"If Mia-Joleen could just say Mama to me": Now she flies to the dolphins for therapy

Created: 08/17/2022, 21:28

Yay - we're going to the Caribbean for dolphin therapy!

Natascha Schwarze (left), Mia-Joleen and her younger sister Chelsey are happy about the success of the benefit tournament.

That Franziska Benzin (right) set up with FV Eschersheim.

© rainer rüffer

A charity football tournament enables Mia-Joleen (9) to receive important therapy.

The girl from Frankfurt is terminally ill.

Frankfurt – "If Mia-Joleen could just say mom to me, that would make me the happiest mother in the world," says Natascha Schwarze, looking into the special stroller with the pink hood that's next to her.

In which Mia-Joleen is sitting and beaming at her mom with her big saucer eyes.

She would certainly like to answer her mother now.

Hug her and tell her everything will be fine.

But the nine-year-old can't do that.

Because she suffers from Rett syndrome, her development is disturbed, learned skills have disappeared, as reported by fnp.de.

The diagnosis came six years ago, and on Maundy Thursday 2016, Natascha Schwarzer and Mia-Joleen's father, from whom she has since separated, found out about the incurable disease her daughter is suffering from.

"That was one of the worst moments in my life," says the young mother and has to swallow.

Frankfurt: Day of the Rett Syndrome diagnosis "one of the worst moments in my life"

Since they had already completed a two-year medical marathon, nobody could tell them why the little girl wasn't developing like other children her age.

When other children took their first steps at one year old, Mia-Joleen couldn't even roll over.

Then Schwarze became aware, she went to the pediatrician and was referred to the social pediatric center, where, after numerous examinations, the diagnosis of Rett syndrome was made.

donation account

A donation account was set up to enable Mia-Joleen to receive further therapies: Delfine therapieren Menschen eV;

IBAN: DE52 3005 0110 0020 0024 24;

BIC DUSSDEDDXXX (Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf);

Purpose: Mia-Joleen Jennifer Black.

Since then, the nine-year-old has been receiving physiotherapy, ergotherapy and speech therapy and medication for the epileptic seizures.

And: As early as next year she will be able to do dolphin therapy.

In Curaçao, in the Caribbean.

Franziska Benzin helped make this possible.

20 years old and now not only Mia-Joleen's girlfriend, but also that of Mama Natascha and younger sister Chelsey (8).

She met the fun-loving girl during her voluntary social year at the Viktor Frankl School.

"There was an immediate connection. We were both new, maybe that also welded us together," says Franziska, kneeling next to the stroller and stroking the girl's hair.

Frankfurt: Therapy for Mia-Joleen costs 8,000 euros

Mia-Joleen's fate has concerned her, even more so when she met her single mother.

"I wanted to help," says the young woman and made a plan.

She wanted to organize a benefit tournament at FV Eschersheim.

She has been playing football there since she was 13 years old.

She quickly had the board of directors on her side, and within a few weeks she had set up the tournament and the raffle.

"It was very exhausting, but it was also a lot of fun," says Franziska.

The tournament took place on a hot weekend in mid-June, and a total of 54 children's and youth teams played against each other.

Both the entry fee and all other proceeds flowed into a cash register.

For Mia Joleen.

Donation boxes were also set up.

Only so that the girl can be given the dolphin therapy that is so important.

That costs 8,000 euros, as Natascha Schwarze explains.

Plus flights and accommodation for 10 to 14 days.

Meals not included.

"It's a sum I can't afford and the health insurance doesn't cover it," she says.

Mia-Joleen (9) from Frankfurt suffers from Rett Syndrome: "Thank you. Thank you all"

The benefit tournament raised 5,370 euros, slightly more than the sums that the family was still missing.

Natascha Schwarze looks at the check incredulously, then hugs Franziska.

"Thank you. Thank you all," she says, then hugs her two daughters.

"We're going to the dolphins. Mia-Joleen, are you happy?" She asks, knowing full well that she won't get an answer.

Although that's not entirely true, the nine-year-old's eyes shine even more.

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Like Franziska's.

She's at least as happy.

"I think it's a shame when children don't get something like that just because the parents couldn't afford it financially. I wanted to counteract that and give Mia-Joleen the opportunity," she says.

And: She will accompany the family.

On what might be her greatest adventure.

(Judith Dietermann)

"We will not give up": Another family from Frankfurt is also fighting for their seriously ill children.