Transporter Yana

17‑year‑old Yana from Chernivtsi has a disability; in her teenage years she was diagnosed with diabetes. Since childhood she dreamed of becoming a chef, she passed the interview, aced all the exams, but unfortunately, because of her health condition she was not accepted. Yana’s first dream did not come true. Yet she didn’t fall into despair—she took charge of herself and learned to live with the disease.

At 17, Yana faced a new blow: during a routine medical check‑up, doctors discovered she had a congenital heart defect—a coarctation of the aorta. Yana urgently needed surgery using an intraventricular implant (a stent), because an open operation was not recommended given her first diagnosis of diabetes. The surgery itself is free, but the stent costs 57 000 UAH. Unfortunately, the Perevoznyk family could not afford the implant. Yana’s mother works as a nail technician and earns the minimum wage each month, while her father works as a security guard at a private company and receives 1 500 UAH per month. To raise the necessary sum, the Perevoznyk family would need years—time they sadly did not have for their little girl.

After the successful “Children of Peace” campaign carried out together with SC Johnson and Watsons, which resulted in the purchase of three intracardiac implants and saved three lives, SC Johnson could not remain indifferent to children with congenital heart defects and offered its assistance to the families who turned to the Future Hearts Charity Foundation to help raise the necessary funds for acquiring occluders (intracardiac implants). At that time the foundation was supporting five children: Svystun Polina – 2 years 7 months, Maylatova Natasha – 8 years, Sofiika Melnyk – 5 years, Natasha Zavialova – 11 years and Perevoznyk Yana – 17 years.

SC Johnson transferred the required amount of 57 000 UAH for the purchase of an intracardiac implant (stent), and on 17.06.14 the Future Hearts Charity Foundation purchased a stent for Yana Perevoznyk. On 22.07.14 at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery a successful operation to close a congenital heart defect – coarctation of the aorta – was performed on Yana Perevoznyk. On 24.07.14, before Yana’s discharge, representatives of SC Johnson and the Future Hearts Charity Foundation visited the girl, talked with her mother, and confirmed that she felt well and was leaving the hospital completely healthy.

As a token of gratitude, Yana presented SC Johnson with a sweet surprise cake that she baked herself. Thanks to SC Johnson, one of Yana’s dreams—to have a healthy heart—came true! For her second dream—to become a chef—Yana promised not to betray it and to definitely achieve it!

The Perveznyk family and the Future Hearts charity foundation thank SC Johnson from the bottom of our hearts for your love of children and boundless humanity, as well as for your priceless contribution to a healthy future for the children of our country. Thank you for your compassion and kindness; despite the difficult situation in the country, you find the time and resources to help those in need. We wish continued growth and prosperity to SC Johnson!