News August 2025

This stage of 16-year-old Valeria's life is a time of waiting and hope.

Lera has cerebral palsy and microcephaly, but now another diagnosis is poisoning her days and threatening her life: scoliosis.

When she entered her growth spurt, her spine curved so much that now her right ribs press against her pelvic bones, squeezing her lung, kidney and intestines.

Lera needs surgery to straighten her spine at the Okhmatdyt clinic. The cost of the implant set for her is unaffordable for the family. Only 20% has been collected so far, so the surgery planned for September will probably have to be postponed.

Fortunately, Valeria is feeling well so far, despite the shelling at night and air raid sirens during the day. Her mother regularly exercises her muscles and joints. When she has time, Valeria enjoys walking with her father or the whole family near the lakes located not far from their home in Vilnohirsk.

A rehabilitation course is scheduled for August in Kyiv to prepare for the operation. The development and reduction of trunk muscle tone will make the operation easier and allow the spine to be fixed more evenly with plates.

‘We are preparing for the operation mentally and physically,’ writes her mother, ‘and we really hope for your support and help!’

Friends, let's do everything we can to make Lera and her family's hopes come true so that she can straighten her back and breathe freely again!