A mother losing her sight and eight-year-old Na-eun continuing rehabilitation

Eight-year-old Na-eun, who was born with cerebral palsy and VATER syndrome, finds it difficult to walk alone or properly express her thoughts. She practices walking every day using assistive devices and continues rehabilitation therapy, mostly expressing her intentions through babbling. Recently, she has begun to communicate little by little, such as speaking short sentences and pronouncing "Mom." Her mother, Su-gyeong, who is raising Na-eun alone, is experiencing worsening vision due to visual impairment and cataracts, and recently injured her leg in a traffic accident. EBS will convey the treatment and care situation faced by the two on "Sharing 0700," which broadcasts on October 10 at 11:25 AM.

Na-eun, born with cerebral palsy and VATER syndrome

Na-eun was born with cerebral palsy and VATER syndrome. Her development is significantly delayed compared to her peers, making it difficult for her to walk alone and to properly convey her thoughts through speech. Currently, she practices walking every day using assistive devices and receives rehabilitation therapy. As she grows, she must continuously replace her assistive devices and must steadily continue speech therapy and physical therapy. The broadcast reports that although she must continue treatment, it is difficult to sufficiently continue the necessary therapies due to the economic burden.

Mother Su-gyeong said that when Na-eun was born, her first question to the doctor was whether her life was in danger. "After Na-eun was born, my first question was, 'Is her life in danger?' The doctor said she would be fine if she had surgery, but honestly, my heart wouldn't settle. I tried to hold back tears after hearing that, but they just burst out." Su-gyeong recalled that although she heard from the medical staff at the time that she would be fine if she had surgery, it was difficult to calm her mind.

While Na-eun mostly expresses her intentions through babbling, she has recently started speaking short sentences. She also intermittently says the word "Mom." A speech therapist explained that Na-eun has changed from a state of drooling to a state of trying to swallow saliva on her own. "When I first met Na-eun, it was difficult for her to control her saliva and she often drooled, but now she even tries to swallow it herself, and has started to intermittently say 'Mom'." Seeing the slight improvements every time she receives rehabilitation therapy and surgery, Su-gyeong said she does not want to give up on the treatment.

Continuing assistive devices and rehabilitation therapy despite the cost burden

Na-eun uses assistive devices for walking practice. She must change the devices as she grows and must continue to receive speech therapy and physical therapy. As Na-eun's development is significantly delayed compared to her peers, daily rehabilitation continues, but the economic burden is becoming a difficulty in sustaining the treatment. According to the broadcast, even though Su-gyeong wants to ensure Na-eun receives sufficient necessary treatment, she must handle both her livelihood and the medical expenses.

Hospital expenses are not just the regular rehabilitation therapy costs. When Na-eun develops a fever, there are times when she must be suddenly hospitalized, resulting in unexpected hospital and treatment costs. While she tries to continue treatment seeing the slight changes after rehabilitation or surgery, her circumstances make it difficult to receive sufficient necessary treatment due to cost issues. The broadcast also covers the situation where Na-eun needs continuous speech and physical therapy and the process of continuing the treatment.

What Su-gyeong wishes for is to be able to provide treatment to Na-eun without worry. She said, "What I want most right now is to be able to provide treatment to Na-eun without worry. I hope Na-eun gets better a little faster before my eyesight gets any worse."

Mother with worsening vision, continuing care with an injured leg

Su-gyeong is raising Na-eun alone. In addition to having a visual impairment, her vision is gradually worsening due to overlapping cataracts. Su-gyeong said that text she could see up until last year is now gradually becoming invisible. Her father is also visually impaired. Su-gyeong explained that if her own vision worsens further, it may become difficult to care for Na-eun, and she worries about how Na-eun will receive treatment in the future if she cannot take care of her own health.

Su-gyeong is also in a state of uncomfortable movement due to a recent leg injury from a traffic accident. Nevertheless, she carries Na-eun herself and moves between the hospital and the treatment center to care for her. Because she must care for Na-eun all day, it is not easy to find stable work. The broadcast reported that while she must take responsibility for the child's treatment and livelihood while also continuing her own medical appointments, taking care of her own health is not easy due to the burden of care.

She is worried about the impact her vision and health will have on Na-eun's care and treatment. "My father is visually impaired. Whether it is due to the influence of cataracts, the text that was visible until last year is suddenly becoming a little invisible. (...) If I lose my sight, I won't be able to care for Na-eun... I have to keep going to the hospital, too, but if my body gets worse, I worry about how Na-eun will have to receive treatment in the future." Su-gyeong said she must also continue to go to the hospital while caring for Na-eun. The injured leg from the traffic accident, the worsening vision, and Na-eun's rehabilitation therapy all sit together as the burden of care and livelihood for one household.

A family that must also handle sudden hospitalization costs

There are times when Na-eun must be suddenly hospitalized when she develops a fever. Na-eun continuously needs speech therapy and physical therapy, and her assistive devices must be replaced as she grows. Su-gyeong said that seeing Na-eun improve slightly every time she receives treatment, she does not want to give up on the treatment at least. However, in a situation where it is difficult to find stable work due to caring for the child, and she must also take care of her own medical appointments and health, she is handling both the treatment costs and the burden of livelihood.

The EBS social contribution program "Sharing 0700" collects 3,000 won in donations per call to support neighbors in need. The episode "8 Years of Miracles with Na-eun," broadcasting on October 10, tells the story of Su-gyeong, a mother losing her sight, who is raising her daughter Na-eun, who has cerebral palsy and VATER syndrome, alone. The broadcast contains Na-eun's appearance as she continues walking practice and rehabilitation therapy, the recent changes as she begins to speak short sentences and the word "Mom," and the burden of care and treatment costs that Su-gyeong bears. The broadcast airs on EBS 1TV at 11:25 AM on that day.

The "8 Years of Miracles with Na-eun" episode of "Sharing 0700" will be broadcast on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 11:25 AM on EBS 1TV. The program collects 3,000 won in donations per call to support neighbors in need, and in this episode, it conveys Na-eun's treatment and Su-gyeong's care situation.

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