Hello!
In March 2005 at Children's Clinical hospital #4 in Novokuznetsk my son Dmitry
was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Dima was 12 years old then.
After 8 months of intensive therapy at Children's Clinical hospital #4, he had 18
months of maintenance therapy. He studied at home and had limited contact with his
peers. A year after completing treatment, we returned to normal lifestyle. I
went back to work (I work as a nurse at hospital No.9 in Novokuznetsk). Dima
continued studying and began seeing friends. In April 2008 he suddenly had a
relapse. Once again, he had intensive treatment that took about a year and then
maintenance therapy.
In April 2009 he came to St. Petersburg for a consultation at R. Gorbacheva
clinic.
We are now at the clinic, as Dima was recommended bone marrow transplantation.
My salary is 5,000 rubles. But I cannot earn even this much since I stay with my
son around the clock. We need financial support with paying for the donor search,
apartment rent, and expensive medications.
Please help!
Tamara, Dima's mom
Update as of January 22, 2010.
Transplantation took place on schedule. However, Dima now
suffers from GVHD in kidneys (hemorrhagic cystitis).
He needs Intraglobin and Albumin.
Update as of February 3, 2010.
GVH reaction is under control, Dima is feeling ok, he
has been transferred to the day patient facility. He had
to go back to hospital for three days though: due to kalium
deficiency he started to have cramps. At present the boy is
staying at the rented apartment again.
Update as of March 26, 2010.
Dima was hospitalized at BMT clinic due to worsening condition. He still
needs Vfend therapy.
Update as of April 3, 2010.
Dima had difficulty breathing. He is now in a stable condition,
but is still at the hospital under doctors' watch.
Update as of May 24, 2010.
Dima developed GVHD. He is seriously fatigued and is on large doses of
hormones. A decision was made to start lowering the doses gradually.
In parallel, cytomegalovirus titer had grown and Dima is undergoing
therapy with Cymevene. He still needs Vfend.
If Dima is discharged from the hospital, he will also need Valcyte.
Update as of June 22, 2010.
Dima is still in the clinic where he is receiving complex therapy for
GVHD and infections. His family really needs help with living expenses.
Since Dima and his mom were in St. Petersburg for six months, they
were not able to receive his disability pension. When they found
someone who could receive the pension for them, it turned out that
Dima was taken off the list of pensioners at his place of residence,
and all payments were returned to the Federal Pension Fund.
Dima's mom now needs to re-apply to the Pension Fund, open an account
locally, and write a request to transfer the money to the account.
This is a lengthy process. Meanwhile, the family's money ran out.
Please support Dima and his mom while they are re-applying for
his pension, because they have no other sources of income.
Update as of July 27, 2010.
Dima is in a moderately serious condition. He suffers from invasive
aspergillosis in his sinus and reactivation of CMV. Dima receives Albumin,
antibiotics, Cymevene and Vfend. He is seriously fatigued, but is in
remission in regards to primary diagnosis.
