A March for a Good Cause took place on Saturday, May 18, 2019. Its proceeds went to benefit the three young daughters of the Hráčkovás, who were born prematurely and have been struggling with serious health problems and complications since birth. Their mother, Hana Hráčková, in an interview for the PRAMEN Spa Journal, thanked everyone who participated in the march and contributed to the treatment of her daughters. "Without the help of others, we wouldn't be able to handle all of this so well because we wouldn't have enough financial resources. We really appreciate your help," he says.
The traditional March for a Good Cause from Janské Lázně to Černá hora took place this year for the benefit of your daughters. What did this event mean to you?
We really appreciate that the Vesna Children's Hospital recommended our family for the charity march this year. Any financial means are an incredible help to us. The handicap of all three girls requires enormous expenses. A huge thank you also goes to Mr. Poul from the DUHA Society, a foundation that helps children with cerebral palsy and which, among other things, also organized the March for a Good Cause. Mr. Poul is trying very hard to get even more financial means for the girls, with which we would buy more stimulation and rehabilitation aids. And of course, we would like to thank everyone who contributed, who came and enjoyed it at least as much as we did.
Were you as a family present in Janské Lázně that day?
Yes, we couldn't miss this event.
How did the atmosphere of the whole event affect you?
Janské Lázně became close to our hearts during our winter medical stay. It is a very beautiful city and seeing it in the summer and from a different perspective was a challenge. It was our first mini vacation together and my husband and children enjoyed it very much. A big thank you also goes to Mrs. Slunčíková, with whom we communicated from the beginning and who, among other things, provided us with wonderful accommodation in the Terra spa hotel. I think the walk itself was a great success. It was beautiful and we were lucky to have a perfect guide – Mrs. Pavlíková and a photographer Mr. Křivka, so we had the opportunity not only to see everything, but also to learn something. And what's more, the girls will have a perfect souvenir in the form of beautiful photographs.
A significant outcome of the entire event was the fundraising for the benefit of your daughters. What did you use or will you use the collected funds for?
We used the funds to purchase three special car seats because the little girls could no longer fit in the small "eggs". Unfortunately, none of the girls are sitting yet and it looks like they won't be sitting for some time, so we had a slightly narrowed selection. An important criterion for the selection was the positionability, the variability of tilt positions and the possibility of 360° rotation, which we will especially appreciate, because handling a handicapped child is already quite difficult, and the heavier the girls are, the more difficult it will be. We also purchased a laser projector that helps stimulate the girls' vision and at the same time allows the girls a little relaxation in their demanding daily schedule.
Try to describe what your daughters are struggling with and what health complications and limitations they have to face.
First of all, it is extreme immaturity, because they were born in the 24th week of pregnancy with a birth weight of around half a kilo, and of course, other and other problems are added to that. We have dealt with complications with breathing (respiratory failure), eating disorders, now it is problems with biting and swallowing, difficulty defecating, failure to thrive (at 2,5 years old, he weighs 7 kg - that's how much a healthy child weighs at 8 months). We also deal with issues of vision and hearing and the associated communication (my husband and I are learning sign language). And especially when it comes to psychomotor development, unfortunately he is still very delayed. Therefore, we spend our days more or less at the rehabilitation table or with various stimulating aids, or we are on the road. We travel to see doctors, physiotherapists or specialists throughout Moravia (Brno, Ostrava, Opava, Olomouc, Zlín, Kroměříž, Uherské Hradiště).
How do you manage everything with your husband and your loved ones?
It's true that we have a bit more demanding life, but I think we manage everything very well. My husband is an absolutely wonderful father. He has helped me with everything from the very beginning. He comes home from work and is with us until the evening, until the girls fall asleep. He helps me rehabilitate, feed, change diapers, bathe, ... - absolutely everything. He can perfectly replace me in everything. This is the greatest help that I appreciate immensely, because there are few such conscious and responsible fathers of children. It is also amazing that we have perfect grandmothers who can look after our children, play with them, feed them. A few times a year, we can afford to go somewhere with my husband to relax, for example, to the cinema, the theatre, a concert or just to dinner when we have an anniversary. This is a huge help that we are very grateful for, because relaxing together and "being alone" is extremely important for a relationship. And I think we both try very hard to keep our relationship beautiful even in such a difficult situation.
Are your daughters among the clients of Janské Lázně? How satisfied are you with the spa services here?
This year was our first time at a spa, so we have no way of comparing, but we chose based on reviews, so basically Janské Lázně was the obvious choice. I have to say that we were very satisfied. We couldn't really imagine how everything would go with three children, but I have to say that everything was so perfectly planned that it was manageable without any problems. We really appreciate the amazing professional and kind approach of the doctors, rehabilitation workers, occupational therapists and others who worked with the girls. Everyone was always very pleasant and smiling and, most importantly, they were accommodating. The girls made great progress during that month, which of course makes us the happiest. So we hope that we will be able to go on a rehabilitation stay again soon.
Would you like to say something to the participants of the march and other people who have supported you financially and continue to support you?
The girls have literally fought for their lives. They are incredible fighters and we are doing everything we can to push them as far as possible. Without the help of others, we would not be able to handle it all so well, because we would not have enough financial resources. We really appreciate your help and believe that thanks to you, we will one day get the girls on their feet, teach them to communicate, instill the right values in them and integrate them into society. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
The next March for a Good Cause to Černá hora will take place in May 2020.
