A birthday that changes destinies

Polihenko Bohdan, born 28.02.2019 (Chernihiv region)

– Chukhno Anna Vitaliivna, born 11.01.2013 (Kyiv region)

Miroslava was taken into a family under guardianship when she was only 6 months old, and she quickly became the beloved of her new family. Now Miroslava is 2 years old, and she is a sincere, intelligent child. The little one had a congenital heart defect – an atrial septal defect – and required urgent surgery.

Bohdanich was born prematurely, weighing only 1.4 kg, and spent two months in the hospital under doctors’ supervision. From birth he was found to have a heart defect. Doctors hoped it would close on its own, but unfortunately it did not. The boy was under constant medical observation, and in August 2024 specialists of the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery recommended urgent surgery.

Anna is a cheerful, kind and active little girl. The congenital heart defect was first discovered during a medical examination before school enrollment. Doctors hoped the defect might close on its own, but recently the girl's condition worsened: the opening became larger, and the right chambers of the heart began to enlarge. To avoid additional strain on the heart, doctors prohibited Anna from all forms of physical activity. The child urgently needed surgery to close the defect.

Thanks to Svitlana and all caring donors, the hearts of these three children have been saved❤️

Thanks to the support of Svitlana Panaïotidi, funds were raised to purchase occluders for endovascular procedures for Elvira, Ivan and Dmytro. These children needed urgent intervention to correct congenital heart defects. Their families could not afford to purchase the implants needed to save their children.

Homolinska Elvira, 05.12.2022, Vinnytsia region. A congenital heart defect was detected at 3 months – a 3 mm patent arterial duct. At age 1 year and 7 months a repeat examination of the child was performed, and no improvement was observed. Surgery was recommended. Mother is on maternity leave, and father works at Vinnytsky National Technical University as a lecturer while also continuing his postgraduate studies.

Bordyuhov Ivan, 07.09.2016, Shakhtarsk, Donetsk region. Diagnosis: open arterial duct 2.0 mm. The heart defect was discovered in the maternity ward. The child undergoes regular examinations. Lately he has been feeling unwell and tires quickly. The family are internally displaced persons and now live in Kyiv. He has an older sister, Anastasiia, 13 years old. His mother works in a shop, and his father does occasional taxi driving.

Solokha Dmytro Serhiyovych, 04.08.2015, city of Dnipro. Three weeks after the child’s birth, a scheduled examination revealed an atrial septal defect. Unfortunately, the defect did not close on its own and gradually enlarged. The child has been recommended for an endovascular operation. Mother works in a dental clinic, father is a disability group III.

On 5 November 2024, we successfully performed the necessary surgeries on Dmytro, Elvira, and Ivan. The children are feeling well and are preparing for discharge home.

We sincerely thank Svitlana, who once again dedicates her birthday to good deeds.

Hlib Smaga, 11 years old, Kharkiv.

The boy was diagnosed with an open arterial duct. Despite the war, the family stayed in Kharkiv, where their house was damaged by shelling, and the father, a soldier, sustained a serious injury.

Iryna Shcherbatyuk, 10 years old, Uman.

An active, cheerful girl who was often ill until doctors discovered an unclosed arterial duct. Now she can run, play, and laugh—without shortness of breath or fatigue.

Viktoriia Shvydka, 14 years old, Odesa.

She was born prematurely, from the first days of life – in the intensive care unit. Doctors had observed the heart defect for years, but only this year they managed to perform the operation. Her mother died when the girl was less than a year old, and her father – a border guard – raises his daughter alone.

Now her heart beats steadily and strongly.

David Muzika, 3 years, Vinnytsia

One and a half years ago the first heart ultrasound showed no abnormalities. But during a routine check‑up the pediatrician heard murmurs. A repeat examination revealed a perimembranous defect of the interventricular septum—a condition that, without surgery, threatened the boy’s life. Davyd’s mother is temporarily not working, and his father is the sole breadwinner for a family that also includes his older sister Arina. The family could not afford to pay for the operation on their own.

Nazar Hladyshevskyi, 2.5 years, Cherkasy region

The first suspicions arose when she was just two months old: the doctor heard murmurs in her heart, but the ultrasound showed no abnormalities. As time passed, Mom noticed that Nazar tired quickly, sweated, and was less active than his peers. Repeated examinations gave no answers, until doctors at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery discovered an aneurysm of the membranous part of the interventricular septum that was already affecting the child's condition. Surgery was the only chance.