Sashko Nakonichnyi

A mother of fifteen‑year‑old Sashka Nakanetskoho from the Vinnytsia region reached out to our foundation. During a medical examination in 2009, the child was found to have a congenital heart defect – coarctation of the aorta. Unfortunately, the family did not have the money to travel to Kyiv to the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery and confirm this diagnosis. This year, the Administration of Health Protection and Recreation of the city of Vinnytsia allocated funds to the Nakanetskoho family so they could travel to Kyiv for examination.

At the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, this diagnosis was confirmed and they urgently recommended surgery to close the defect with an intracardiac implant (stent), because the boy is growing and the load on his heart is increasing, which could lead to serious consequences. The operation is free of charge, but the stent (intracardiac implant) at that time cost 50 876 UAH. For the Nako­nych family, this is not a realistic amount they could gather over a lifetime. They have a large family living in a village in an old clay house. Mother and father are unemployed, as there is no work in the village. The family lives off the garden and the farm they maintain.

Thanks to Danone in Ukraine and partner companies, which together with the Open Hearts of Ukraine Charity Foundation and the Ukrainian Charity Exchange organized the charitable “Run with Faith in the Heart 2014” across cities of Ukraine (the run was organized to support children with sick hearts), the necessary amount for Sashko to purchase an intracardiac implant was collected.

04.12.14 at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, Oleksandr Nakanichnyi’s operation was successfully completed, and already on 05.12.14 representatives of Danone in Ukraine came to visit the boy. 08.12.14 Sasha was discharged from the clinic completely healthy! Now Oleksandr Nakanichnyi will be able to live a full life, without heart pain.

We sincerely thank the company “Danone” in Ukraine, the “Open Hearts of Ukraine” charitable foundation, and the Ukrainian Charity Exchange for their help in raising funds for the fifteen‑year‑old boy Oleksandr. Thank you for your diligent work and professionalism, for your humanity and compassion, and for your willingness to extend a helping hand.