Katerina Valaskova
Katerina’s Story
From the time Katerina was born in the Czech Republic, physical suffering was part of her daily life. More cruelly, she suffered such heartbreaking ridicule and revulsion from other children that she was excluded from school due to the disruption her presence caused. “Kacka” was born with Pfeiffer Syndrome, caused by genetic mutation that put pressure on her brain, caused breathing obstruction and threatened her sight, hearing and speech development. Yet, like so many, Kacka’s parents were of limited financial means and there was no doctor with the necessary specialized skills available to treat her.
WCF arranged initial treatment for Kacka in 2003 with Medical City Dallas, International Craniofacial Institute, Neurosurgeons for Children, and Anesthesia Resources for Children. A few years later, Kacka returned to Dallas when she needed emergency surgery for a life-threatening condition which caused her brain to drop into her spinal column, causing increasing numbness and eventual paralysis. Once the Chiari Malformation was corrected, Kacka faced additional surgeries to advance the mid-portion of her face and provide an adequate airway and protect her eyes.
Today, Kacka is a new girl! She returned home in October 2007 surprising her father, grandmother and friends with the “new Kacka”. Her mother tells us, “Kacka still isn’t quite used to her new identity, but she knows that it is much better and she is very happy now.”
