Cancer Kids Ukraine

Writing this article I’ve got two things in mind. On the one hand, I’d like to share the recent news about little patients staying at the hospitals abroad. Some of them have already had a bone marrow transplantation. The others are planning to have it. On the other hand, by writing about these kids I’d like to demonstrate that impossible things become possible! Just look how many kids left for bone marrow transplantation this summer! It means that the money for the bone marrow transplant can be raised (even though partially for some of our patients)! To a large extent, the fundraising goals have been achieved thanks to the money donated by the readers of our website, as well as by the other caring people. Thank you all very and very much! So here’s the story about our little BMT patients.

Anna Raikhel is staying at Hadassah clinic in Jerusalem (Israel). Yesterday Prof. Reznik did a sternal puncture, while Anna’s mom was holding the girl. The results are on the way. Prof. Reznik could not insert a peripheral catheter as Anna wouldn’t stay still. But there is also very good news - they were able to find two bone marrow donors for Anna: one in Germany, another in Israel! The doctors will choose one of them as soon as some more tests are done. Anna and her parents moved from the hotel by the hospital which cost them $140 per day to a cheaper place, Ella Residence at Hadishon 21. One of our little patients, Vika Ljakh, stayed in this hotel before, and her granddad Sergey Ljakh suggested this idea. Anna’s parents are now paying $66 per day, and if they book the suit for a month it will be even cheaper - $53 per day. Anna’s mom says: “Bus 12 takes us right to the hospital, and it’s very convenient. There are two rooms in the suit, a stove, a fridge, some dishes – all basic things for one to live. But of course our cherished dream is to be healthy and to live at home!” The family has visited the Wailing Wall, made their wish, went to the Dead Sea. Hold on, sweetheart, we are praying for you! You can reach Anna’s mom Irina at + 972 547 04 12 50

Nikolai Shevchenko has had a bone marrow transplantation done in Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Israel. Today is a +15 day (BMT was performed on July 22, 2009). Nick had his BMT extracted from the cord stem cells as they had no time to search for an unrelated donor. Nick feels all right now, but a violent cough is bothering the boy – the doctors say it’s not dangerous and has been caused by the high-dose chemotherapy. Nick eats on his own now! On the phone he boasted that he had a yogurt and a local quass drink. I was surprised to hear that a patient after BMT was allowed to have such products, but Marina, Nick’s mom, explained that in that hospital they are allowed to eat all the products as long as they were sealed in a vacuum packaging. These products include chocolate, yogurt, and nuts. Nick’s blood count is still quite low, 280 of neutrophylic leukocytes while should be 500.  But for the 15th day after BMT it’s OK. The engraftment should happen on day 24 or so. In the meantime, Nick is staying in the isolated ward with his mom. This family is still in debt to the hospital for BMT! They do need your financial support, please help them! You can reach Nick’s mom Marina at +972 543 40 9656

Irene Krivets has already had a BMT, too. In her case, it was an auto-BMT at Schneider Children’s Medical Center in Israel. She was discharged from the hospital. Now they rent an apartment and go to the hospital for regular check-ups 4 times a week. A few days ago the girl got a fever all of the sudden, so she had to take antibiotics. The blood count is normal. Little Irene was even allowed to swim in the Mediterranean Sea! If it all is fine, by the end of August 2009 Irene and her mom will come back to Kiev. We’ll be looking forward to their arrival! You can reach Irene’s dad Gennadiy at +38 067 442 1897

Nastya Olkhovskaya is staying at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer, Israel, the same hospital where abovementioned Nikolai Shevchenko has been staying. The doctors are performing the typing of the blood samples taken from Nastya and her parents. Next week they will start a donor search. Nastya feels more or less ok, but she  wouldn’t eat anything. Last week Marina, Ivan and Nastya visited Jerusalem and prayed there. The hotel near the hospital is very expensive – Marina has already spent $1,500 within less than two weeks. The rental property is also very expensive – at least $1,000 per month for an apartment with a one-year lease. The family raised and transferred about $74,500 to the bank account of the Medical Center. They will have to raise $100,000 more prior to BMT. The hospital won’t agree to a partial advance payment, only full amount will make a BMT possible. Please help us raise the balance! You can reach Nastya’s mother Marina at + 972 548 37 3470

Natasha Lan’ is still getting ready for the BMT from the unrelated donor in Belarus. Her blood count is unstable, going up and down all the time, potassium level raises from time to time causing headaches and heartaches. On Monday, August 17, she started taking Desferal (Deferoxamine) to decrease iron level – now it’s 3,000 instead of 1,000. High level of iron delays the BMT. So far the family has spent about $7,000 on treatment in Minsk hospital. Each day at the hospital costs them $15. Besides, Natasha had to receive very expensive antibiotics intravenously. Her mom hopes the doctors will transfer Natasha to the outpatient clinic before September 10, when BMT department reopens. In this case, they will have to pay only for the examinations and tests and will save on their daily hospital charges. Natasha and her mom Lyuda met some other patients from Ukraine who had already BMT done in Belarus. When Natasha heard how much farther she would have to go, she couldn’t help breaking into tears.  But we know Natasha is strong, she can do it, and we are asking her now to shut her teeth (or even better to smile) and hold on. Natasha spends a lot of time reading, as usual. This time it’s Irwin Shaw’s novel Beggarman, Thief. Natasha got upset because there were no Ukrainian channels on TV, and she couldn’t watch her favorite soccer games with Ukrainian teams.  But one of the guys from Ukraine recorded the whole DVD with recent soccer games for Natasha, so now she is busy watching them all! Please help Natasha and her mom – they have paid only for a part of the treatment. If the money doesn’t arrive until September, she won’t be admitted to the BMT department! You can reach Natasha’s mother Lyudmila at +375 295 67 3550

Roman Pasechnik had a BMT done from his mom on August 5 at the Italian clinic near Milan. It’s very uncommon when a mother can be used as a bone marrow donor. Now Roman is in a special ward. The doctors had to collect his mother’s bone marrow cells under general anesthesia, and afterwards she spent one more day at the intensive care unit as she had a tough recovery from the anesthesia. It’s too early to talk about the results of the bone marrow transplantation. Roma is connected to the intravenous line 24/7. Unfortunately, the boy is suffering from severe stomatitis and cannot eat anything.  The doctors say the engraftment should occur in about three weeks. We’ll wait and hope everything will be all right. You can reach Roman’s father Yuriy at +393 275 86 8310

Andrei Zharko is getting ready for a BMT from the unrelated donor at the clinic in Hamburg, Germany. The boy has completed a short-term chemotherapy block and is now undergoing some final tests. The transplantation is scheduled for the end of August. Next Thursday, August 13, Andrei’s dad Roman will fly to Germany to stay with his son and wife and to support them before BMT. You can reach Andrei’s father Roman at +38 096 371 9121

All the parents I had a chance to talk to say thank you to everyone who helped them continue the treatment. They are looking forward to coming back home to Ukraine. But even more than that they are looking forward to their kids’ recovery! Let us promise them we will do our best to make it happen.

Thank you!