Save Dasha`s heart

Dasha received disability in her 9 years old. Doctors were examining the girl on a background of chronic bronchitis 3 years ago. Looking for the cause of constant illness, they put much more serious diagnosis. Doctors discovered a birth defect of the heart - secondary defect of the atrial membrane. A child needs urgent surgery for installing the implant to correct the defect. The purpose of this project is to help Dasha's poor family to raise money for the implant purchasing.

Because of the illness , Dasha went to study at school № 4 for cardiacs. Here, in addition to schoolwork, Dasha is under the constant supervision of medical staff and also she is being treated and is not physically overloaded.

Last time Dasha was being examined in Kiev Scientific -Practical Medical Centre of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Doctors advised not to wait and to do the endovascular surgery that completely corrects the defect immediately. The reason is that the disease will progress every year, and the defect will increase . Heart defect will constantly and steadily deteriorate the overall health of the girl. The operation is free. But the occlude - implant that should be placed in Dasha's heart to close the defect in the atrial membrane – costs 32,000 UAH. That's a big amount of money for the family, it cannot collect the sum alone. The family does not have its own dwelling , everybody lives in a two-bedroomed great-grandmother 's apartment. They live with the grandmother, who is a second group disabled. She has got a tumor on her left eye, she is gradually losing her eyesight. The great-grandmother is very old and she also has got lots of her own illnesses. The pensioners need a constant care and support.

Dasha is an active, cheerful and sociable child. She is fond of animals and she wants to become a veterinarian. Dasha dreams of dancing but unfortunately it is impossible because of the illness.

Please help Dasha's dream come true!

Name: Dasha Belan

City: Dnepropetrovsk

Diagnosis: Birth defect of the heart - secondary defect of the atrial membrane