Merciful Valentine

Ukrainian cardiac centres are of dire need of specialised equipment. The professionalism of our cardiac surgeons is recognised by the international community of doctors, but the lack of equipment to track patients sometimes nullifies efforts of physicians. Charity Foundation “Open Hearts of Ukraine” initiates a fundraiser to purchase a heart rate monitor for the Ukrainian Children’s Cardiac Centre of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.

In Ukraine, annually 5000 children are born about with congenital abnormalities of the cardiovascular system. 40 % of them are in critical condition in first hours, days and months of life. Natural mortality in cases of congenital heart disease reaches 42%, i. e. without surgery, 42% of patients die in childhood (under 18 years), with about 90 % of them being babies.

Thus, in 2013, the Ukrainian Children’s Cardiac Centre performed more than 2,500 operations for children with disorders of the cardiovascular system. According to this index, the Centre is one of the largest in Europe. It is in dire need of modern equipment to provide Ukrainian kids with a high chance not only to survive but also to have a full-fledged life after surgery.

The campaign has been supported by outstanding artist Eugene Gapchinskaya. Her paintings are devoted to kids, and every depicted character is unique. The main provider of happiness, as she calls herself, Eugenie, not in word knows that healthy children is the only thing that can give joy and happiness to every family.