At just nine years old, Petronela, a little girl from a village in Neamț County, has already undergone five operations and is preparing for the next one.
She was born with a condition that prevents her hands from developing properly: her forearms are shorter, and her tendons cannot keep up with her growth.
Her father, Ciprian, remembers that the first operation was also the most difficult. When she was four years old, doctors "put a distractor with rods and an Allen key" on her, which, when turned every few days, helped the tendon in her right hand to lengthen, while her forearm straightened little by little.
But Petronela does not show any fear of hospitals or doctors. Nor does she seem afraid of the long months of recovery required. She lives her childhood with a smile on her face. She doesn't talk about pain, she acts: she writes, draws, and enjoys riding her bike. These simple actions hide the enormous effort that Petronela makes every day.
Alongside the family is community social worker Florin, who has offered them support and hope from the very beginning. He has guided them in obtaining disability benefits and accessing other social services and benefits. For Petronela and other vulnerable children, the support of a social worker means access to medical, social, and educational services.
Petronela's needs are complex, and only with long-term support can she continue the treatments and therapies on which her health so greatly depends. Today, you can help Petronela and other children like her to remain courageous in the face of the challenges brought on by their diagnoses.
Set up a monthly donation now. Your gift helps vulnerable children access the services they need, with the support of social workers.
Donate now and give hope to vulnerable children like Petronela.
Thank you.
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What impact could my monthly donation make?
Your monthly support regularly provides children in need with...
Access to social protection services
Access to medical services
Specialized services for disabled children
Educational support and resources
Frequently Asked Questions
UNICEF is the United Nations Children’s Fund, working to protect and promote the rights of every child, everywhere. We work to help the most vulnerable with health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more.
Thanks to support from donors like you, we have been able to make a difference for children in need, to save, nurture, and protect the most vulnerable. We are active in over 190 countries and territories and have helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization.
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