Her fingers need rest

Vasylisa is 13 years old. She is an ordinary teenager: she dreams, studies, plays sport, and loves table tennis and cheerleading. The girl knows how to set goals for herself and pursue them persistently. She is a kind, sincere, and talented child of whom her parents are boundlessly proud.

Three years ago the family's life changed forever – Vasylisa was admitted to intensive care in a state of diabetic coma. It was then that the family first heard the devastating diagnosis – type 1 diabetes, insulin-dependent.

For her parents it was a true shock, as no one in the family had ever had this condition. They did not know its early symptoms and could not imagine that ordinary thirst or weakness could be signs of danger.

Vasylisa spent almost a month in the children's hospital. It was there that a new life began – a life in which insulin is needed every day, with no days off and no holidays. The doctors explained that this is an autoimmune disease whose development may have been triggered by severe stress. And there had been, unfortunately, a great deal of stress in the girl's life.

At the start of the full-scale war, the family survived occupation, was forced to leave their home, live with strangers, wait for their city to be liberated, and start life over. Perhaps it was then that the girl's body gave way.

Her mother's heart breaks when she recalls that upon learning of her illness, Vasylisa set herself a goal: to recover by New Year's. New Year's came, but the illness did not retreat. Then the girl waited for Easter, hoping that on such a holiday she would surely get better. Vasylisa patiently endured the injections, blood sugar checks, and all the restrictions, because she sincerely believed that it would all pass soon. Her mother could not find the strength to tell her that type 1 diabetes does not pass. Only after a year was she able to have an honest conversation with her daughter. Together they then made the most important decision – not to fight against life, but to learn to live in a new way.

Today Vasylisa already understands well that stable blood sugar means discipline, insulin, proper nutrition, physical activity, and constant monitoring. Glucose monitoring sensors are a great help with the latter.

Her mother works as a mathematics teacher remotely at the same school where Vasylisa studies, which means she can be close to her daughter. With diabetes, this is sometimes vitally necessary.

Unfortunately, the family's current financial situation does not allow Vasylisa to use sensors continuously, which is why they need our support.