Zhuny Yaroslava

Since birth, Yaroslavochka has been fighting for her life every day. After being discharged from the maternity hospital, Yaroslav received devastating diagnoses. Ten months after she was born, the little girl lost her sight. And recently, a congenital heart defect was added to the long list of diagnoses – an open arterial duct that urgently needs to be closed with an implant (coil).

The operation will prevent the enlargement of the heart cavities, which, if left unclosed, could later lead to heart failure. The goal of this project is to help an impoverished family raise funds for an intracardiac implant (coil) 20 000 UAH for their only daughter. Letter from the mother:

Our daughter was born on 21.09.2012 at Kyiv Maternity Hospital No. 2. Upon discharge, terrifying diagnoses were made: birth trauma, chronic bilateral subdural hematomas, seizure syndrome. We underwent consultations at the PAG Institute, the Institute of Endocrinology, the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery named after Academician A. P. Romodanov, and Akhmadit. After many tests, the diagnosis of congenital hyperinsulinism was established. The disease is extremely rare, and as we learned, there is no treatment experience in our country or the CIS countries for newborns with this condition…

We were never promised a full life; they said we needed to focus on rehabilitation with the child. We started learning to live again from scratch. Yaroslavochka refused to eat on her own and was fed through a tube. In November 2013 we had a consultation at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery, where an additional diagnosis of a congenital heart defect was made. The doctors confirmed that surgery was inevitable and that the arterial duct needed to be closed. Today our Yaroslavushka holds her head more confidently, brings her fists to her mouth, delights us with her smile, and her muscles are gradually strengthening. We are teaching her to turn over, an orthopedist has allowed her to stand on her feet, she now reacts to light, and she loves listening to music.

At this moment our family faces the need to perform an expensive operation for Yaroslavochka to close the arterial duct. All of our family’s income is directed toward the child’s treatment—examinations, medication, massages, tests, and nutrition. We ask everyone to help with our plight. Without your help we cannot manage. We believe we will overcome everything. With your assistance we will be able to get our little one on her feet, and she will catch up with her peers and grow up healthy.

On April 16, 2014, a successful operation to close the arterial duct was performed at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery on Yaroslava Zhun. On April 18, 2014, Yaroslava was discharged from the hospital with a healthy heart. We wholeheartedly wish little Yaroslava to overcome any future ailments with the same ease and never fall ill again. To her parents, we send confidence that their beloved Yaroslava will be fine, because it simply cannot be otherwise. And we all will soon be able to celebrate her successes.

Name: Zhun Yaroslava Oleksandrivna, 21.09.2012

City: Kyiv

Diagnosis: congenital heart defect – patent arterial duct

All details and documentation are here.