SINCE “MARIA SKLODOWSKA CURIE” (OR BUDIMEX) HOSPITAL WAS OPENED TWENTY YEARS AGO, THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN HAVE PASSED THROUGH ITS DOORS. EACH CHILD HAD HIS OR HER OWN SPECIAL STORY BUT NONE SO UNUSUAL AS THAT OF DANUT.

THIS LITTLE BOY ARRIVED AS AN ABANDONED BABY HAVING BIG PHYSICAL HANDICAPS. HIS FEET WERE MIS-SHAPED, HE HAD NO KNEES NOR HIP-JOINTS!

FROM THE START HE WAS SO VERY FORTUNATE, FOR, THE DOCTOR IN CHARGE OF HIS “FLOOR” WAS NOT ONLY CLEVER AND HARD-WORKING BUT HE REALLY CARED FOR ALL HIS PATIENTS. DANUT SEEMED TO DRAW THE ATTENTION AND LOVE OF ALL THE NURSES AND CARERS TOO!

ABOVE ALL, HE HAD A BRILLIANT SURGEON IN CHARGE OF HIS “CASE”. FIRTSLY, HIS FEET WERE OPERATED AND SPECIAL SHOES FITTED. NEXT, AND BY DEGREES, HE HAD TWO HIP-JOINTS FITTED.

DANUT IS FIERCELY DETERMINED AND IT WAS WITH AMAZEMENT WE SAW HIM HOLD ON TO A PUSH CHAIR AS HE WALKED ALONG THE CORRIDOR AND, LATER, OUTSIDE. NOW HE AWAITS THE KNEE OPERATION.

ALL THIS TIME IT WAS NOTED THAT DANUT WAS BRIGHT AND FAST TO LEARN. IT WAS REALIZED THAT HE NEEDED MUCH MORE THAN THE HOSPITAL ATMOSPHERE.

EVEN BEING SURROUNDED BY LOVE AND CARE, HE NEEDED EDUCATION.

DOCTOR AND STAFF DECIDED THAT THE TIME WAS RIGHT FOR DANUT TO GO TO A NURSERY SCHOOL CLOSE TO THE HOSPITAL.

THE DAY FOR THAT BIG STEP ARRIVED! SUCH ENTHUSIASM AND EMOTION AMONGST THE STAFF. ONE NURSE, WITH A TEAR IN HER EYE SAID “OUR BABY IS SETTING OUT FOR HIS FIRST DAY IN SCHOOL”!

DOCTOR IN CHARGE STOOD LIKE A PARENT TO HAVE A PHOTO
TAKEN THEN HE AND ALL THE STAFF WAVED “GOOD-BYE”.

DANUT, RELISHING THE EXCITEMENT, REPLIED WITH A WAVE OF THE HAND AND CALLED “PA” TO ALL. A 4 YEAR OLD OFF TO SCHOOL!

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR HIM BUT WE PRAY FOR HEALTH, STRENGTH AND FOR GOD'S FATHERLY CARE AND GUIDANCE FOR HIM THROUGH THE YEARS AHEAD.