I Don’t Want to Die at the Age of 12

Would you please save Ivan's heart! In August 2002 at the Institute of Amosov he got his diagnoses: congenital malformation of cardiac membrane; in 2010 – non-compact left ventricular myocardium. Now Ivan requires further examinations without the use of medicines to which he is allergic. Also he needs surgery of cardiac catheterization. It can be done only abroad. It costs the amount of money that is out of reach for Ivan’s mother who is retired, lives in a small village and has three children.

During delivery he survived the asphyxia of the 2nd stage and what was worse he inherited from his mother allergy to medicines. So Ivan had health problems since birth. The boy barely survived surgery aimed at removing hernia: it lasted 4 hours instead of 15 minutes because of cardiac arrest caused by allergic shock. In August 2002 at the Institute of Amosov he got his diagnosis: congenital malformation of cardiac membrane. Ivan was prescribed heart surgery but there was no surgeon who agreed to perform it because of the inability to use the necessary medication.

Till 2006 the boy was considered disabled but gradually the hole in the cardiac membrane closed by itself. Ivan started constantly complaining of heart ache in 2010 and the doctors could not determine the diagnosis. In 2012 the issue was eventually brought up at the council of the doctors which decided: it was a non-compact left ventricular myocardium. However, it is impossible to confirm it because there is no equipment in Ukraine with which a child can be examined without the use of contrast – as Ivan is allergic to it! Also trabeculae were detected, that is the fibers that block the left ventricle spreading further and threatening to interfere with functioning of this chamber of the heart and thus creating an additional burden on those remaining.

What will happen to the boy when he enters into adolescence, when he will have a hormonal surge, when he will grow actively and his body will develop? Will his long-suffering heart survive it? The Ukrainian doctors can only offer either a transplantation followed by dependence on tranquilizers or just living as long as possible…

In October of this year the Leading Specialist of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine Sirenko Y.M. issued a certificate confirming the necessity for treatment abroad because of multicomponent allergy as well as the impossibility of carrying out an examination and heart transplantation in Ukraine. The German clinic Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin was recommended.

The mother submitted the documents to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine but would her son live long enough to wait for a response from the Ministry? On November 29 Ivan celebrated his 12 years and such transitional age is dangerous for any disease. The cost of Ivan’s life is 40 000 euro. It is out of reach for a retired person who lives in a small village and has three children. To make a valid prognosis it is necessary to perform a cardiac catheterization, that’s why we would like to raise 200 000 UAH on UBB for this procedure.

Name: Krotov Ivan, 29.11.2001

City: Kyiv Oblast, Obukhiv Raion, village Neshchyriv

Diagnosis: non-compact left ventricular myocardium, chronic heart failure of the 1st degree, medical allergy.