Kashuba Sashko

How is this: waiting 10 years for the birth of a long‑awaited son, and when the baby is 4 months old, learning that he is seriously ill? Sashko is already 3 years old, and his mother is still waiting for a miracle.

Mother's letter:

Our long‑awaited Sashun is only 3 years old, and he already has so many health problems. He lags behind in both physical and mental development. I learned that my child has a heart defect (patent arterial duct) at the 4‑month mark of his life. Only then did the doctor hear heart murmurs and give the terrible diagnosis—a congenital heart defect.

Every three months we underwent examinations hoping it would close, but unfortunately three years have passed and the miracle hasn't happened. Sasha needs an urgent operation because his heart has enlarged and the consequences could be fatal. He needs an endovascular closure of the duct using an occluder, as he simply cannot tolerate an open surgery. The operation itself is free; we only need to purchase the implant—the occluder—which costs a huge amount of money for our family. I stay at home caring for the sick child, and my husband also has no steady work because there simply isn’t any in the village. But I know and believe that my little one will live!

Tears, sleepless nights, constant terrifying fear for his life – such a worthless price to pay for this little beloved heart to keep beating. For ten years I have been treating infertility and waiting for my long‑awaited happiness; I have one son and will have no more children. We desperately need your help! Recently our financial situation has become difficult, and my son needs to be saved. So I ask everyone who can: help my little boy! I have met many understanding, kind, compassionate people in life and I am confident that even in this hard situation there will be people who can understand my feelings, worries and hope that my child will live.

We will be grateful to everyone who is not indifferent to our sorrow!

This project was supported as part of the charitable marathon #SomnenieChallenge 2.0

Full name: Kashuba Oleksandr Dmytrovych, 30.02.2013

City: Chernihiv Oblast

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – patent arterial duct

All details and documentation are here.