Vyacheslav was admitted to the hospital with acute abdominal pain on December 28, 2009. At first, he was diagnosed with appendicitis. But during the surgery, the doctors found a hematoma that was located in the proximity of the small pelvis. Nobody knew about it. As a result, the doctors removed 70cm of his small bowel and took a histological sample from it. The results of the histological analysis showed Burkitt lymphoma. It is a fast growing malignant tumor. Now Vyacheslav is at the local cancer hospital in Kiev. He has already completed two blocks of chemotherapy. At the moment, he is undergoing supportive therapy. He needs three more blocks of chemotherapy followed by the radiotherapy. His mother is asking for help.

You can reach Vyacheslav’s mother Alexandra at +38 097 751 8241

Our daughter, Milana, is already one year old. When she was 10 months old, she was diagnosed with retinoblastoma of both eyes (cancer of the retina). It is very scary to realize that your baby is sick with cancer. Based on the experience of other children with the same diagnosis, we know that the treatment will last for years. In the best case, the result will be the removal of both eyes. Unfortunately, in Ukraine more than 50% of children do not survive the chemotherapy, although retinoblastoma can be treated very successfully in Germany (Essen). The specialists there use unique and individualized treatment plans for each child. Our daughter needs a consultation in Germany. It costs about 3,000 EURO. We will not be able to raise this amount on our own, especially during such a short period of time (the consultation is scheduled for March 29).

You can reach Milana’s parents Julia and Alexander at +38 063 805 9777 or +38 099 653 5877

Last November Margarita fell on her way home from school. At first, we didn’t pay much attention to it. We just treated the wound and put a bandage around it. But the pain wouldn’t go away. Two weeks later we took Margarita to the hospital in Dnepropetrovsk, where she was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). Margarita needs a very long and expensive treatment. In Kiev, the specialists prescribed her 20 blocks of chemotherapy followed by the surgery. Margarita is undergoing treatment at two hospitals at the same time – in Dnepropetrovsk and in Kiev. It involves transportation expenses in addition to the very expensive chemotherapy and supportive therapy drugs. Margarita also needs blood donors after every chemotherapy block. Donor blood is not free in Ukraine. Margarita’s family is financially exhausted and is asking for help.

You can reach Margarita’s mother Eugene at +38 096 546 3270

Yevgeniy is only 6 years old. It took the doctors two months to diagnoze him with Burkitt lymphoma (a tumor in the intestines with 60% recovery rate if treated). Now Yevgeniy is at the intensive chemotherapy department in Kiev. His mother is with him all the time. The medications are very expensive. The family has already spent all their savings and ask for your help.

You can reach Yevgeniy’s mother Natalia at +38 067 388 9515 or his father Valeriy at +38 067 935 2888

The population of the village of Krasnopolye, Chernigov region, is 500 people. It snows a lot there but nobody shovels the snow. People can barely walk around the village because of the amount of snow. Igor lives there together with his parents and younger brother. The only entertainment for Igor is his laptop and the teachers visiting him and helping him with home schooling. Sometimes, his friends come to see him. Last year Igor completed the treatment for medulloblastoma. At that time it looked as if Igor won a victory over cancer. But cancer is a very mean disease – it came back half a year later. Igor completed 3 blocks of chemotherapy, which turned out to be ineffective. Besides, he got side effects (extremely weak bone marrow and hepatitis B). Igor also went for the radiotherapy in Moscow. Although the doctors see some positive dynamics, the tumor is still alive. Igor needs to undergo a 3-month course of chemotherapy in pills. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have money for it. At the same time, there should be no delay in treatment. Igor needs to start it as soon as possible. He needs Vepesid (this medication is not available in Ukraine, that’s why we don’t know its price yet), Temodal (total cost about $1,200), and Endoxan ($50). Please, help Igor to continue the treatment. He doesn’t have anyone else to ask but you.

You can reach Igor at +38 067 803 0237, his mother Raisa at +38 098 967 7613 or his father Vasiliy at +38 096 686 9011

Victoria was diagnozed with aplastic anemia four years ago. Treatment of this disease requires bone marrow transplantation. None of Victoria’s relatives could match her as donors, which means that Victoria needs allogenic bone marrow transplant. Two years ago we contacted a clinic in Italy. It performed the donor search for Victoria. Unfortunately, all they could find was only one partially compatible donor. Both the doctors and Victoria’s parents decided that it is not feasible to go for the bone marrow transplantation from a partially compatible donor. Victoria is still alive because she regularly receives blood transfusions and takes immunosuppressive medications. But this type of treatment can’t be effective for a long time. She needs an allogenic bone marrow transplant.

Last autumn we contacted a clinic in Poland (in Wroclaw). The clinic has already performed an HLA matching for Victoria and invited her for complete medical checkup. All the paperwork is done. The hotel is booked. The embassy has already granted free visas to Victoria and her mother. The checkup at the clinic, accommodations and meals will cost Victoria about 2,000 EURO. Her mother already raised 1,500 EURO. But she needs 500 EURO more to cover the cost of complete medical checkup at the clinic. Yes, two years ago they couldn’t find a donor for this girl. But the database gets updated on the ongoing basis. Maybe this time they will find a donor for Victoria and will be able to perform a bone marrow transplantation that may save her life.

You can reach Victoria’s mother Lena at +38 096 528 4489

Zlata passed away on February 16, 2010. She left for a place, where her mother has been waiting for her. Please, pray for Zlata’s father, who lost both his wife and his only daughter through cancer…

From the archives

Zlata Zinchenko, DOB April 11, 1997, medulloblastoma

Zlata fell sick in June 2008. On September 12, 2008, she had a surgery for the removal of the brain tumor done. Then she completed a course of radiotherapy in Donetsk. After the second surgery she got paralyzed. Now she is bedridden. In June 2009, the doctors found the metastases in her tenth and eleventh vertebrae. She had another surgery done for their removal. Right now Zlata is undergoing treatment at the neurosurgery department of the regional children’s clinical hospital in Lugansk. She has completed one block of chemotherapy with Temodal. She needs five more blocks. Zlata’s mother died in a car accident in 2006. Now she is being raised by her father, Igor. Zlata is in a very depressed mood, especially because she lost her hair as a result of chemotherapy. Zlata’s father has to pay for the chemotherapy drugs. Each block of chemotherapy with Temodal costs $1,600. Zlata needs five more blocks, i.e., $8,000. For more than a year, her father was paying for the treatment on his own. But now he is asking for help.

You can reach Zlata’s father Igor at +38 095 300 7316

  

On January 12, Dasha came to Kiev for the consultation. Instead, she was diagnozed with early relapse. The doctors say that won’t be able to do anything. They refused to admit Dasha to the Cancer Institute in Kiev because if she dies there (and the doctors are most certain she will), it will negatively affect the statistics there. Dasha’s mother was crying and begging the doctors at the municipal cancer hospital in Kiev to admit her daugher. She is there now. Dasha completed the first block of the antirelapse chemotherapy. Now she has fever and very low blood count. Dasha’s mother is asking to help her buy the blood compotents for her daughter.