A miracle we created together – THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

There are moments in life you never forget. Moments that burn into your soul, that make your heart heavy, that take your breath away. A few months ago, our world was exactly that: a place filled with fear, doubt, and despair. We stood in front of mountains that felt impossible to climb. We were fighting for Oliver’s life, while at the same time feeling as if we were running against an invisible wall.

And then came all of you.

And that’s why every sentence in my heart begins with one single word:

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU for not leaving us alone.

THANK YOU for carrying us when we had no strength left.

THANK YOU for seeing what Oliver deserves: a chance.

Together, we achieved something that was absolutely unimaginable just a few months ago. And every time I write about it, my heart whispers again: THANK YOU.

A seven-figure miracle – THANK YOU for making it possible

It still feels unreal to write these words:

We have fully paid the hospital bill.

A seven-figure amount.

A sum bigger than anything we could ever have handled.

A number that stole our sleep every night.

A weight that sat on our chest like a giant stone.

But you helped us move that stone.

You helped break it apart.

Through your donations, your actions, your messages, your local fundraisers, your support, through the Toni Kroos Foundation, through our families, friends, private sales, and the help of complete strangers… something became possible that we never dared to hope for.

And again, that one word echoes:

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU for giving a life its future back.

Oliver lives because you helped.

Oliver breathes safely because you helped.

Oliver continues fighting because you helped.

Every device that protects him.

Every therapy that strengthens him.

Every medical trip that keeps him alive.

Every diagnosis that moves him forward.

It is all an echo of your THANK YOU that is forever written into our lives.

We secured life-supporting equipment, installed emergency power systems, built a new home in Mexico, organized therapies, enabled surgeries, and rebuilt our life step by step — because we had no choice. Because Oliver is our world. And because you gave us the strength.

THANK YOU for that.

Chicago 2026 – The next great hope

After paying the hospital bill, we now look ahead.

In 2026, we must — and we are allowed to — travel twice to Chicago.

Two medical flights.

Two rounds of intensive preparation.

Two hospital admissions.

Two rehabilitation periods.

Two moments of hope.

Oliver will take part in an Experimental Trial — a completely new therapy in which stem cells are injected directly into the spinal cord. It is considered one of the most promising medical developments worldwide under the leadership of Dr. Bydon.

And Oliver is the first child worldwide in his age group to receive this treatment.

This is more than extraordinary.

It is an honour, a moment of medical significance — the kind people will later look back on and say: This is where something began.

The doctors keep telling us how historic this step is. Oliver is not just a little patient. He is a pioneer — a child opening doors to understanding spinal cord injuries in a way we’ve never seen.

Why is it so significant?

Because the data from Oliver’s treatment may one day help many other children and adults.

Because his progress may show how the spinal cord can regenerate.

Because his reactions could open new scientific pathways.

And then there is something even bigger:

Even the FDA — the Food and Drug Administration — has approved and expressed excitement about this trial.

What is the FDA?

It is the most important health authority in the United States. It decides whether medications, treatments, and medical procedures may be used on humans. It reviews safety, effectiveness, risks, and all scientific foundations. Without the FDA’s approval, no treatment like this can be performed in the U.S.

This was the biggest hurdle.

The FDA could have easily said:

“This child is too young. This case is too complex. This procedure is too new.”

But instead, something unbelievable happened:

The FDA is enthusiastic about this possibility.

They see Oliver as a chance — for research, for medicine, for future patients.

They gave full approval.

A moment that gave us goosebumps.

Because now we know:

Oliver’s case is unique in the world.

A medical miracle.

Proof that hope and science sometimes meet exactly at the right moment.

That a little boy can move something the world may learn from.

And that little boy is our Oliver.

As Laura said on TV on RTL:

It is sad that the world meets Oliver in this condition,

but that, too, is the “Oliver Effect.”

A spark of hope that may turn into a flame.

For us.

For other families.

For a future where severe spinal cord injuries no longer mean “never.”

And again, we say it — and will forever say it:

THANK YOU.

The power of the combination: Stem cells + Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

Stem cells alone are not enough.

They need neurological stimulation, movement, therapy — they need to be activated.

Muscle activity.

Movement.

Breathing training.

Therapeutic repetition.

Neurological stimulation.

The Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (https://www.sralab.org) in Chicago is one of the best neurological rehabilitation centres in the world.

It is a place where new neural pathways are built.

Where children learn movements again.

Where bodies reconnect with abilities they had lost.

The medical team keeps telling us:

The more intensive the therapy after the stem cells, the greater Oliver’s chances of building new pathways.

This is why Oliver needs this combination.

This is why we must continue raising funds.

This is why we say THANK YOU again.

Because without you, we could not take a single one of these steps.

A path full of love — and full of THANK YOU

You carried us through the darkest nights.

You gave us hope when we had lost it.

You gave Oliver a future.

And that is why this blog post has one purpose:

To say THANK YOU —

for every step,

every euro,

every message,

every thought,

every prayer,

every spark of hope.

You are part of our story.

Part of our family.

Part of Oliver’s fight.

Part of his future.

We could never have done this alone.

But we didn’t have to — because you were there.

THANK YOU. Simply THANK YOU.

We keep going — together

We’re taking you with us.

Forward.

To Chicago.

Through every setback.

Through every victory.

Through every step of hope.

And through everything happening right now, one thing matters most:

We stay true to ourselves.

For months we’ve been receiving offers from companies, agencies, influencers.

They see the number of followers and want us to monetize our tragedy.

They want partnerships, ads, product placements.

But honestly:

We refuse. Completely.

We did not open our lives to sell reach.

We do not tell Oliver’s story to market anything.

We do not wake up or fall asleep thinking about “content.”

We do this because it’s about Oliver.

His life.

His chance.

The day we start doing advertising,

the day we “sell out,”

is the day we lose everything this community has built.

And we know:

Oliver would never want that.

Oliver stands for love, authenticity, hope — not commercial motives.

We do what we do for him

and for all the people who find hope through him.

Not for clicks or deals.

We stay with what made us strong:

Honesty, authenticity, gratitude.

THANK YOU for walking this path with us.

Laura & Stefan

with Julian, Sebastian, and our little fighter Oliver 💙