By Birgit Buerkner
Pia (11) often has the same dream: she screams, but no one can hear her. Perhaps it is their helplessness and anger that seeks expression at night.
The girl from Fürstenwalde slowly but inevitably loses the skills she has learned.
But during the day Pia fights and is strong. Fate cannot take away her courage!
When Pia plays in her room, she doesn’t think about her illness for a short time Photo: Stefanie Herbst
In 2018, doctors found a tumor in her brain, a medulloblastoma common in children. The tumor was located in the cerebellum (responsible for motor functions, coordination and language) and in the brainstem (controls heart rate, blood pressure, breathing) and was the size of a tangerine.
In a ten-hour operation, the neurosurgeons at the Charité removed the malignant cells. A small residue remained in the brainstem. That’s why Pia received radiation and chemotherapy.
Pia at the dolphin therapy in Curaçao in November Photo: private
But when the girl beat cancer, a destructive process started in her brain: tissue wasting, medically called atrophy.
On the dolphin therapy flight, she was allowed to visit the cockpit Photo: private
The coordination of holding a pen between your fingers and writing becomes more difficult for Pia every day. Your memory is getting worse and worse. She forgets what she is about to say or what day it is. She can no longer walk distances longer than 200 meters. “Pia reaches her limits in every area of everyday life,” says her mother Jennifer B. (32). “When she realizes she can’t do something anymore, she gets sad and angry with herself.”
Pia can only walk short distances and needs a wheelchair for longer distances Photo: Stefanie Herbst
Again and again Pia says quietly and desperately: “I would like to be like the other children.”
She needs training several times a week to improve balance and coordination. At the moment, however, Jennifer B. cannot drive her to the therapies. Because the single mother’s car broke down. She therefore collects donations for a wheelchair-accessible car on the Gofundme platformin which Pia’s wheelchair also fits.
The aid organization “Ein Herz für Kinder” supports the campaign with 5000 euros.
This year, Pia doesn’t want to send a wish list to Santa Claus. She thinks he knows what she wants: to be healthy Photo: Stefanie Herbst
Jennifer B.: “For me, the most important thing is to see Pia happy.”
If you want to help: https://www.gofundme.com/f/der-rehajogger-muss-mit-knnt-ihr-helfen