The parents of a Scots toddler born with two bladders and uteri are desperately fundraising for treatment that could be their daughter's 'last chance' at life.
Mia Solomiewicz suffers excruciating pain every single day and has already had three surgeries since she was born on December 14, 2020, to try and alleviate problems with her kidney and bowels. The two-year-old also has ileostomy, high blood pressure and requires specialised milk and medications to keep her alive.
She is currently fed through a syringe by her parents Kinga Chmielewska and Karol Solomiewicz, who fear she may not wake up every time they tuck her into bed. Now, the couple are raising cash to fly to their native Poland and meet one of the country's top doctors, who they hope will be able to save their little girl.
Speaking to Glasgow Live, mum Kinga said: "Mia was born with two bladders, two uteri and a stoma. She looks like a pregnant child and is still being fed through syringes because she can't swallow properly.
"I'm crying everyday because I don't know what else I can do. Sometimes I feel like I want to give up."
Kinga and Karol, who live in Newton Mearns, were initially overjoyed when doctors told them that they were pregnant with twins. However, they later faced significant problems with the pregnancy, with doctors explaining that their daughter had several of her vital organs on the outside of her body.
Kinga, now aged 39, explained: "They told me when I was five months pregnant that there was something wrong. Mia survived but my other child did not.
"They said she would need surgery as soon as she was born."
Since her birth, Mia has been in and out of hospital due to her rare condition and spent both her first Christmas and birthday undergoing treatment. The youngster suffers agonising pain everyday and has never been able to attend nursery or any clubs that would allow her to make friends with other children.
Mia's parents want nothing more than for her to enjoy a normal childhood, but they are forced to limit the things she can do because of the risk to her health.
Kinga explained: "She doesn't have any life right now, she can't do anything. Mia wants to go to the soft play but she can't.
"Mia loves music and she would love to swim. She is very cuddly and would love to hug other kids her age.
"But she isn't allowed to do anything kids her own age does. She sits at home all day.
"Sometimes when we go shopping she gets excited when she sees other kids. We also need to control how much she is walking because it causes so much pain and cramps.
"When she is outside she just wants to run around but after 15 minutes we need to stop her. As parents we can't even play with her."
Karol added: "We can't take her out because of the risk of infection. When she asks for something and I have to tell her no, my heart breaks.
"She has been to nursery for one hour in her life and she loved it. But she caught an infection and hasn't been able to return.
"It has been so hard because we are in hospital at least once a week."
Their daughter's health battle has also taken a toll on both Kinga and Karol, who have both had to sacrifice their work life in order to care for her.
The loving mum said: "She has gone unconscious a number of times due to the amount of pain she is in.
"Mia hasn't been sleeping or eating and she can get extremely dehydrated. She is vomiting all the time and it is heartbreaking to watch. My husband is registered blind so I also need to help him and it can make me feel really drained because I don't sleep."
Karol added: "I have been prescribed anti-depressant tablets because of everything.
"We were told that Mia had a hernia but they couldn't do anything because her muscles weren't strong enough. However, we were then told that she never had a hernia
"It was later found out that the stoma had infected the inside because it wasn't working. She was close to death."
The family have been told by the NHS that it will be a few years before they can operate on Mia and attempt to reverse the stoma. However, her parents are now hoping to meet with a top doctor in their native Poland who specialises in complicated cases.
In order to afford the treatment - which could potentially cost tens of thousands of pounds - the couple have started a fundraiser which has already received an incredible amount of support.
Kinga said: "She has a British Passport so the operation isn't free. Our best option is to raise the money. It is three steps and we have a consultation on June 5.
"I'm absolutely terrified that we may not be able to afford it. This surgery is the last chance for her. I just hope we make it to Poland."
Karol added: "The first step is £15,000 but then we have to pay for flights, accommodation and later scans. The person we are seeing is one of the best doctors in Poland and he specialises in complex cases.
"It usually takes a long time to see him but he listened to our story and he booked us in. However, this is just the start for us."
The loving mother and father hope that the operation will finally allow Mia to attend nursery and play with her outside.
The Newton Mearns mum said: "My dream is to have a normal life with no pain, no tears. I can't remember when I had a full nights sleep.
"I just want to make my daughter better and happy."
A spokesperson for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: "While we do not discuss individual cases for reasons of patient confidentiality, the medical needs of our patients are central to the treatment we provide, and we will continue to engage with and support Mia and her family wherever possible."
To donate to the GoFundMe click here.
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