Hello!
Our story is very sad, but I am sure it will have a happy ending.
My much-loved daughter is seriously sick. We learned about this on February 4. This was a huge hit for our family, and it seemed the earth was moving under our feet.
Diana was born on January 24, 1995. I was absolutely happy. I already had a son, and then God gave me a daughter. She grew up responsive, kind and fun-loving girl, and was very social. In our military town where everyone knows each other, Diana is loved my children and adults alike. All her girlfriends are very upset about her illness and they believe in her recovery.
Diana was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She needs bone marrow transplantation. Since we do not have a related donor in our family, we need to search for the unrelated donor at the international registry. The search costs 15,000 euros, and the delivery of transplant from the European collection center to St. Petersburg costs another 2,500 euros.
My Diana really wants to live, be happy and bring joy to others. Every minute of my life I plead God to not take her away from me. My daughter says that she loves me every day, and I love her more than life and I will not be able to continue living without her. In my dreams, I see her growing up and falling in love for the first time…

Please respond to our request for help.
I plead you to help me save my Diana! I am certain that the world will be saved by human kindness!

Elena Anatolievna, Diana's mom

Epicrisis: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4

Update as of May 29, 2009. Unfortunately, the preliminary search results showed that Diana does not have matching donors at the international registry. Further treatment options are under discussion.

Update as of November 11, 2009. Since October, Diana has been on treatment at Regional Children's Clinical hospital No.1 in Voronezh. Unfortunately, she was only able to complete 4 rounds out of required 6 at Russian Oncology Center in Moscow. The therapy was interrupted due to fungal infection, candidiasis. Diana was receiving Vfend, but the doctors found it possible to switch her to Fluconazole.
The MRI and x-ray tests discovered that Diana has osteoporosis in her spine and knee joint that causes her a lot of pain and suffering.
Diana is given painkillers and was prescribed Calcium.
In parallel, she is underging chemotherapy and takes Vesanoid. She also has some issues with protein levels and takes Albumin.

Update as of November 18, 2009. Diana's swelling in her legs is now gradually going away, but unfortunately, her arms are starting to ache the same way! The swelling occurs due to low protein counts.
Fortocartin washed out all the calcium and protein from Diana's bones and provoked osteoporosis. I bought Calcium D3 by Nycomed and will get Calcium made by Neways brought from Moscow (this vitamin complex is very expensive).
We receive protein at the hospital, and sometimes I have to buy it too. In general, we have to spend a lot of money on medications. Diana will start Vesanoid on November 23rd (the hospital ahs it in stock).
Diana, unfortunately, is not following her treatment protocol, as she only was administered chemotherapy once, on October 28th. She missed injection on November 4, November 11 and November 18 due to complications.
Every day something happens. As our doctors said, it is an easy protocol, but not for Diana.
I am sending Diana's medical summaries from Russian Oncology Center (page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4).
. I know that Diana will get through this, will live and make me happy!
Diana's mom

Update as of December 8, 2009. Diana vitally needs at least 14 bottles of antifungal drug Cancidas. Each bottle costs close to 20,000 rubles. Please help Diana urgently!
Medical summary: page 1, page 2

Update as of December 11, 2009. Cancidas for Diana was received in advance of payment, because it was too dangerous to wait any longer. We are hoping for her supporters' help to cover the bill.
After receiving the medications, Diana sent us a letter:

"I am so happy that you sent Cancidas for me! Thank you very much for your responsiveness, kindness and empathy towards me! On January 24, 2010 I will turn 15, and you gave me the most important gift in my life! The medication you sent will extend my life and give me hope for recovery! I really want to live and I will fight hard for it! I will get well at any cost! I am enormously thankful to Advita Fund and everyone else!"

Here is a letter from Elena Anatolievna, Diana's mom:

"Where can I find the words to express the depth of mother's gratitude? God, thank you for sending help to my daughter! More than anything, I want Diana to get well! Every minute I pray to God that he does not take her from me! I am enormously grateful to you for quick response to our request and sending us such an expensive medication! We can now continue treatment under the protocol.
It seems my heart is trying to jump out of my chest from all the excitement and joy that there are so many kind and responsive people who care for those in need! I am deeply grateful to Advita fund and all the good people!"

Update as of December 17, 2009. We are expressing our heartfelt gratitude to Baltic Industrial Company for partial payment of bill for Cancidas for Diana.

