Angelika’s Translated Letter To FDF-“Children’s Fantasies Fulfilled”
Dear Foundation!
My name is Angelika Olwert and I’m seventeen and live in Brodnica (a small town near Toruń). I have been thinking about writing to you for a long time but I was hesitant because there are a lot of sick kids and all of them have fantasies and dreams…
Since birth I have been suffering from cystic fibrosis. This illness causes the slow deterioration of my lungs and pancreas and most of my time is spent in hospital having treatment and rehabilitation. I live for today so I don’t have any plans for the future. You never know what can happen tomorrow. In my spare time I like to spend happy moments with my friends, but it is not often possible because of my condition.
I study at High School (individual lessons) and my favorite subject is biology. I have dreams like any other teenage girl but I don’t know if they can ever come true… As I mentioned I live for today and it is difficult to plan anything with such an uncertain future and I am trying to be happy for every day of my life.
My biggest fantasy is to go to Canada. Very often as I lie in bed I imagine and think of places I could visit, things I could see and in my dreams I choose the trails I would like to hike… I would like to be a tourist, I love seeing new places and meeting new people, I am fascinated with different cultures, I would like to know what people’s lives are like in a country so far away from mine.
Unfortunately all of my parents’ spare money is used for treatments - mine and my brother’s, who also has cystic fibrosis - so my travels and adventures are only dreams…. But if it happens that I’m ever there I would like to sight-see interesting places that will stay in my memories forever. I would like to get to know the culture, customs, history and see the natural beauty of this big country, but most of all I would like to meet my peers and try to communicate in English with them. I would like to see how their school looks and feels like and imagine that I am like one of them - for a short while. My other big dream is to see the ocean which I have never seen and feel the cool breeze on my face or even put my feet in the water.
I know one thing, that only thanks to you my dream trip, the travel of my life can come true… because you are those Good Fairies which can make anything happen… Thank you so much for reading my letter.
With regards and hope – Angelika.
Lukasz’s Translated Letter To FDF-“Children’s Fantasies Fulfilled”
Dear FDF-"Children's Fantasies Fulfilled"
My name is Łukasz Kłosowski, I’m fourteen and I live in Szubin, a small town near Bydgoszcz. Since birth I have been suffering from spinal muscular atrophy. In May, it will be three years that I have been cared for by the “Sue Ryder” hospice. Every week I am visited by Dr. Mariusz Wachulski, nurse Sławek and my rehabilitator, Alina. I am in the second year of Junior High School in Szubin, where I have individual lessons and study all the subjects like my peers who go to school - chemistry, biology, geography, physics, math, IT, history, music, art and of course languages - Polish and English. I have the best grades each year!
Unfortunately, because of my condition for many years I haven’t been able to walk or move on my own - I use a wheelchair. I’m interested in zoology and biology. I often travel and go on trips - in my imagination - and I watch a lot of travel programs on TV. I like painting and in my spare time I look after animals and I have a dog, two turtles and a fish tank. I live with my parents, two older sisters and a little niece.
My biggest, biggest fantasy is to go to Canada. I would like to meet new people and get to know their culture and customs. In my dreams I sight-see interesting places and meet my peers because I try to imagine what their school looks like and if they like similar things to me and my friends here.
Many years ago I read a wonderful book from a Canadian writer - Lucy Mount Montgomery - “Ann of Green Gables” - I loved the adventures of this ginger-haired girl. I didn’t dare imagine or dream that I could ever see Avonlea and Prince Edward Island…
I have never seen the ocean and I know that Canada is surrounded by three oceans – Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean. Oh Canada, such a beautiful and big country must look incredible from the air…
I love animals especially in their natural habitats. My other favorite subject is biology which I study all the time - I love searching the Internet and reading books on biology. I have a lot of literature and CDs on plants and animals. I have been twice in my life to the zoo in Wrocław, which is the biggest zoo in Poland. I wonder if in Canada where the climate is a little bit different if I could see any animals in their natural environment.
Thank you for reading my letter. I hope my dream will come true…
All the best to all Foundation employees and friends who make it happen –
