Diana Sliota

Ten‑year‑old Diana needs urgent help. For ten years everyone considered the girl perfectly healthy; she danced until she began feeling chest pain. After an examination, doctors discovered she has a congenital heart defect—an open arterial duct that must be closed immediately.

Letter from a mother:

I, Diana’s mother, am reaching out for help to all caring people! My child is now 10 years old, and until this moment we never imagined she lived with a congenital heart defect. We were diagnosed with an open arterial duct. The child lived with this for all 10 years, and we didn’t suspect it until my daughter started complaining of chest pain. We immediately took her to a hospital in Kharkiv. There they gave us this diagnosis. After that we came to Kyiv and, unfortunately, the diagnosis was confirmed. The doctors said that because the child has been living with this defect for 10 years, the operation needs to be performed as soon as possible, as complications may arise.

Diana has been actively dancing for many years, but this defect made it impossible. At the Kyiv Center of Cardiothoracic Surgery, the doctors told me that a surgery can be performed without opening the chest, using a modern occluder via an endovascular method. The operation itself is free of charge, but the occluder must be purchased out of pocket and costs 70 000 UAH. In our family only my husband works, because two years ago he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and is insulin‑dependent. At that time I was forced to leave my job in order to manage his diet and schedule. Unfortunately, this disease does not respond to other treatments—only insulin and properly prepared food five times a day in small portions. Therefore, our family cannot raise the required amount of money so quickly.

All we have managed to gather on our own is 15 000 UAH. Until now we didn’t even suspect this diagnosis; otherwise we would have started raising money earlier. And now we can’t afford to waste any more time… I sincerely ask all caring people to help us cure our little daughter so she can live a full life, without pain, and continue to pursue her dream – dancing!

With great respect and hope

Tears, Olena, and our whole family.

Full name: Slota Diana Serhiyivna, 30.09.2006

City: Lozova, Kharkiv region.

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – patent arterial duct

All details and documentation are here.