Pavlo Kazarin. 10 years of tradition saving children's hearts

On December 3, Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Pavlo Kazarin celebrates his birthday.

Every year, Pavlo launches a charity fundraiser to purchase heart implants (occluders) for children born with heart defects. For these children, an occluder is not just a medical device. It is a chance to live, run, breathe without pain, and move forward into the future without fear.

This year, Pavlo is helping six children from different regions of Ukraine — those whose childhood is held back by illness and for whom surgery is the only way to avoid dangerous complications. These are children who fight for their hearts every day. And we can help them win this fight.

Children who will receive support under the project:

1. Anna Khomych, 13 years old, Rivne region

A quiet and very gentle girl who dreams of living without shortness of breath and chest pain. Anna was born with a congenital heart defect that is steadily progressing. She needs an occluder to close the pathological opening and protect her heart. Her family is large and low-income. Her mother lives in constant anxiety for her daughter.

2. Yelyzaveta Fil, 14 years old, Poltava region

Yelyzaveta grew up without any health problems—until SARS became the beginning of long examinations and the discovery that her heart was not working properly. She has a patent ductus arteriosus, which causes pain, weakness, and is life-threatening. Her father went missing in the war. Her mother underwent three difficult operations and lost her job. The family cannot afford the implant.

3. Vitalina Popovich, 15 years old, Vinnytsia

Born after many years of struggling with infertility, Vitalina is a true miracle for her family. She is the Ukrainian champion in aerial gymnastics, an excellent student, and a girl who dreams of becoming a doctor. But her own heart now needs treatment: she has a patent ductus arteriosus, which is dangerous for her life and athletic future. Her older brother died in the war. Her parents are temporarily unemployed. An implant is her only chance to return to sports and her normal life.

4. Viktoria Yelchishcheva, 16 years old, Kharkiv

Active, cheerful, and inquisitive, Viktoria has been doing gymnastics since childhood and dreams of great victories.  For seven years, her mother believed that the heart defect that had been detected would close on its own. But the latest examination showed that the patent ductus arteriosus had not disappeared. She urgently needs an occluder. The family lives on a small income, which does not allow them to purchase the implant. Victoria dreams of returning to sports and living without restrictions.

5. Svitlana Bedareva, 9 years old, Vinnytsia region

A girl deprived of parental care. Svitlana grew up in difficult conditions and then ended up in a boarding school. There, they noticed that she often felt tired and complained of chest pain. Examinations revealed a serious defect—a patent ductus arteriosus. No one but her teachers and guardians are fighting for her. To protect the child, she needs an occluder. This is an opportunity she cannot get without our help.

6. Dmytro Khilyuk, 10 years old, Boryspil

Dima is a bright, smiling boy who has not yet learned to be afraid. He lives a normal childhood life: he is curious about the world, clings to his mother, and rejoices in simple things. He has no idea that inside his small body, his heart is working under excessive strain. The boy was born completely healthy. But during a routine examination, the doctor heard alarming noises in his heart for the first time. Further examination confirmed the worst fears: a congenital heart defect that required urgent surgery to install an occluder. This family has already gone through a great ordeal. In November 2024, Dima's older sister, Anya, underwent a complex operation to remove a tumor from her spine. The family had not yet recovered from one pain when life presented them with a new one—the fight for their younger son's heart. Dima does not complain. He does not know the words “occluder” or “surgery.” But his heart is working at its limit every day, and without help, it will become more and more tired with each passing month.

Together, we can not only wish Pavel a happy birthday, but also give children the most valuable gift of all—a healthy heart.