Nedashkivska Nastia

Three‑year‑old Nastia Nedashkivska was born with a congenital heart defect—a secondary defect of the interatrial septum. Doctors insisted on the earliest possible surgery to implant an occluder that would correct the defect. Unfortunately, the family had to purchase the implant with their own funds, and they did not have enough money.

Nastia was born earlier than expected and weighed 2 030 grams. After birth she was transferred to the intensive care unit, and only after a month she and her mother were discharged home. The family’s second surprise came six months after her birth: in the morning, Nastia’s eyes began to swell, and an examination of her kidneys showed everything was fine. When the child caught a cold, the pediatrician heard murmurs in her heart. The diagnosis was established: congenital heart defect – a secondary defect of the interatrial septum. The girl was only 7 months old, and there was no immediate threat to her life; the doctors advised waiting and hoping for a miracle, but the miracle never came.

Now Nastia is 3 years old, and the girl urgently needs surgery because she gets sick very often: just this summer Nastia fell ill with pneumonia twice. Frequent illnesses can cause complications for the heart. The child needed an implant — an occluder, which will fully correct the defect of the atrial septum and close the congenital heart defect. The family was short of 20 000 UAH to purchase the occluder. With the help of close relatives and acquaintances they were able to raise only 12 000 UAH. Unfortunately, the family cannot raise the entire amount on its own. Only one father works, and his salary is low. Nastia is not the only child in the family; there is an older brother who this year started 2nd grade. After her maternity leave, the mother has to stay at home because Nastia needs home care.

Nastunya is an energetic, friendly, curious, and cheerful girl. She is growing up musical and artistic, loves her little brother and her grandmother. Unfortunately, because of her illness she cannot live a full life. At the cardio‑center where Nastia was examined, the doctors advised her mother to turn to the Future Hearts Charity Foundation, which helps children with congenital heart defects. Her mother contacted us, and we promised her assistance. Since the child needed an urgent operation, we decided not to delay and immediately asked the UBB for help in raising funds for an intracardiac implant for Nastunya Nedashkivska. The project started on 11 February 2014. The fundraising was carried out through an online service. Ninety‑one donors took part in the project, and on 26 February 2014 the required amount was collected, thanks to all the caring and compassionate people.

But, unfortunately, on 04.03.14 Nastia suddenly fell ill with acute bronchitis and was on outpatient treatment. Consequently, they could not perform her surgery at the scheduled time. Our foundation, immediately after the UBB transferred the money to our account, purchased an occluder (implant) for Nastia, which waited for her until full recovery. After recovering for two weeks, on 24.03.14 Nastia and her mother were hospitalized at the Scientific and Practical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, where she underwent pre‑operative examinations, as a planned operation for implant placement and defect correction was scheduled for 26.03.14. In the morning before the operation, Nastia developed a runny nose, and the doctors decided that surgery could not be performed in that condition and postponed it until the child fully recovered. On 26.03.14 Nastia and her mother were discharged home, advised to see a therapist. For the next two weeks Nastia remained on outpatient treatment for an acute respiratory infection. After all illnesses, the doctors recommended that the child recover completely and postpone the operation for the next two‑three months so that her heart and body could fully heal. The parents took the child to the village so she could recuperate.

After a thorough examination by doctors on 02.07.14 at the Kyiv Scientific and Practical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the girl successfully underwent an operation to close a congenital heart defect – a secondary atrial septal defect. We are very happy for Nastunya and her family, that despite obstacles they were able to overcome this terrible disease at such a young age. And in her future life the child will not even suspect that she once had a sick heart. From the bottom of our hearts we thank the entire UBB team for their help in raising funds for the project “Save Nastunya Nedashkivska’s Heart”. Thank you for your diligent work and professionalism, for your humanity and inexhaustible compassion! We also express huge gratitude to all donors for their assistance and for not being indifferent to the fates of other people.

Name: Nastia Nedashkivska, 3 years

City: Kyiv

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

All the details and documentation are here.