For her eyes not to fade away

A 9-year-old girl really wants to live but in Ukraine she cannot get help – for almost two years all available treatments have been exhausted. There is only one hope – treatment in Germany! To overcome neuroblastoma – a large tumor in the retroperitoneal cavity – our little princess needs help of the others. She needs help of those people who don’t know her but they still do care about her.

Until the autumn of 2011 her life was like everyone’s: she might catch a cold or some other minor disease. In autumn of 2011 Katia went to school. She grew thin but the parents thought it was because of the school. In early December she suffered from unexplainable fever and abdominal pain. They went for an ultrasound examination and were shocked – a huge tumor in the retroperitoneal cavity was detected. At the regional hospital biopsy was performed, a diagnosis was made – neuroblastoma and treatment began – chemotherapy. The treatment continued till June 2012. During that time Katia had been ill with chicken pox, pneumonia and spent 28 days in an intensive care ward. The tumor decreased but only slightly. That’s why Katia continued treatment at the National Institute of Cancer where she had 4 cycles of chemotherapy.

To remove the tumor the family applied to the Russian Cancer Research Center where in October 2012 a group of surgeons performed a 9-hour surgery. The treatment continued in Kyiv. After the operation Katia had 2 more cycles of chemotherapy. Then radiotherapy followed. And again 2 cycles of chemotherapy.

Eventually, in late April of 2013 Katia was discharged from the hospital! However, the treatment continued even at home – biotherapy. The summer passed quickly. Over the summer Katia even managed to catch up with her classmates. And on September 1st, 2013 she went to the third grade. But regular MIBG-scanning in September detected the presence of new lesions. And again chemotherapy!
After 2 cycles it was clear that such treatment did not produce results. Now the Ukrainian doctors cannot offer any methods of treatment – the girl can be treated only abroad. But the cost of treatment is too high for the family – 231 000 euros for the first stage. The Charitable Marathon is raising 150 000 euros. Katia’s family has to find the remaining amount – 81 000 euros. The girl’s parents will never be able to pay such a sum of money and they will not be able to cope with the disease on their own.

Kind-hearted, sympathetic, caring people! Help this child!