Potorocha Yuliia

Recently I learned that I was born with a heart defect; after birth my Botallo’s duct did not close, and now it is 4 mm in size. I have lived with this problem for a full 16 years. I have not been going to school for 2 months. Initially I had pneumonia, this is the second pneumonia I have suffered from. It was while I was lying in the hospital that I was referred to the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, where I was told that all my illnesses are due to heart problems.

Since then it has been worrying me a lot. At night I can’t fall asleep because my heartbeat exceeds the normal range, my pulse is 128 beats per minute, and I start to tremble. Even in a store I can’t stand for more than 15–20 minutes; my head begins to spin, I feel hot, and I could simply lose consciousness. Doctors at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery say that surgery is unavoidable: if it is postponed, serious complications may arise. To solve my problem, an occluder is needed, which costs almost 100 000 UAH. Unfortunately, my family does not have such funds.

I live with my mother and my retired grandmother. My mother works as a hairdresser (informally), so we don’t have a stable income. Mom can earn either 2 000 or 1 000 UAH per month, and my grandmother’s pension is 1 480 UAH. We pay all utilities thanks to a subsidy. I feel sorry for my mother, because when I feel bad at night she also can’t sleep. I hear her praying for my health and crying, because she can’t help me in any way.

The news that I need surgery was a shock for me. I am now finishing 11th grade, with graduation, the ZNO and university admission looming. Since the 9th grade, my dream has been to enroll at O. O. Bohomoltsia University to study medicine, but because there are very few state‑funded places and tuition costs about 28 000 UAH per year, I have no chance. So I decided to apply for the part‑time program of the Faculty of Pharmacy, so that I can study while working and afford the fees. My future dream is to build a family and have healthy children, but with a congenital heart defect I fear I won’t be able to.

I am calling on all compassionate people: please help me raise funds for treatment! I want to thank each of you in advance—thank you! Keep us safe, Lord!

Full name: Yuliia Oleksandrivna Potorocha, 13.05.2000

City: Nizhyn, Chernihiv region

Diagnosis: patent arterial duct

All details and documentation are here.