Dukhnenko Sasha

Sashko Dukhnenko, 11, has been living with a disability since childhood and has Down syndrome. Recently, doctors also discovered a congenital heart defect—an open arterial duct. Sashko urgently needs an occluder (intracardiac implant) that will make his heart healthy. Open surgery for his condition is not recommended because it could lead to complications. Sashko is an orphan; his parents have passed away. No one else will help him except us!

Since November 2014 he has been living in a children’s boarding house. The boy has a guardian, his older sister‑student, who lives in a dormitory. The Duhnenko family has no one to turn to for help. The intracardiac implant (occluder, urgently needed for Sashko) costs 75,114 UAH. Raising that amount from his sister’s scholarship is impossible. Project goal: to heal the heart of 11‑year‑old Sashko!

Letter from my sister, the caregiver:

I am Anna, sister and caregiver of Sashko, who needs help. My brother has been disabled since childhood due to a genetic condition—Down syndrome. Our parents have passed away, so since November 2014 Sashko has been living in a children’s orphanage. I study at the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine as a full‑time student, so I look after my brother on weekends and holidays. During an examination of my brother on 20.11.2014 at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, he was diagnosed with an open arterial duct, and he urgently needs surgery to place an occluder through the artery in his thigh. I really want to help my brother, but unfortunately I have no money to purchase the occluder. I am a student, and it is impossible to raise such an amount on a scholarship; there is no one else who can help us. My little brother is a very cheerful and active child who loves sports—especially athletics and gymnastics. I kindly ask all caring people to help my family!

On 13.05.2015, a successful operation to implant an intracardiac device was performed on Sasha Dukhnenko at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. Thanks to the intervention, on 15.05.2015 the child was discharged from the clinic with a healthy heart. We have grown very fond of Sasha and his little sister Hanna, and we are so happy for them. A huge thank you to everyone who helped; we especially thank the Green Forest school, which raised and transferred 15 825 UAH to the project. Thanks to all of you, Sasha and Hanna have realized that they are not alone! We are delighted that Sasha’s heart is now healthy

Full name: Dukhnenko Oleksandr Olegovych, 24.09.2003

City: Kyiv Oblast

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – patent arterial duct

All details and documentation are here.