The Banicki Family

Location: Gniezno

Timeline: On-going

Status: Currently operating

Topics: Niemann-Pick Disease, Children with Disabilities

The Description

The Banicki family, exemplary servants to their church and community in Gniezno face challenges above that of the ordinary family attempting to make ends meet in a post-Communist Poland. Michael Banicki, their eldest son (who went home to be with the Lord in November), suffered from a degenerative disease called Niemann-Pick Disease (Type C) which causes a slow, painful deterioration of nervous system functions. Most children with this type of disease perish between the ages 5 and 15. Michael was 14. Currently, there is no available cure for the disease although certain measures can improve the victim’s quality of life. Recently, Michael’s younger sister, Eliza - who also has Niemann-Pick, began exhibiting more signs of deterioration in her speech and behavior.

The Need

Time is of the essence for the Banickis. Once the damage is done to the nervous system, it cannot be repaired. New medications on the horizon seem to show signs of slowing the disease’s degenerative effects. The current challenge is to provide access to these medications before it is too late. These newer drugs are currently unavailable in Poland, although even if they were available to the Banicki family, the cost of a one month supply is astronomical.