives with paralysis in one leg, low muscle tone, neurogenic bowel disease, and daily medical routines most adults would struggle to endure. Her childhood is measured in procedures, not milestones. And yet, she keeps going.
Her parents continue to fight — for her health, her mobility, her future. They know the road ahead is still uncertain and filled with challenges. But they also know they are not alone.
“Thank you for everything,” they write again and again. “Without you, Marcelinka would be in much worse shape.”
This story is not just about illness.
It is about endurance.
About a child who keeps smiling despite pain.
And about a community whose support turns fear into hope, one day at a time.
Marcelinka’s battle is far from over. But today, she is still here. Still fighting. Still smiling.
And for her family, that is everything.
Shevi Lynn: A Tiny Warrior with a Giant Heart.1414
From the very beginning, Shevi Lynn has been a fighter. Even before she entered the world, doctors knew her journey would be extraordinary. Diagnosed
in utero with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) — a severe congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is underdeveloped — and 18p- syndrome, a rare chromosomal disorder, Shevi’s life was destined to be full of challenges, uncertainty, and, ultimately, hope.
Born on January 14th, Shevi’s family quickly realized that each day with their daughter would be precious and unpredictable. Just days after her birth, she underwent her first heart procedure, a delicate operation to give her tiny heart the chance to survive outside the womb. For most families, a newborn’s first days are filled with wonder and gentle routines. For Shevi’s family, those days were filled with monitors, medical decisions, and a deep, unwavering commitment to her survival.
But this was only the beginning of her remarkable journey. Over the following months, Shevi faced additional health challenges that would test even the strongest of hearts. Her family relocated from South Dakota to Michigan, and later to Minnesota, in pursuit of specialized care and the best possible treatment for their daughter. Alongside her heart condition, Shevi bravely battled
Biliary Atresia, a serious liver disorder, Hyperinsulinism, and multiple infections. She underwent the Kasai procedure in hopes of prolonging her liver function — a complex surgery with risks and complications that added to the already delicate balance of her care.
Now, Shevi faces one of the rarest and most complex medical paths imaginable: a dual heart and liver transplant. This extraordinary procedure is so uncommon that in the past thirty years, it has only been performed once before in a baby under one year old. The enormity of this challenge could be overwhelming, yet Shevi continues to face each day with remarkable courage, inspiring all who know her story.
Throughout every surgery, every hospital stay, and every moment of uncertainty, Shevi’s parents have been her constant anchors. Her mother and father have made unimaginable sacrifices — leaving jobs, uprooting routines, and traveling hours from home — just to be by her side. Their devotion has never wavered, providing comfort, hope, and a steady presence through the countless medical interventions, sleepless nights, and moments of fear. Even when facing impossible decisions, they navigate her care with grace, patience, and an unwavering focus on her well-being.
Being so far from home comes with not only emotional strain but also significant financial pressure. The costs of travel, lodging, meals, and daily bills quickly add up, leaving families like Shevi’s carrying burdens on top of their already overwhelming emotional load. This is where the power of community and support becomes critical.
Thanks to the generosity of supporters during our spring silent auction, Hope for Hearts and Hannah’s Gift of Hope were able to provide Shevi’s family with financial assistance, lifting some of the stress and allowing them to focus on what truly matters: being present with their daughter, supporting her care, and celebrating every small victory along the way.
In their own words, Shevi’s family shared:
“With the Hope for Hearts donation, it helps us keep up on our bills at home while we are 4 hours away with our daughter. You have no idea what this means to us. Every little thing really helps during a time like this.”
These words speak volumes about the importance of generosity, kindness, and community support. They highlight how even a small act of compassion can provide relief, comfort, and hope when families are navigating some of the most challenging circumstances imaginable.
Shevi’s journey is far from ordinary. Each procedure she undergoes, each day she continues to fight, and every tiny milestone she reaches reflects a remarkable combination of courage, resilience, and the power of love. Her story reminds us that even in the darkest, most uncertain moments, hope persists, and the support of caring individuals can make an enormous difference.
We are honored to announce Shevi Lynn as our first Hannah’s Gift of Hope recipient for June. Her courage, her family’s devotion, and the support of our community embody everything this program represents — lifting burdens, spreading hope, and proving that no family has to face extraordinary challenges alone.
💖 Though Shevi may be small, her heart, her spirit, and her journey leave a giant mark on everyone who follows her story, reminding us that love, resilience, and hope can conquer even the most impossible odds. 💖
