Iustina’s Fight for Life

Let’s Help Iustina Have a Future
Blessed be the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications.
Psalm 28:6

On April 26, Iustina Lăcrămioara Ciurcu will turn 12 years old.
She is the eldest child in her family, with two younger brothers, Casian and Nicolas. Her parents, Laura and Costel, faced many hardships growing up in a children’s care center. But now, they do their best to provide a home for their children in a small, rented apartment furnished with only the essentials for daily life.

Despite their struggles, Iustina is a bright and hopeful child. She dreams of one day becoming a pediatrician to help sick children and bring kindness into their lives. She loves school, especially art class, where she loves to paint landscapes, and enjoys learning Romanian and even a little English.

But at the beginning of 2025, Iustina’s peaceful world was turned upside down.

A cherished tradition in Romania is for the children to go caroling during the holiday season, receiving sweets as gifts. After enjoying too many treats, Iustina suddenly lost consciousness. She was rushed by ambulance from her hometown to Vatra Dornei, then to Câmpulung, and finally to the Regional Emergency Children’s Hospital in Iași. Her condition became critical, and after extensive tests, doctors delivered a devastating diagnosis—Type 2 diabetes.

For any child, this disease is a heavy burden. But for a family struggling to make ends meet, it is overwhelming. Social services, hospitals, and child protection agencies were immediately alerted, and at first, there was talk of placing Iustina in a state institution for medical care. However, because Bread of Life was willing to step in and offer full support, Child Protective Services agreed to allow Iustina to stay with her family.

Diabetes requires a strict diet and a carefully balanced routine—something that would have been nearly impossible without help. Through Bread of Life, Iustina now receives nutritional support, tutoring to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor, and a warm, family-like environment where she is loved and cared for. We also work to support her parents, encouraging and equipping them to maintain a healthy relationship with their daughter.


Iustina is fighting for her future. Will you stand with her?

Your support ensures that children like Iustina don’t have to face these battles alone. With your help, we can continue to provide food, education, medical support, and hope for children in desperate situations.


Please consider making a gift today --because every child deserves a chance to dream.


Dorin Ciocan,

Children’s Pastor BOL Home

Thank you for your interest in Bread of Life Ministries. We have been able to accomplish a lot with the help of our supporters around the world. There is still more for us to do. Please prayerfully consider how you might help support Bread of Life as we provide support to children and families in need.

Become A Partner

Other articles you may be interested in

BOL Prayer Calendar 2026

By BOL Team • November 17, 2025
“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Prayer changes things—because prayer moves the heart of God. As we step into 2026, we invite you to join us in praying for Bread of Life—the precious children God has placed in our care and the faithful staff who serve them. Every prayer lifted becomes part of His loving work of transformation. Together, we trust Him for healing, provision, and renewed hope as each child grows in His grace. Our 2026 Prayer Calendar is thoughtfully designed to sit on your desk in a triangular format, keeping prayer close at hand. One side displays the calendar, with the children and staff birthdays clearly circled as a gentle reminder to pause and pray for them on those special days. The inside of the triangle and the bottom portion of the calendar feature photos of the children and staff, putting faces to the prayers you offer as you lift each one before the Lord by name. As you see the calendar each day, we invite you to thank God for their lives and speak blessings over their futures. BOL Team

Sharing the Gift of Love This Christmas

By Debora Brown Volunteer Sponsorship Director • October 21, 2025
As the holiday season draws near, our hearts are filled with gratitude for God’s greatest gift—His Son, Jesus Christ. Christmas reminds us that love came down to dwell among us, and now we have the joy of sharing that same love with others. This year, we invite you to join our Christmas Shoebox Ministry —a simple yet powerful way to bless children in Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Romania. For many, these gifts will be the only ones they receive, but through them they’ll experience the warmth of God’s love and the hope of the gospel.

A Story of Hope: Elisabeth and Darius

By Luminita Panican • September 11, 2025
Elisabeth and Darius, two young souls brought together by the Bread of Life Ministry, grew up side by side, forming a sincere friendship rooted in respect and trust. Even from a young age, they believed that with God’s help, a heart committed to learning, and a willingness to walk in obedience, a better life was possible.