Dear friends, this summer was hot not only because of the weather, but also because of intense support to our care-receivers. Thank you for being always close and ready to help! The heart warmth and the love with which our sponsors and volunteers approach every child or adult in need of help cannot be measured in degrees Celsius, but its influence on the world around us, on our bodies and souls cannot be overestimated!

In June and July, owing to you, we have helped:
to a family in a difficult situation from Macedonia; with payment for treatment at the clinic Helios to Maxim Butenko, 12 years old, from Ukraine, rhabdomyosarcoma; to a family in a difficult situation from Berlin; to Masha Maximova, 5 years old, from Russia, heart surgery.
We have also received the guarantee letters from German funds concerning the payment for the treatment for Emil Shakirov, 4 years old, Ewing’s sarcoma, Pavel Bobarykin, 6 years old, congenital heart disease, Danila and Yaroslav Spiridonov, 17 years old, destruction of the hip joints, Anya Chemeris, 15 years old, congenital heart disease.

The annual international Volunteer Day has taken place. Without exaggeration, I can say that it was the best of all held in the last 5 years. The traditional charity event in the framework of Volunteer Day has brought about 2,000 euros, this will be used to pay for the treatment of our care-receiver in Ratingen. Thanks to everyone who has come and participated! The materials of the Day and some talks held can be found at our website: www.orthodiakonia.de

The following people are waiting for our help in August:

Gordey Yano, 3 years old, Kharkiv, Ukraine, tracheostomy. Gordey, one of twins, was born prematurely. He was immediately put on mechanical ventilation (ALV) due to unopened lungs and pneumonia. In the age of one month, he underwent a cardiac surgery to close the arterial duct. The trachea and ligaments of the child were damaged by the long-term intubation, so a tracheostomy – a tube through which he breathes – was installed in the age of 2.5 months. Because of this, Gordey has no voice, he has a difficulty to breath, he is very susceptible to diseases, since all the infections go directly to the lungs. Tracheostomy should be cleaned everyday, otherwise the child suffocates. Gordey and his sister Zlata both have hearing disabilities. Gordey got a cochlear implant. It is difficult for a child to develop with hearing problems without voice. A successful treatment of the respiratory tract has begun in Ichilov clinic, Israel. They remove a granuloma in the trachea. Now, yet another complicated reconstructive surgery (laryngotracheal plastic) is needed. After this, it will become possible to remove the tracheostomy. The costs of the surgery amount to EUR 65,800.

Ekaterina Korol, 20 years old, Zhytomyr, Ukraine. Because of an accident in her childhood, Katia got a spinal compression fracture. Since then, the vertebrae squeeze the nerve roots and spinal cord causing terrible pain. After many years of living in terrible pain, they managed to raise money for a surgery. That was held in 2018. Unfortunately, the structure installed in the course of the surgery could not bear the load and has bent, threatening to break into parts. An urgent re-operation is required. They have found a clinic in Vinnitsa. The mother of the girl works as a teacher in a specialized school for visually impaired children; the father does not take part in the fate of her daughter. The price of the issue: EUR 5 200 euros.

Sofia Mushkudiani, 6 years old, cerebral palsy, Tbilisi, Georgia. Sofia has suffered the oxygen starvation at birth. As a result, she has a big number of serious complications, she cannot swallow, keep her head, seat, and much more. We have helped this family two years ago to buy a device for pumping out the sputum, since the girl constantly suffers from pneumonia. In April of this year, a son was born in the family. The parents learned about the opportunity of a rare treatment with the stem cells extracted from the brother’s umbilical cord blood. At his birth, they manage to collect and preserve these cells. This treatment is practiced in Georgia since 2015. This is the only chance for little Sophia to make her life easier. The treatment costs about EUR 10,700.

Varvara Shelyagina, 7 years old, Abakan, retinoblastoma. We regularly help Varvara to come to Germany for a medical control. The girl has received a treatment at the University Hospital in Essen. Now, once a year, she requires an examination at this clinic. The family pays for the medical procedures on its own, but asks for help with the costs of air tickets. EUR 1,000 is required.

Ilya Krasilnikov, 4 years old, St. Petersburg, cerebral palsy, tetraparesis. He does not stand, he does not walk and hardly sits. From the age of 10 months, since the diagnosis was established, the parents began to arrange the courses of physical therapy for the child, to bring him to the specialists. On a regular basis, Ilya underwent rehabilitation courses in leading centers of Russia, and also underwent several surgeries. The result has became noticeable soon – the child has began to eat independently, he has mastered new movements. Despite the diagnosis and limited movements, Ilya is a cheerful boy. He is fully preserved intellectually. He seeks communication and playing games with other children, he dreams of a scooter. The mom supports him, her hero, and instills a confidence that he will succeed, he just needs to try hard! But, in order not to lose the skills acquired, and advance further, the child needs continuous and proper rehabilitation. The family managed to find this for the child in the rehabilitation center Olinek, Poland. After a course in this clinic, Ilya could move the second leg, the muscles that had not worked before began to work. Now, there is hope that Ilya will be able to walk independently. The next rehabilitation course is scheduled for August and costs EUR 2,410. It remains to collect EUR 1,400.

Ali Bekov, 8 years old, B-lymphoblastic lymphoma, second stage. Little Ali has been sick since 2015. The therapy lasted 2 years. There was a relapse a month after it ended,. In June 2018, a haploidentical bone marrow transplantation was performed, but then again a relapse occurred. The doctors from Dmitry Rogachev National Research Center told that nobody would be able to help the child in the territory of the Russian Federation. Parents have sent the documents to various foreign clinics, and the Shiba clinic in Israel agrees to accept Ali. The costs amount to EUR 260,000. The parents are asking for help – this is the last chance for their boy!

Vasily Grebenar, 27 years old, Chernovtsy region, Ukraine. He is married, and has 3 children: 6, 4 and 1.5 years old. Recently, due to a progressive disease, he cannot move around and is practically bedridden. Since childhood, Basil has a funnel chest deformity (Pectus excavatum). Due to the weakness of the bones, the spinal problems have now been added: chronic recurrent radiculopathy of the lumbosacral spine, compression of the inter-crown nerve with intervertebral hernia. With the help of relatives, acquaintances, friends and many kind and caring people, they managed to make a proper examination and several difficult surgeries. But this is not enough. Vasily feels constant pain and partial numbness, he can not breathe, stand, sit and walk. The chest deformation causes problems with heart breath. He gets worse every day. The constant fever burns him, the vertebral nerve dies. A delay with the surgeries can lead to total disability or even death. In order to make a precise diagnosis and perform the vital surgeries he needs about EUR 13,400. Please help the young father of many children!

HURRY TO DO GOOD!
I warmly embrace everyone,
Your Alina Titova