Hello!
My name is Elena Plis. I am 36 year old and live in Moscow. In June 2010 I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia with Philadelphia chromosome. It was shocking. I had no complaints or unexplained symptoms, and felt well even when I was being hospitalized.
I started therapy at Hematology Science Center of Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The first two chemotherapy cycles were successful, but then I had a break after I ended up at intensive care unit in September and spent three weeks there unconscious. I was diagnosed with general sepsis and it made continuation of chemotherapy impossible as my body was at high risk of not being able to cope with the burden of it. I was also completely immobilized. I learned to smile by myself and I needed many weeks and lots of support from my doctors and parents to start moving my fingers, raise my head, sit down, get up, and of course, walk. Even now, six months later, I still walk with a cane and have difficulty taking stairs.
In November I resumed therapy with Gleevec and the same month I was diagnosed with a molecular relapse. Gleevec was replaced by Sprycel. Since then I have been in remission and I hope that planned bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor at R. Gorbacheva Pediatric Hematology & Transplantation Institute in St. Petersburg will be successful. I now need help with buying Vfend as I was diagnosed with a fungal infection.
My mom and I are on disability and my father is retired. Our friends and colleagues helped us pay for the search for the donor and delivery of transplant to Russia, but we also spent all our savings. Please help me with buying Vfend!

Elena Plis
Contact phones:
+7 (950) 220-63-16 (Elena)
+7 (950) 220-63-15 (Olga, Elena's mother)

Clinical summary

Update as of May 31, 2011. On May 19th I underwent bone marrow transplantation. A count of days awaiting engraftment of transplant had begun. This is a difficult period when many complications may occur. Most noticeable right now is mucositis which does not let me eat or take pills.
I was transferred on parenteral nutrition and administration of medications via IV (in particular, intravenous Vfend).
Thank you very much for your support!
Elena

Update as of June 21, 2011. I was discharged from the hospital and transferred to day monitoring. I will have to be followed weekly for a long time at R. Gorbacheva Center in St. Petersburg where I will receive medications and IV infusions. I still need Vfend.
Elena

Update as of July 5, 2011. It has been three weeks since my discharge. Twice a week I go to the hospital for tests and IVs, if necessary. My blood counts are improving and the control puncture results were good. The next puncture will be close to the end of July. Vfend is still needed.
Elena

Update as of July 23, 2011. On July 13th I had another control puncture, results of which will be ready within the next 2 weeks.
I now go for tests at the day hospital once a week. I still need Vfend.
I still cannot walk well. I walk slowly and using a stick. My feet are numb and a sore on my foot has not healed yet. I was also referred for a consultation with neurologist who recommended therapy.
I am monitored by surgeons as well. I go to physical therapy and do exercises. I really hope that all this attention from the specialists, the treatment I receive and my efforts will lead to a good result, and hopefully at some point I will be able to walk, go up the stairs and forget about my current health issues.
Elena

Update as of August 31, 2011. It has been 100 days since BMT. This is the time when control tests are done. For now, only one of the bone marrow test results is ready and it is good. We are waiting for the other two, hopefully with the same result.
I had successful therapy for kidney dysfunction and low hemoglobin. I continue having IV infusions twice a day. I have no fungal lesions in my lungs.
I would like to express my enormous gratitude to employees of Gorbacheva center, Advita fund, its donors, all my friends, relatives and co-workers, and also strangers who took my plight to heart and walk with me on my road to recovery.
Elena

Update as of September 15, 2011. Good day to you! The two remaining puncture results are ready and they are also good, which makes me happy. I also had an ultrasound of my abdomen and overall it looks good.
I started having skin GVHD and continue going to the day hospital.
Elena

Update as of September 29, 2011. On the 130th day post-transplant I had a planned puncture and the initial results are good. I am waiting for results of two more tests that are not yet ready. My return home is being postponed, as I have skin GVHD and elevated temperature.
Elena

Update as of October 6, 2011. Puncture results are good. Elena continues her outpatient treatment course. She has some problems too: unstable temperature, low hemoglobin count, skin GVH reaction and general weakness. Today she was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus, so now she needs the expensive Valcyte.
Elena

Update as of November 1, 2011. Two of the three test results of biopsy made on the 160th day post-transplant are ready. Both are good, and I hope the last one will be good as well. Unfortunately, my liver counts started to get worse, so I was prescribed Heptral. Due to cytomegaloviral infection I continue taking Valcyte. Skin GVHD is under control - I get daily IV infusions as an outpatient. The doctors are hoping that I will be able to gradually get off the IV drips with hormonal drugs. I need medipred and cellcept, as well as ultop to protect stomach lining.
I am starting to walk, and try to overcome polyneuropathy. I walk a little more every day and exercise my legs. For now I am making some progress.
Elena

Update as of November 13, 2011. My liver counts are not improving yet. Skin GVHD is under control, but I go for IVs every day. While doses of hormones are being gradually reduced, I still need Metypred, cellcept, heptral and ultop. I was also prescribed tacrolimus again to reduce skin GVHD symptoms. All the puncture results are good.
I don't need Valcyte anymore, because latest tests showed that cytomegalovirus is inactive.
I would like to thanks my supporters and AdVita fund for their help.
Elena

Update as of November 23, 2011. Good day to all who visits my page. It has been six months since transplantation. To this date I have overcome many difficulties and achieved much. I am currently undergoing necessary tests and will probably go home for some time. I was taken off Cellcept and hormonal doses are being reduced. I still need Tacrolimus.
Elena

Update as of December 12, 2011. I am at home! I was allowed to go home for two weeks, and I will return to St. Petersburg on December 19th for a planned puncture. Unfortunately, just before my trip I fractured my toe. The good news is that I don't need cast for it to heal properly. At home I go for regular blood tests and see a hematologist. I still need tacrolimus.
Elena

Update as of December 29, 2011. The results of puncture as of December 19th are good. My broken toe healed, and does not bother me. I am continuing to take tacrolimus. Based on test results, I have issues with my liver and I was prescribed ursofalk. Bone osteoporosis was also diagnosed. An x-ray of my lungs was normal.
Happy New year to everyone! I hope it brings all of us only good new events and meetings!
Elena

Update as of February 5, 2012. It has been over 8 months since transplantation. The puncture I had in 2012 had good results.
My blood tests show elevated liver transaminase. I still have slight skin GVHD. I also have swelling in my feet and fatigue, but I am feeling positive.
Elena

Update as of March 23, 2012. On March 19th I was in St. Petersburg for another round of tests. The puncture results were good.
In March I was sick with bronchitis with fever to 39.5C for three weeks. I had to take even more pills than usual. In St. Petersburg I had a skin biopsy, as I have spots on my leg that don't respond to prior skin GVHD therapy. I still have edema, but feel energetic still too.
Elena

Update as of May 3, 2012. In April I went to St. Petersburg for the planned tests. The myelogram results are good. It's been 300 days now since BMT!
I keep on checking the blood counts regularly. My hemoglobin and platelet counts are a bit low, the liver counts are elevated. The abdominal cavity examination, showed slight deviations, but my condition is satisfactory. The trophic ulcer on my leg is slowly healing but I can't walk properly.
I still have the skin GVH reaction, the legs are particularly affected.
Elena

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