Sofiyka doesn't want to be sick

Primary immunodeficiency is a congenital genetic disease. Approximately 1 000 children are sick with this form of immunodeficiency. But this disease isn't a verdict. But the time is to the disease's advantage, because this illness is often diagnosed when the child is 8-10-year-old, when it's too late. Children die before the illness is diagnosed or they have morphological changes in their bodies. Sometimes doctors make the children undergo useless surgical interventions. Gamma-interferon therapy is a way to a full life of the child. And Sofiyka is one from the children who was accurate diagnosed at the age of 5.

The first symptoms of the disease appeared at the age of 1.5. Being so small, she was hospitalized with lymphadenitis. The girl underwent surgery and was sent home. Since then, Sofiyka checked into a hospital many times. The child always felt weak, ate poorly and often got sick. Doctors commented that child's bad health condition is because of complications of tuberculosis vaccination. In 2007, the girl was found Salmonella, Sofia underwent treatment. After that sepsis appeared. Girl was treated with antibiotics for a long time. Sofia's lymph nodes constantly inflamed, than they were cleaned and removed. Her mother recalls with horror the number of hospitals that they had to visit before the correct diagnosis was made.

In 2008 Sofia and her mother went to the Kiev city children's center of clinical immunology where was made a diagnosis – primary immunodeficiency. Family has no funds for treatment with gamma-interferon, therefore Sofia is treated with antibiotics.

Sofia does love to study and tries not to miss her classes. Now the girl finishes the second form, and shows big abilities for drawing. Every day the girl takes the pills and goes to school, though she feels permanent weakness. Without replaceable therapy Sofiyka will have respiratory infections every week. Antibiotics will just not allow colds to become complicated. Sofia needs 24 bottles of the preparation "Ingaron" on a two-month course of treatment. The cost of one bottle is 600 UAH. Total amount for two-month course is 14 400 UAH.

Little Sofiyka can pick up a serious infectious disease at any moment. To avoid this, she just need to take this course of treatment. Every donation helps protect the girl from severe complications. Therefore, there is great hope that together we can help Sofiyka.

 

Name: Sofia V. Sereda, 12/12/2005

Location: Kyiv region, Obukhiv district, Husachivka village

Diagnosis: primary immunodeficiency