Dear all,

you will have seen that we have already collected 3.200 € between on-line and off-line donations, thanks to the support of all of you promoting this project amongst your contacts and the generosity of 40 donors.

We have so far received 1.040 visits to our campaign “Help Sümeyye”. This means that we still have a big potential of increasing the donated amount, if we simply can reach the sensibility of a fraction of those many visitors and get their contribution, as small as it might be.

Yesterday, we have made a first bank transfer of 2,200 € to Murat Kucuras, Sümeyye’s father. In the picture gallery you can find a copy of the transfer order. It will still take some days until we can withdraw the remaining amount from GoGetFunding, but this is how it works. A next transfer will follow then.

Further to this brief update on the financial side of the campaign, let me transmit to you the latest information Murat has provided us on Sümeyye’s medical condition.

Sümeyye has been recently examined by Prof. Dr. Burak Tatlı, a renowned specialist at Istanbul’s Neurologic Pediatric Hospital. Prof. Tatlı had already visit Sümeyye right after the transplantation and he has been very positive about her development since April. However, he has also been very clear in terms of the tough and long recovery process, which can take several years. The next one to one-and-a-half years will be critical and require intensive physiotherapy and exercise programs.

Sümeyye suffers also a cortical blindness as a consequence of the stroke. This is an almost complete visual blindness, although some primitive vision remains through subcortical structures, which enable her to see great contrasts, lights and movements. There is a chance that she recovers sight as the blood vessels of the cortex develop again, but this process can take as much as two years.The ophthalmologist has indicated that exercising the eye contact will be a key factor for the recovery.

Regarding the feeding, Sümeyye has made some progress and is swallowing some liquid food, but she is still not ready for the nasogastric tube to be removed. The doctor has recommended starting giving her some semi-solid food from time to time, so that she continues learning to swallow.

To help Sümeyye sit upright and not be lying flat all time, the physiotherapist has recommended to get a special seating/balance device. This structure will also be an effective add to help her exercising and strengthening her leg muscles and get her ready to progressively stand straight and later walk. We hopefully will be able to fund this too.

You will find in the picture gallery a drawing Nisa, Sümeyye’s sister, has painted to say ‘thank you’ for all donations.

I will keep on informing you of any new actions and the progress we make.

Thank you again for following us and for your continued support.

Rafa & Team