Melnyk Margarita

Margarita is a late and long‑awaited child in the family. The girl has a congenital heart defect – a secondary defect of the interatrial septum. The parents learned about the terrible diagnosis when Margarita turned 10 months old. But the family did not give up! They visited every cardio center with the girl, and each time the diagnosis was confirmed. Doctors advised not to rush into surgery and to keep monitoring, because there are cases where the defect closes on its own. That is exactly what they did. However, waiting any longer is no longer an option.

Before her maternity leave, Margarita’s mother worked as a crane operator at one of the metallurgical plants in the city of Zaporizhzhia. That job involved constant industrial dust, gas, vibration, and an irregular work schedule. Considering the nature of such hard work, becoming pregnant and carrying a healthy child was very problematic. But with God’s help, on 04.08.2012 a wonderful, long‑awaited, and, as the parents thought at the time, healthy girl was born. Although Margarita’s arrival increased the family’s concerns, they were pleasant ones. Until May 2013, the mother and child had not ended up in the hospital with a suspected pneumonia. After thorough examination there, the diagnosis was made: congenital heart defect – a secondary interatrial septal defect.

Doctors advised not to rush the operation and to have regular check‑ups, because sometimes the defect closes on its own. Unfortunately, at the latest examination the doctors reported that the defect is getting larger, and the child urgently needs surgery. The occluder costs as much as 53 607 UAH. The mother, Margarita, is on maternity leave caring for the child, receiving maternity benefits and disability payments for the child. The girl's father is a military pensioner and receives the minimum state pension.

The family's monthly budget is 3 653 UAH. It is very hard to live on that amount, and raising money for an implant is virtually impossible. Therefore, the family is reaching out to all compassionate and caring people to help their wonderful little girl obtain a healthy heart and give her a chance for a long and happy life!

Since the child needed an urgent operation, we decided not to delay and immediately asked for help at UBB in raising funds for an intracardiac implant. The project started on 11.11.2014. The fundraising was carried out using an online service. The project involved 7 donors and, thanks to the fortunate Melnyk family, the required amount was collected in record time, thanks to all the caring people. When we told the parents that literally in one day the required amount was collected, they could not believe it; they were overwhelmed with words of gratitude and joy.

On 26.11.14, at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, a successful operation to implant a device was performed on Margarita Melnyk. Thanks to the intervention, on 27.11.14 the child was discharged from the clinic with a healthy heart. Little Margarita was very lucky, thanks to all the caring and compassionate people who responded to the Melnyk family’s distress and ensured their child received the life‑saving operation in time. Now the girl will be able to live a full life without ever knowing a sick heart

From the bottom of our hearts we thank the entire UBB team for helping raise funds for the “Save the Little Heart of Margarita Melnyk” project. Thank you for your diligent work and professionalism, for your humanity and inexhaustible compassion! We also extend our huge gratitude to all donors for their assistance and concern for the fate of others.

Full name: Melnyk Margarita Volodymyrivna, 04.08.2012

City: Zaporizhzhia

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – secondary defect of the interatrial septum

All details and documentation are here.