He is everything to us
Stefan is nine years old. He dreams of becoming an astronaut. But to get there, he needs us
- English
- Română
In the town of Isaccea in Tulcea County, a mother and father are carefully raising their two children, a girl and a boy. Stefan is only nine years old. They live from day to day, with few resources but a lot of love.
When Elena, Ștefan's mother, looks at her child, her heart is full and heavy at the same time. He is a child with big, expressive eyes, but the silence that surrounds him worries her more and more. He doesn't say a word, and his silence weighs heavily on his mother's heart.
"When he was three years old, I realized he was different. He didn't talk, he didn't play with other children. He was so quiet, too quiet."
They took him to the doctor. They hoped it was just a delay that he would catch up on. But the diagnosis hit them hard, like a ton of bricks: nonverbal autism.
Since then, Elena's life has been a struggle. Years of expensive therapy followed, long journeys, moving from one city to another in search of the best specialists. Then came the pandemic. Isolation. The whole world seemed to be closing in, but their struggle did not stop.
All this time, Elena sought to give Stefan the joy of childhood. Even though some children did not accept him, she took him to the park, sought to integrate him, to help him make friends. Whenever she wanted something, she found a way. There was never a 'it's not possible'. Although he has begun to make progress in speaking, his mother is often the only one who understands him.
Now, every morning begins with a new effort. His mother accompanies him to school every day. Stefan is full of energy and doesn't sit still in his desk. Sometimes it's hard for the teacher, but Elena stays there, next to him, ready to help him every day. 'I support him. I don't want to leave him.'
The biggest challenge is that there are no specialists in their town. Elena would like to see more services in their community for children with disabilities, because each of these children needs help and people who will fight for them.
Today, a therapist manages to visit the village once a week, with the support of the social worker. After two hours of therapy, the rest of the work continues at home.
Every evening, when they make plans before bedtime, Stefan tells her that he wants to become an astronaut.
'We're not giving up. It's for his own good.'
UNICEF in Ștefan's life
For every child like Stefan, the road is hard. But together we can make it easier.
Stefan and other children like him have the right to dignity. They need the warm, discreet, and life-saving help that a social worker can bring to their lives and their families, guiding the family and helping Ștefan access the specialized services he needs: speech therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and medical services. Today, you can touch their lives with your gesture.
The support provided by social workers is essential in helping vulnerable families have a better life. Visit www.stefan.unicef.ro now and set up a monthly donation. Help Stefan and other vulnerable children access the services they need with the help of social workers. Thank you.