Update as of January 25, 2010. I've decided to write a little about Diana. Since December 29th she has been a day patient with doctor Natalia Yudina.
January 26th will be the last day of Cancidas injections. Diana started feeling better, but she may still need Cancidas.
Since January 11th she has been undergoing a course of maintenance therapy with Purinethol. From January 12th to January 25th she had a course of Vesanoid.
Now we will probably try to take Diana's bone marrow to a lab in Yekaterinburg for testing for residual disease and molecular-genetic test for chromosomal abnormality. It is not yet clear whether the tests will be free, and I will probably bring the samples myself.
As of today, Diana's leukocytes are 1000. She was planned to start Methotrexate on January 27th, but it was postponed due to low blood counts. Unfortunately, Diana cannot yet be treated as optimally recommended.
Diana's mom

Update as of February 2, 2010. Diana feels rather well, but still has low leukocytes and platelets. After the consultation with Dr. A. S. Popa, Hemoblastosis unit head of Russian Oncology Center, Diana's treating doctor, Dr. N. B. Yudina, decided to continue therapy with Cancidas (medical summary page 1, page 2, and conclusion of Dr. Popa).
Therefore, Diana needs 14 more bottles of Cancidas for the total cost of 225,000 rubles.

Update as of February 11, 2010. Cancidas was purchased and already delivered to Diana. Diana and her mom wrote us a letter:

"I am endlessly grateful to all Advita Fund volunteers for once again responding to our request for help and sending me Cancidas! Again and again you are giving me hope for recovery and extending my life! I feel stronger with your kindness, responsiveness and empathy! I am fighting and will continue to fight for my life! I am enormously thankful to Ivan Leonidovich and Baltijskaya Company and all the good people!
Diana"

"Thank you, good people, for helping my dear Dianochka! Every minute I thank God that she is with me! I love her more than life and my life's sense is in her. My heart is overflowing with great joy and gratitude to you. I know that Dianochka will recover and live, and in the future she will be helping others too! We are enormously thankful to everyone!
Elena Anatolievna"

Update as of March 27, 2010. Diana and her mom traveled for a consultation to Germany and the doctors there fully approved the treatment she is receiving.
In the next few days they expect a response from Yekaterinburg where they sent the tissue samples for molecular-genetic analysis for residual disease and chromosomal abnormalities.
Afterwards, further treatment strategy will be determined. Diana will likely undergo a course of treatment with Dexamethasone and radiation therapy.

Update as of April 21, 2010. Diana is in complete remission in regards to her primary diagnosis and the examination did not find any genetic defects! Unfortunately, during Dexamethasone therapy Diana developed hip joint necrosis and she cannot walk. Dexamethasone therapy had to be canceled.
Diana receives maintenance therapy with Purinethol and Methotrexate, and soon she is planned to undergo radiation therapy. The fungal lesions are not yet gone completely, although there was response to Cancidas. Diana may need Cancidas therapy again soon.

Update as of May 20, 2010. Diana received the full course of therapy with Cancidas. We are endlessly grateful to Ivan Leonidovich for his help!
Based on Dr. Popa, Diana was prescribed Zometa to prevent bone loss. Just 4 ampoules, once every 28 days. Zometa is a very strong medication and very scary. It can cause serious complications. So Diana had to stay at the hospital for the first few days. The first injection was on May 4. To our great happiness and amazement, this time the hospital supplied Diana with the medication. Each ampoule costs 16,000 - 18,000 rubles.
Diana drinks Purinethol daily and once a week she has an injection of Methotrexate. Starting May 4, Diana will start hyperbaric oxygen therapy (15 sessions).
On May 28th and June 2nd Diana will have exit tests for the 9th grade: Russian and math. On June 3, she will have second injection of Zometa. On June 4 she was an appointment for bone MRI.
Then I will probably take the images to Moscow for a consultation with Prof. Karachunsky. We need to decide on further treatment for Diana, as she is contraindicated hormonal therapy.
Diana's mom

Update as of May 21, 2010. Natalia Borisovna, Diana's treating doctor, replaced Fluconazole with Rumycoz to avoid possible resistance. After injection of Methotrexate, Diana's leukocytes fell to 1.3, and platelets dropped to 110 from 150.
Starting today, Diana is taking Vesanoid to correct chromosomal mutations. It will be taken for two weeks (2 capsules a day).
Diana's mom

Update as of July 27, 2010. Two weeks ago, Diana completed radiation therapy in Moscow and she is now recovering. She receives Zometa under a protocol, and the next MRI is scheduled for September. We have a hard time getting Rumycoz, Vesanoid, and even Methotrexate and Purinethol for free. We are trying to do everything we can to get these medications for free, as we are supposed to.
Diana's mom

