Life-Saving Treatment for Kids in Ukraine

Dear friends,

thank you for helping Ukrainian kids with cancer!

Now, despite the Covid-19 pandemic and severe quarantine measures in Ukraine, kids continue receiving treatment. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy cannot be interrupted when children’s lives are at stake. We provide the hospitals with necessary protection: more than 1000 respirators and coats, more than 3000 gloves, more than 1900 liters of disinfectants. Also, when necessary, we purchase chemotherapy drugs when there are gaps in deliveries from the state procurement caused by the pandemic.

About ten years ago, when visitors and volunteers came to the pediatric oncology department in Kyiv for the first time, they were shocked to see so many kids without legs or arms. In that hospital, the most difficult cases of bone tumors were treated and at that time the only solution was amputation. Then the first innovation was introduced: endoprostheses, artificial devices used to replace cancer affected bones in order to preserve limbs. We remember the first endoprosthesis surgery here in Kyiv and the girl who received it is now a young adult who visits us from time to time.

At the end of the previous year, one more innovation was tested. In some cases, especially when the tumor is diagnosed at first stages, donor bone graft can replace the affected one. Instead of an artificial metal device in the leg, a kid gets a bone graft that will not require additional surgeries for extension and will grow together with their body. Of course, it’s much better for kids and last year the Ukrainian doctors learned this procedure and performed the first surgeries. However, now donor bone grafts are not provided by the state and for kids to get them they had to be bought.  

As of now, three of such surgeries have been performed. All three are successful. Ksenia is making her first steps during physiotherapy sessions. Maksym and Nazarii needed special constructions in addition to the bone and we provided them too. For Milena, we have ordered a bone graft and a required construction and she would have surgery in a few weeks.

With your support, Ukrainian kids can receive new methods of treatment and have a better life after cancer. Thank you!

P.S. In 2019, we did great things to help kids together. In the attachment, you can see our reporting in detail.

• Reporting_for_2019.pdf (PDF)
  

Dear friends,

thank you for supporting Ukrainian kids with cancer!

Together, we helped 449 kids in 2019 in Kyiv and Lviv hospitals either giving them medicines, medical supplies and medical services they needed or providing them with services such as physical rehabilitation sessions and psychological support.

One of these kids is 7-year-old Denys. We know this boy and his family for more than a year. Denys is like any other kid of his age. He adores to play videogames and to run with his peers in the yard. Unfortunately, he had to leave his friends at home again and to return to the hospital in Kyiv for treatment.

When the doctors prescribed him a special examination that is not available in Ukraine because of the lack of the equipment, we organized everything for him to go abroad, from securing plane tickets to paying for the medical procedure. Thanks to this exam, the treatment that Denys is receiving now is more precise. The boy has made new friends here in Kyiv and jokes and laughs with them, though some of his days are full of pain. That’s because kids find a way to enjoy childhood even at the hospital.

Like Denys, 25 kids went abroad for procedures not available in Ukraine in 2019. Thank you for making it possible!

We hope that you will be there for our kids in 2020 too.