A former political prisoner who was forcibly taken out of Belarus needs help with vital dental prosthetics so that she can eat.
My name is Tatsiana Shimko. In December 2025, I was forcibly taken out of Belarus together with a group of political prisoners. I am now in Poland, have received international protection, and am trying to build my life from scratch…
I need to solve a problem that turns my life into suffering every day: I cannot eat normally because I am missing the main chewing teeth in both my upper and lower jaws. This is not a question of aesthetics or a desire to “have a beautiful smile.” It is impossible to chew food with the front teeth. Eating an ordinary meal has long become a problem: I have to mash or grind food, swallow it almost without chewing, or skip meals altogether. I cannot eat apples, nuts, many vegetables, meat, or other solid foods. My body needs vitamins and energy, but I cannot get them.
This problem did not begin now. I had already lost some of my teeth before emigration, but prison made the situation drastically worse: there was one dentist for the entire correctional facility, queues, and temporary fillings. Now the problem has reached the point where it affects not only my quality of life but also my health. Because I cannot eat normally, I have developed stomach problems. Doctors have already diagnosed gastritis and treated me for Helicobacter pylori. I have lost weight and now weigh 47 kilograms.
A few days ago, I went to a café with an acquaintance. She ate, while I packed my food to take with me. I carried a pastry around in my bag until the evening. It was very tasty; I could smell it from my bag. But I could not eat it until I got home that evening and ground it up. In general, I can hardly eat outside the house at all. That is why I often have to stay hungry during the day and wait until I return home.
I understand that many people see dentistry as something secondary. But in my case, this is not about appearance. It is about a basic bodily function – the ability to chew, eat, receive proper nutrition, and prevent further damage to my stomach.
The situation is complicated by the fact that ordinary removable dentures are not suitable for me. I have significant defects in the bone tissue of my jaws and dental arches, as well as missing main chewing teeth.
The treatment plan is complex: preparation of the jaw, bone grafting, implantation, and subsequent prosthetics. The full cost of treatment is significantly higher than the amount I am asking for now. It amounts to tens of thousands of zlotys. But right now, I am not asking for the entire treatment to be covered. I need help with the first important stage – to begin restoring my chewing function and get out of the situation in which I am physically unable to eat normally.
I want to work and socialize, and I am looking for a job, but until I solve this problem, it is difficult even to imagine how to eat, how to cope with the workload, and how not to think constantly about pain, hunger, and my stomach. It is difficult for me to ask for help, but I cannot manage without it. This surgery and prosthetics are needed not for beauty, but to restore a basic function: the ability to eat normally, maintain my health, work, and live without daily suffering.
Fundraiser amount:
€4,000
€3,000 – the first stage of surgical and prosthetic treatment
€500 – diagnostics, scans, consultations, and preparation for the procedures
€500 – medicines, recovery, and special nutrition during the treatment period