Masha needs childhood

Masha is very energetic and cheerful. This is a great joy. Unlike her diagnosis – essential thrombocythaemia (reccurance) – a great sorrow. Such rare illness strikes eldery people more. In two words essential thrombocythaemia means a bone marrow disorder that causes the excess of thrombocytes that may cause thrombus. Masha was being on chemo once, and experienced bone marrow transplantation, but now she need one more transplantation.

How would I describe little beautiful Maria Varich so that it is brief and clear? Masha turns four in November. She lives in Kirovograd (Ukraine) together with her mother, father, granny and Luntik. Well, yes, lives, but in her own, special way. Let me explain. It is normal to take gigantic tablets, pass painful tests, stay under infusion drips and feel pain in Masha’s world. And this is not because Masha is sick, but because she has been sick since she was month and a half old and would not believe there are people out there who live differently.

Masha never attended a kindergarten and is allowed to the playground only when there is no one around. She of course interacts with other kids, and sometimes even gets to play with them. However those are same children as Masha – wearing mask, hairless, attached to drips. Remember what I said about her special way (of life)?

Masha loves playing a doctor – nursing her dolls and toy animals. She puts bandages, makes injections, infusion drips, gives them pills. Masha would definitely like to try other roles as preschool or school teacher Dina Ivanovna, aunt Galya – great cook or Oksana – animal handler. So far however Masha spends all days in a hospital, as such all her dolls will be cured, not taught.

Masha also dreams to have a pink backpack. Not now – when she finally goes to school as her cousin. She actually loved pre-school more, but there is not much chance she makes it to the pre-school given her weak health. Therefore now she learns numerals, letters and waits for school. And for her new pink backpack.

First problems occurred when Masha was only 1,5 months old. It took long time for specialists to set accurate diagnosis and then Masha waited till she turned 6 months to start chemotherapy. After that Masha underwent a bone marrow transplantation (with her own bone marrow). Following surgery child spent six months in relative health and in passing control tests. Recurrence came in February 2014.

In two words essential thrombocythaemia means a bone marrow disorder that causes the excess of thrombocytes – 1 000 500/mcl against 300 000/mcl for a healthy body. Such excess may cause thrombus along with heavy blooding, unbearable headaches and poor functioning of body organs. All such side effects may kill a child. Not to make it true, the girl needs bone marrow transplantation.

Now parents are looking for a non-relative bone marrow donor in order to make another surgery. Masha can not stay all her life on pills – there are already serious problems with her leaver and her immune system is greatly weakened. All organs are slowly giving up due to great dozes of chemotherapy.

Italian clinic in Piza may help Masha – her blood has been already sent for typing. By the way, Masha is totally fine with going to Italy – she always dreamed to fly on a plane and to see the sea. And she is not frightened by new surgery – she does not know how to live otherwise.

What we need: we need 115 000 euro for transplantation and to allow Masha live a different life, to show her the joy of childhood and to see her going to school wearing a pink backpack. And to keep her favorite toy – Luntik – as all others have been thrown away. And to keep granny’s heart healthy – as it often hurts. And to have a cat and a dog in the house. And to have an ordinary life. Just life.

Masha's parents had 5 000 euro which they paid for blood typing procedure. There is no way to get money for surgery.

We are about to collect on UBB a part of the whole sum of 500 000 UAH. The family can not cope and won't collect such amount of money. They need your help!

Name: Maria K. Varych, born 03/11/2010

Location: Kirovograd

Diagnosis: essential trombotsytemiya