Eight-month-old Maria Princess has already spent much of her short life facing a medical challenge no baby should have to endure.

Maria was born with aqueductal stenosis, a condition that can block the normal flow of fluid in the brain and is one of the known causes of hydrocephalus. As the fluid continues to build up, her condition has become increasingly concerning.

Doctors say Maria urgently needs surgery to place a shunt, a small medical device designed to help drain the excess fluid. Before the procedure can take place, she also needs an MRI to give doctors a clearer picture of what is happening and determine whether there are any additional conditions that need attention.

For Maria’s parents, every day has become a race against time.

Instead of simply watching their baby discover the world, they have had to navigate hospital visits, medical examinations and the uncertainty surrounding their daughter’s future. Yet through it all, Maria continues to fight on, surrounded by parents who refuse to stop searching for a way to help her.

Her father works as a technician, but the pandemic caused him to lose much of his income. With the cost of Maria’s medical care weighing heavily on the family, her parents are now facing a difficult financial struggle at the same time they are trying to be strong for their little girl.

“We just want Maria to have the chance to grow, smile and experience all the simple joys of childhood,” her family shared. “We are doing everything we can for our daughter, and we are praying that she can receive the care she urgently needs.”

At only eight months old, Maria has already shown remarkable strength. Her journey is far from over, but her parents continue to hold on to hope that the right treatment can give their little girl a brighter future.