They don't see her, she doesn't hear them...

They cannot see her and she cannot hear them… Such unbearably sad story was told to us by a dad of one little girl Veronika. "They say that lightning never strikes twice in the same place. But, sometimes it is possible three times. My name is Oleksandr, my wife name is Nadiia. We met at Odessa Boarding School for Blind Children (my wife and I have less than one percent of a sense of vision of each eye). We are married almost for five years, and more than one year we spent on visiting doсtors-geneticists, who assured us that vision problem would not be transmitted to the child. They didn’t indeed...

All possible studies showed that a completely healthy child should be born. We have a daughter Veronika. The doctor's conclusion at the discharge from the hospital was a huge shock for us: "Consultation of a cardiologist is recommended." Further tests showed that the child has hearing problems. Diagnosis is the fourth degree of deafness. On the recommendation of doctors, we purchased earphones for the child with the help of sponsors...

A year and a half passed. A repeated examination in the Kiev Center of Hearing showed that the external earphones do not give a result and cochlear implantation is necessary to return a hearing to the child. We were put in line for free implantation under the state program. Our number in line is 351 ... At the Center of Hearing, we were immediately warned that every year the funding is different and nobody knows in how many years our turn comes. Now Veronika is three and a half years old. And, in order to give our daughter a normal life, implantation is needed as soon as possible. The account issued by the clinic is more than 800 thousand UAH, it is a verdict and despair for our family. Fortunately, the German Charity Organization «Heart for Children» is ready to help in the collection of funds, provided that half of this amount, 403,000 UAH, we will collect ourselves. But, it is very difficult for people with disabilities to find high-paying jobs. The sum that I earn and government pay to our family is barely enough to pay for classes with the teacher of the deaf and the needs of the child.

We really hope that with the help of caring people we will collect the needed sum of money, and provide the girl with an operation in time. Thanks to cochlear implant Veronika will be able to attend school and get higher education later, she will be able to understand other kids, play with them. It often sounds obscured "mom" and "dad" from the mouth of our little girl... And, we would very much like that one day she answered "and I love you!" to our "we love you". Help Veronika to hear this world. We will be grateful to everyone, even for the smallest help...".

Name: Kistiuk Veronika, 09.01.2014

City: Odessa

Diagnosis: bilateral chronic sensorineural deafness