Humanitarian Foundation BUDI HUMAN - Aleksandar Šapić

raises funds for Jelena Kostić (1986).

At the age of less than 14, Jelena experienced a serious traffic accident that left her completely disabled. A strong blow to the car and improper transport to the hospital further worsened her health condition, so an emergency transport to Niš followed. However, despite the efforts of doctors in Niš, Jelena's heart stopped.  She was resuscitated  and the heart started beating again, but that was just the beginning of problems for Jelena.

After arriving at the Clinical Center in Niš, it turned out that the magnetic resonance imaging that had been necessary to determine the severity of the injury was out of order, so her parents had to make the hardest decision of their lives, risk another heart attack on the way to Belgrade or stay in Niš without knowing the extent of injuries and determine the exact course of treatment. They took responsibility and urgently transported her to Belgrade.

The magnetic resonance imaging finding was not promising at all, the spinal cord was injured, it controls motor skills, arms and legs, as well as most of the vegetative functions, of which breathing and heartbeat are the most important.

According to the doctor, the magnetic resonance imaging and additional diagnostics there were no hope for recovery. Measures had been taken to prevent further deterioration of health, suggestions for rehabilitation and treatment had been given, but parents and Jelena were being prepared that she would spend the rest of her life in bed completely dependent on other people's care and help, and at best she could hope for a life in a wheelchair.

With a diagnosis of Quadriplegia, Jelena was referred to the Clinic "Dr. Miroslav Zotović ”in Belgrade, where she spent a year. During that time, she finished the 8th grade in hospital, prepared the entrance exams for enrollment in high school and practiced hard.

Despite poor initial diagnoses and predictions, with hard work and a  determination to recover as much as possible so that she could help other people with disabilities after high school and college, Jelena managed to restore arm mobility and partial leg mobility with strong will and perseverance. She learned to write again, to eat on her own, but also to stand a little with the help of others.

Unfortunately, her condition has worsened. Lack of finances, the situation with Covid19 made her stop exercising for a while, as a result of which she experienced daily painful spasms and cramps, muscle shortening, and to a large extent, she was again dependent on the help of others  to perform daily activities.

Jelena was offered rehabilitation in a polyclinic in Novi Sad, where she would be able to get back on her feet with the help of physical therapy, modern neurorehabilitation and robotics.

The cost of therapy exceeds her financial resources, so this way she asks all generous people to help her get back on her feet and live a fulfilled life without pain and limitations.

Jelena needs funds for specialist and control examinations, rehabilitation that includes physical therapy, robotics and neurorehabilitation, as well as for travelling and accommodation costs.

May Jelena walk again! Let's be humane!

Let's help Jelena!