Light to Michal’s Steps on a New Path in Life

A friend called me and said, "You don’t know it yet, but you’re coming with us for the weekend!" I was twenty. I told him, "Are you crazy? Me and kids? That’s just not a thing." Well, 27 years have passed, and I’m still involved with these groups. Because I quickly realized it’s what keeps me going. — June 8, 2021, Humans of Prague

That’s how it all started, and it went on for over 30 years. Michal is an inspiring person who worked with children and young people until a few years ago. In 2021, after a "rescue" operation, his health began to deteriorate rapidly. Unfortunately, in recent years, he has developed moderate to severe neurodegenerative diseases with cognitive impairment, which means he has trouble navigating space, recognizing objects, planning, problem-solving, and organizing anything. The worst impact is on his concentration and, most of all, his short-term memory. In other words, sometimes he doesn’t know where he is or even who he is.

Michal is an only child. He has no family other than his 88-year-old mother, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and is currently in professional care. He had a few romances, but never found ‘the one’ to start his own family with, so he devoted all his time, love, and care to the youth groups, which became his extended family. Over the years, he guided several generations of children, helped create countless wonderful days at camp activities, and wrote several framework games that have inspired other groups as well. Beyond that, he composed dozens of songs, such as Mágův hlas, wrote several sci-fi short stories like Slza Aridova, and countless poems.

Now is the right time to give back to Michal and help him find light for his new beginning in the toughest stage of his life.

How Will the Collected Funds Be Used?

• For housing – Michal’s disability pension, even with some support, just isn’t enough to cover everything.
• For a suitable care facility – He can’t live on his own anymore, so we’re looking for a good place for him, but those can be really expensive.
• For special needs – Because, at this point, they’re simply a must.
• For supervision – To make sure he sees his doctors regularly, eats, drinks (he’s lost a lot of weight—down from 4XL to XL/L in just a year), and most importantly, takes his blood-thinning meds, which are crucial for him.
• For everyday essentials – Clothes, shoes, hygiene products, and all the basics for daily life.
• For rehab and extra treatments – Things like spa therapy and other helpful procedures that insurance won’t cover.

Basically, it’s all about giving Michal the best life possible—helping him afford whatever he needs to stay safe, comfortable, and well.