Hello, my name is Angela Safaryan. My son and I came from Armenia for
treatment at Children's hospital No.1. Karen is 15. He is sick with
acute lymphoblastic leukemia (t-immunologic variant, first active
phase). The treatment will be expensive and lengthy. It is estimated
to last two years.
My sister lives in St. Petersburg, so we will not have issues with
lodging. However, the treatment cost for us, foreign citizens, will
be very expensive and may total to 1.5 million - 2 million rubles. We
do not have this much money.
Karen is a very gifted boy. He studies at Spendiaryan Music School in
Yerevan. He is a winner of many international young pianist
competitions. He dreams of becoming a great musician.
Even before he knew about his insidious disease, but likely already
ill, he took part in charitable concerts that toured cities of France
and Italy.
Many of Karen's friends and listeners responded to our request for
help and they do support us. However, we still lack money for
treatment. Please help us!
With gratitude and respect,
Angela Safaryan
Update as of May 28, 2010.
Karen is receiving the second cycle of chemotherapy. He has two more days
to go. Then he will be transferred to a sterile box for six weeks. Afterwards,
he is planned to undergo splenectomy and bone marrow transplantation.
Update as of June 4, 2010.
Karen has fungal infection in his lungs and he needs Cancidas.
The second cycle of Atriance should be administered next week.
Update as of July 6, 2010.
Karen has good test results. On Thursday he will fly to Israel for
bone marrow transplantation. His uncle is being considered for a donor.
The procedure will cost $180,000. If a search for an unrelated donor
will be necessary, the cost will rise even more.
Safaryan family is thanking everyone who has been helping and supporting them.
They are hoping that next time Karen returns to St. Petersburg it will be
to perform in a concert.
Update as of February 22, 2011.
Karen's condition is critical. He is in intensive care unit with
intestinal GVHD and did not respond to photopheresis. Karen is in
cytopenia and the transplant is not working still. Respiratory
distress syndrome is growing.
Update as of May 6, 2011.
It has been two months since we lost our beloved son Karen. The most terrible
thing that could happen to a parent is a loss of a child. But despite the
tragedy and sadness, we have to find the words of gratitude to all
the good people who have helped, believed and did everything they
could to help our son. Unfortunately, not everything is in our control
and sometimes people are powerless.
We will never forget the help you provided to us in those difficult days.
We are enormously grateful to the sponsors, employees and volunteers of
AdVita Fund for everything that they've done for us since the first
day of Karen's treatment.
We are especially grateful to the doctors, nurses and volunteers at
Children's hospital No.1, Irina Garbuzova, Karen's treating doctor,
and Elmira Boychenko, Leukemia Chemotherapy Unit head. We are thankful
to the people who were helping and praying for Karen's recovery. Our
son had very warm memories of all of you in Israel. Thank you very much!
Karen was (and is, for us) a spirited, kind, and special boy, our
sunshine. He loved music without reservation and really wanted to
become a pianist. But the fate was merciless to Karen. It did not give
him a chance to get well, even though around the world his and our
friends prayed for his cure. Unfortunately, the miracle did not happen.
In his short but full life, Karen played many beautiful compositions
and we are working on a few CDs with his concerts. We will try to
send them to AdVita fund so that your hearts keep the happy memory of
Karen, and when you feel tired his music would give you the strenght
and faith in life.
Once again, thank you very much!
With respect and gratitude,
Karen Safaryan's family
