Save infants' vision

"My name is Mary, I weigh less than 2 kilograms and live for 2 months. Born very tiny, weighing only 900 grams, I was not ready for life outside the mother's womb, and something went wrong in my eye development. Ophthalmologist set diagnosis:. "Retinopathy of prematurity". I know that there are only 72 hours to operate my eyes with laser, or I will never again can see. It's night and I going from Lviv to Kiev in reanimobile, and many doctors and nurses, as well as mine mom and dad are very worried as I move the way.

I know that there were children who were born even smaller 500-700 grams, the lung condition that is not allowed to go to them in such a difficult and long journey, and they were not able to make such a life-saving operation and now they are healthy, but the blind. It would be nice if I could treat my eyes here on the ground, in the walls that have become family to me. However, to date, this is not possible, and I have to go ... "

Each year, only in Lviv and Lviv region are born preterm more than 1 000 children, of which 100 – with extremely low body weight, and 20-30 of them require urgent of retinal laser photocoagulation in connection with the development of retinopathy of prematurity, which is the first cause of irreversible vision loss in infants in the world. In connection with the improvement of the care of the neonatology and children all with lower body weight, frequent cases when surgery is needed urgently, but serious condition does not permit transportation of such child. Available in Lviv own ophthalmoscope and conduct similar operations in place, would help preserve vision for many kids. In particular, in 2015 the hospital "Okhmatdet" Kyiv from Lviv, in reanimobile conditions, was transported 20 babies with diagnosis and surgical treatment of retinopathy.

In the structure of the Lviv regional clinical hospital established aid unit for premature children, namely, neonatal intensive care unit and pathology of premature infants. It employs people who are able to provide high-quality medical care, have golden hands and good hearts. However, the diagnosis and treatment of sick infants involve considerable financial costs associated with the need to use modern medical equipment, medicines and other things. In the difficult economic situation currently help in any form will be a significant contribution to saving the lives of young citizens of Ukraine.

We do not always get a feel for how important is our, albeit small, to help other people. It is very easy to understand. Try blindfolded at least 5 minutes and perform simple everyday things – make the kitchen to make coffee, find a cake ... And imagine – that you remove the bandage in a moment, but for some it might be forever.