Little Matthew’s story

Happiness is now closer for Matei Câzu, the almost three-year-old boy who underwent complex surgery in the United States. After months of emotion, hope and a joint effort by his parents and the community, Matei is back home with a chance for a better future.

Matei suffers from cerebral palsy, more specifically mixed spastic tetraparesis, a condition that makes it difficult for him to move and limits his ability to walk independently. He was saved by the famous Dr. TS Park, a specialist in selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a procedure designed to reduce spasticity and give the child the freedom to move without pain.

A Challenging Road

The road to surgery was not without obstacles. Before the operation, Matthew had to go through a difficult time: an unexplained fever, antibiotic treatments and postponed surgery. It was a difficult ordeal for the family, who watched every medical decision with bated breath.

„I’m in the US, he was supposed to have surgery on Wednesday, but he developed a fever (no cause detected yet), they put him on antibiotics. The Americans are backing down. Diagnosis: cerebral palsy in the form of mixed spastic tetraparesis – he requires spinal surgery (SDR – selective dorsal rhizotomy) to remove the spasticity at the Children’s Hospital in Saint Louis (USA). Dr. TS Park has not yet decided on orthopedic surgery, given that Matthew is still too young, but it is possible that after SDR the child will also need PERCS (but that’s another matter, with different money),” said Matthew’s father, overcome with emotion.

Even in the face of these obstacles, the parents never stopped fighting for their son’s chance to go. Their efforts, the support of the community and the professionalism of the St. Louis medical team finally made the surgery happen, and the results are encouraging.

A Chance for a Better Life

The operation was successful and Matthew has already started to make remarkable progress. Even Dr. TS Park himself was delighted with the little boy’s rapid progress, which gives the parents huge hope for the future.

Returning home was an emotional moment. After many months of preparation, stress and worry, Matthew and his parents were finally able to enjoy the peace of mind that they were together and that the future was bright. The little boy with the dull hair now has a real chance to step out on his own and experience his childhood in a more normal way.

Community Support – A Collective Wonder

Matei’s story wouldn’t have had this happy ending without the help of kind-hearted people who contributed to raising the funds needed for the intervention. Hundreds of donors mobilized to give this child the chance of a better life, showing that together we can work miracles.

The St. Thecla Foundation played a key role in this effort, supporting Matei’s family throughout the whole process. Every donation, every kind thought and every prayer contributed to this success.

“We thank for the generosity of all those who donated for Matei, and also the St. Thecla Foundation, who stood by our hero!”, said the family of the child.

What’s Next for Matthew?

Although the surgery was a success, the road to recovery continues. There are months of intensive physiotherapy, daily exercises and a lot of patience. There is also the possibility that Matthew may need another orthopedic surgery in the future to correct some of the problems that may arise as he grows.

However, the rapid progress he has made so far shows that this little hero is ready to face any challenge. His determination, the unconditional love of his parents and the support of his community will help him move forward, literally and figuratively.

A Life Lesson

Matthew’s story is an example of courage, determination and solidarity. It reminds us all how important it is to stand by those in need and that together we can make the impossible possible.

Matei has taken the first step towards a better life. With our help, he can take the next.