A chance for a little heart

This project was created as part of Vodafone Ukraine's charity program "A Good Deed as a Gift". Every year in Ukraine, about 3,500 children are born with congenital heart disease.

For many of them, the only chance for a full life is modern endovascular surgery, which allows them to eliminate the defect without incisions and long recovery. Such operations are performed with the help of special heart implants – occluders. They are inserted through a small puncture in the thigh, which minimizes trauma and allows the child to return home the next day.

Unfortunately, heart implants are not covered by government funding, which is why the Vodafone Ukraine's Good Deed as a Gift project gives a chance at life to those in need.

The goal of the project is to provide charitable assistance for the purchase of implants and save the lives of 5 children who are waiting for the opportunity to grow, dream and be healthy.

Andriy Yeremenko, born on 25.11.2021, Zhytomyr region. Andriy was born with a congenital heart defect - an open arterial duct. His parents learned about the pathology in the hospital. They hoped that over time the duct would close on its own. But the miracle did not happen. The only chance to avoid complications is to undergo endovascular surgery to close the duct. Andriy lives only with his mother.  The family is not able to pay for the cost of the implant on their own.  The cost of the occluder is 49 500 UAH.

Stepulenko Valeria, born on 29.09.2020, Kyiv region. Valeria has a congenital heart defect: an open arterial duct. It was discovered by accident three years ago during hospital treatment. Valeria has a physical disability, but despite this, she overcomes challenges every day with amazing strength. She is active, sincere, kind and very sociable. But without timely surgery, the girl's heart may develop complications. Valeria deserves a full childhood - without pain, limitations and fear. The cost of the occluder is 49 500 UAH.

Maryna Malysheva, born on 18.10.2019, Zaporizhzhia region. Since birth, Marine has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect - an atrial septal defect. The girl is constantly under the supervision of cardiologists and now doctors recommend endovascular surgery to avoid serious complications.Marine lives with her family in Zaporizhzhia, near the front line. Because of the danger, she studies online. The family has two young children, and her mother is on maternity leave. The family is unable to raise funds for the necessary implant on their own. The cost of the occluder is 140 598 UAH.

Fesenko Alisa, born on 12.06.2022, Poltava. Alisa was born full-term and healthy, with no signs of heart problems in the first year of life. However, at the age of 1 year and 3 months, during a routine ultrasound, doctors discovered a congenital heart defect – a defect in the atrial septum. Since then, the girl has been under the supervision of cardiologists. The diagnosis was confirmed at the regional hospital and at the Heart Institute of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, where it was recommended to perform endovascular intervention with the installation of an occluder to eliminate the defect. The cost of the implant is 140 598 UAH.

Daiana Lashchenko, born on 06.12.2020, Khmelnytsky region. The girl was born full-term and healthy. But already in the first days of her life, doctors discovered a congenital heart defect – patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Initially, the family hoped that the defect would close on its own, but this did not happen. Three long years of hopes and observations resulted in the doctors' decision: endovascular intervention with closure of the ductus using an occluder was needed. This is the only way for Diana to live a full life without a threat to her heart. But the cost of the occluder is unbearable for the family. The cost of the implant is 116 202 UAH.

Together we will give children the most valuable thing – a healthy heart and a future.