Ten operations for the first steps

    Melasha was born at 28 weeks’ gestation and weighed just 970 g. She spent her first month of life in the intensive care unit on a ventilator, and her second month in the neonatal pathology ward. At the age of one, Melanochka was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and spastic tetraparesis. Since then, she has undergone continuous courses of rehabilitation, massage, swimming therapy and a series of operations, one after the other. The fight to enable her to walk continues.
      In accordance with Cooperation Agreement No. 21 between the Charitable Organisation International Charitable Foundation ‘Ukrainian Charity Exchange’ and the charitable aid operator Charitable Foundation ‘Pomahayem’ dated 31 August 2020, and Supplementary Agreement No. 21. No. 325 of 24 July 2025, the project ‘Ten Operations for Her First Steps’ was launched on the website dobro.ua with the aim of raising charitable donations to cover the cost of Melania Kuzmina’s treatment.
      Subsequently, it became necessary to use part of the funds raised on the dobro.ua website to purchase a set of implants and consumables required for the girl’s surgical procedure. Therefore, in accordance with letter No. 424 dated 19 August 2025, we received the raised sum of 21,489.00 UAH (twenty-one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine hryvnias, 00 kopecks) into the fund’s account and continued fundraising on the dobro.ua platform.
      On 12 September 2025, Melanka underwent her eighth surgical procedure, costing 21,489.00 UAH (twenty-one thousand four hundred and eighty-nine hryvnias, 00 kopecks), which lasted approximately 4 hours. The girl coped with it very well, and the doctor was satisfied with the results.
      In February of this year, the child was scheduled to undergo another surgical procedure, so there was once again a need to use part of the funds raised on the dobro.ua website to pay for the operation. Consequently, in accordance with letter No. 72 dated 16 February 2026, we received the raised sum of 74,189.00 UAH (seventy-four thousand one hundred and eighty-nine hryvnias, 00 kopecks) into the fund’s account and continued fundraising on the dobro.ua platform.
      On 20 February 2026, Melania underwent her ninth operation, which lasted around two and a half hours. The cost of the surgical procedure was 41,200.00 UAH (forty-one thousand two hundred hryvnias, 00 kopecks). Fortunately, the operation went well, and Melania’s condition remained stable afterwards.
      The initial target amount for the project was 169,995.00 UAH (one hundred and sixty-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-five hryvnias, 00 kopecks). Once the full amount required to cover Melania’s treatment had been raised on two fundraising platforms: the Charitable Organisation ‘Ukrainian Charity Exchange’ and the ‘Pomagayem’ Charitable Foundation, we requested that the fundraising campaign be closed, that the project amount on the Ukrainian Charity Exchange be reduced to the amount actually raised – 124,010.00 UAH (one hundred and twenty-four thousand and ten hryvnias, 00 kopecks), and to transfer 28,332.00 UAH (twenty-eight thousand three hundred and thirty-two hryvnias, 00 kopecks) to our bank account to cover the cost of Melania’s treatment and project administration, in accordance with letter No. 166 dated 27 April 2026.
      In June of this year, the funds received were used to pay for a set of consumables required for the surgical procedure, amounting to 23,000.00 UAH (twenty-three thousand hryvnias, 00 kopecks).
      On 25 June 2026, Melania underwent her tenth scheduled operation to remove metal implants from her left thigh and knee. The procedure lasted approximately 1 hour 30 minutes and was successful.
      An additional operation to remove the metal implants from her other leg is scheduled for in a few months’ time, as not all the planned procedures could be carried out during the tenth operation due to the significant strain on her body.
      In addition, in June and July 2026, the necessary post-operative and supportive medicines were purchased for Melanka, as frequent surgical procedures and anaesthesia affect the child’s general health. The total cost of the medicines purchased was 13,040.50 UAH (thirteen thousand and forty hryvnias, 50 kopecks).
      The child recently underwent a three-week course of rehabilitation at the ‘Marusych’ Rehabilitation Centre in Kryvyi Rih. During the sessions, she received joint mobilisation, massage and amplipulse therapy.
We plan to use the remaining unspent funds, amounting to 25,280.50 UAH (twenty-five thousand two hundred and eighty hryvnias, 50 kopecks), to meet the girl’s needs in 2026.
      We would like to express our sincere thanks to the donors and partners of dobro.ua for their help and support!

Reports

(Progress) Descriptive project report dated 13.08.2026 Financial report (Progress) dated 13.08.2026 Contract for the supply of goods 1 Invoice 1

Bank transfer receipt 1 Delivery note 1 Service Agreement 2 Invoice 2

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Project documents

Letter for withdrawal of funds and closing of collection Letter for project placement