Koshova Nastyusia

Six‑year‑old Nastuna urgently needs surgery to place an intracardiac implant (a spiral) because she has a congenital heart defect—a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. This is a very common and insidious defect that can cause pulmonary hypertension if it isn’t closed in time. Her parents have known about this defect since the child’s birth, but doctors gave hope that it might close on its own without surgical intervention.

The girl gets sick with acute respiratory infections (ARI, ARD) very often. At the latest examination at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, doctors reported that without surgical intervention the defect will no longer close on its own and will only get larger. This could later lead to heart failure in the child. Therefore, Nastia urgently needs an intracardiac implant (a coil) that will make the girl's heart completely healthy. However, for the Koshovykh family the amount of 109 140 UAH is unaffordable. On their own they have managed to raise only 20 000 UAH. The remaining 89 140 UAH cannot be collected without your help. Let’s together help Nastia have a healthy heart! Letter from the mother:

Our daughter has a congenital heart defect—a perimembranous ventricular septal defect. The doctors insist on an urgent operation to implant an occluder that would correct the defect. Unfortunately, we are unable to purchase the implant at our own expense. Our love for our little girl and the hopeless situation compel us to ask for your help.

Our daughter was born with a congenital heart defect, and straight from the maternity hospital we went to the Odessa Regional Cardiology Clinic for examination. There a doctor examined us, confirmed the diagnosis and reassured us, saying the defect could heal on its own, and sent us home. After 1.5 months we returned for another check‑up. The doctor said we were improving, that the defect had shrunk from 5 mm to 4.5 mm. The next examination was scheduled for a year later, then another year later. And so we kept traveling until Nastia turned six. She began to fall ill frequently with viral infections and tire quickly, so we decided to go to Kyiv for a check‑up there. The doctors’ conclusion stunned and shocked us: they insist on an urgent operation, but we have no money to purchase the implant.

We live in a village; I work as a caregiver in a kindergarten and receive a minimum salary, and my husband works in the same kindergarten part‑time as a handyman. All we have been able to collect on our own is 20 000 UAH. Therefore we ask all caring people to help us! Nastunya is a very talented girl—she draws beautifully, sings, and loves dancing most of all. Unfortunately, because of her illness she cannot fully pursue her beloved activity. I ask all compassionate people to help in our situation and give our daughter a chance at a full life!

May the Lord bless you for your help!

Full name: Koshova Anastasiia Maksymivna, 09.02.2011

City: v. Konceba, Odesa region

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – perimembranous ventricular septal defect

All details and documentation are here.