Update as of October 30, 2010. Our news is not very good. My bones started aching even more, and not only my legs, but also my arms. The hospital did not have the medication, so my mom had to buy Zometa by herself.
Prof. Karachunsky took my images to Germany where he was recommended to administer another cycle of Zometa, and if it does not help, then I would need to undergo surgery in Germany.
Zometa is infused once a month, and this month I already received it. On October 17th my bone marrow was collected. My mom took it the same night to Moscow. Then it will be sent to Yekaterinburg for molecular-genetic analysis. The results will be known in 2 weeks.
I am undergoing the same therapy: Purinethol liquid, weekly injections of Methotrexate, and antifungal drugs. However, the strong medication Orungal is expensive and we cannot afford it, so I drink Rumycoz, and when we can't afford even that, I drink Fluconazole.
Diana

Update as of December 5, 2010. I received test results from Yekaterinburg. Translocation 4-11 is not found: this is great news! On November 23rd I received the second Zometa injection. After Vesanoid, I had a seizure and was at the hospital for 10 days. And then I was taking antibiotics.
I had a lumbar puncture and it was tested in our lab. Fortunately, blast cells were not found.
My arms and legs still ache. My treating doctor signed me up for MRI of skeleton at the Regional hospital for December 6th. They have a better machine. The doctors will evaluate necrosis of my bones.
I am continuing the same medications and of course the antifungal drug. I will let you know about MRI results. Thank you very much for remembering me and caring about me.
Diana

Update as of January 18, 2011. Diana has a cold, so the last cycle of chemotherapy with Vesanoid was postponed. Afterwards, an injection of Zometa is planned. On March 5th Diana will undergo MRI of skeleton. Based on the results, a decision will be made whether orthopedic surgery is necessary.

Update as of June 3, 2011. From June 25th to July 15th Diana and I will be at Oncology & Hematology sanatorium in Chekhov, Moscow region. I am hoping that Diana will be able to rest and clear her mind there. She finished the 10th grade with all excellent grades!
Diana mainly stays at home due to leg pains. She really wants to get well soon and never get sick. Once a month she continues getting Zometa infusions, and she is planned for MRI of both legs at the end of July.
Diana's mom

Update as of August 6, 2011. I am still doing the same: every month I get Zometa infusion and take calcium supplements. I go for tests weekly.
Diana

Update as of August 15, 2011. After numerous consultations, it was decided that Diana will travel to University clinic in Tubingen, Germany for installation of prostheses in Diana's both hip joints. There prostheses will be installed simultaneously, which will shorten her recovery time.
The clinic estimated surgery to cost 19,000 euros. The date of the surgery will be determined once the bill is paid. In addition, Diana and her mom will need help with buying air tickets, lodging and food, as well as translator's services and a course of rehabilitation, without which Diana will be unable to come home.
Please help us with the fundraising!

Update as of September 18, 2011. Diana's joint replacement is being postponed by a few weeks, as she was found to have fluid in her knee and ankle joints. She cannot travel for surgery in such a state. Diana will undergo therapy at home.
Meanwhile, she received a bill for post-operative rehabilitation for 5,664 euros. The rehabilitation is planned to take place in Nuremberg.
We are enormously grateful to Ivan Leonidovich for donating 500,000 rubles for Diana's mom's bank account as partial payment for treatment in Germany!

Update as of October 4, 2011. We are so grateful to the "Life" charity fund for the 500,000 roubles for Diana's treatment!

Update as of November 6, 2011. Diana was tested at molecular biology lab in Yekaterinburg. The result is good: (t4;11) translocation was not found. Next week we plan to travel to Rheumatology Institute in Moscow for verification of diagnosis and treatment of knees and ankles. We are very grateful to everyone for their help!
Diana's mom

Donate online >>>

Wire transfer to AdVita Charitable Foundation bank accounts

  * - Please specify your name and how we can keep in touch with you. We also need the letter from you with the following data: your full name (name of organization), address, phone (fax), goal of donation, date, signature (seal).
Please use on of the following applications: in russian, in english, in german.

** - If money amount are transfered by the third party we kindly ask you to show in the letter which firm would transfer the sum of money (by our request money transfer would be performed by firm....

If you would like to transfer money through Western Union, please contact site administrator.

If something wrong in the table below or you don't see reference on your donation, please keep in touch with site administrator.

If you would like to help us collect money for Diana's treatment, please e-mail to the site administrator and write your name, or company name, payment number, time and place of money transfer. This information will help us to account for money collection and inform you about every donation. Please don't forget to tell us about your donation. We need to make sure that every donation reaches its intended recipient.

List of Patients

Search: