Smile outside but pain inside

Andrii is a very positive and open-hearted boy. Looking at him smiling on the photo, it is impossible to imagine how much he has already suffered and all that pain he is still experiencing now. Andrii has multiple malformations of the central nervous system and several related conditions. In simple terms, the entire left side of his body is paralysed: his brain, face, tongue, hand and internal organs.

Andrii is now 16 years old, since birth he has been stubbornly fighting for his life. Immediately after birth, he did not cry and had to be immediately resuscitated. But there were no major visible problems although he had six toes on one foot and a commissure of fingers on his hand. However, during his first year of life he had to be resuscitated five times in total, otherwise he would have died.

Eventually, doctors found the cause of the problems. Andrii had an anomaly in his central nervous system development which subsequently led to paralysis of the entire left side of his body. As a result of a very hard work, his left side is now partly functional but is still dealing with numerous problems. Nevertheless multiple diagnoses, Andrii still tries to stay positive. He moves on walkers, using a wheelchair on long distances. At home, he tries to take steps on his own. Since November 2019, Andrii has been wearing a Cheneau corset to correct his spinal deformities. Andrii is now studying for an auxiliary program in a special school. He is fond of computer graphics making amazing drawings. One of his works adorns the Arab Cultural Center in Odessa, Ukraine.

Andrii urgently needs surgical intervention. He needs to align his left foot so that he can walk confidently and painlessly. In addition, it is necessary to eliminate his finger’s deformation. Andrew, his mother and the entire team of Spasibo Charity Organisation appeal to all for help in raising funds to pay for the very needed operation. Please, help Andrii!

Name: Dragoner Andrii, 12.12.2003

City: Odesa

Diagnosis: multiple congenital malformations of the central nervous system, agenesis of the corpus callosum, hemispheric arachnoid cysts, left hemiparesis, non-kinosogenic dyskinesias. Tetraparesis. Focal systematic epilepsy. S-shaped scoliosis III degree. Strabismus. Flat valgus deformity of the left foot. Deformation of the first toe of the right foot. High standing patella