Hello!
I am a mother of 7-year-old girl who needs bone marrow transplantation. In 2003 when she had an annual checkup, the doctors found an increase in her leukocyte count to 110,000 instead of the norm of 6,000 – 8,000. At the regional hospital she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia, which was later confirmed by the special lab tests.
At that time, the only medication available was hydroxy acid. We already knew about a new drug, Imatinib, but, unfortunately, we could not afford it. In 2005, however, the government really helped us by adding Imatinib to the list of medications available for free. In 2005 my daughter was taking 4 ampoules a day. The tests showed that her condition improved. Our family was again hopeful if not for recovery, then for lengthening our daughter's life.
Every six months we go for testing in Yekaterinburg. And in 2006 the tests showed worsened results: the Philadelphia chromosome again appeared in Marina's bone marrow. Her doctors increased the dosage to 6 ampoules. As hard as it is to swallow these 6 ampoules at a time, our daughter really tries. She puts on a brave face and says that she is doing well and everything will be fine.
Our doctors believe that the only solution is bone marrow transplantation. It requires finding a donor at the international registry. Our family cannot pay for the search, as it costs 15,000 euros. I work as an accountant part-time, because our daughter stays at home due to constant colds and cannot attend kindergarten, which she dreams of. My husband works as an ambulance driver and his salary is also low. We live within our means. Our daughter is now 7 and she is preparing to start elementary. I hope that it does happen. It is very hard to live when you don't know whether tomorrow will come for your loved one. Please help us with paying for the donor search for our daughter! Help her live a long life worth living.
Thank you very much. God bless you.

Irina and Marina Devyatkova.
Home address:
625005, Tyumen,
Ul. Lugovaya, d. 8.
Contact phones:
+7 (931) 208-70-28
+7 (3452) 78-20-13

Medical conclusion: page 1, page 2
Bill for the donor search in Germany

Update as of September 16, 2008. We are sincerely grateful to Russian Help fund for agreeing to cover collection of donor's transplant material that costs 10,000 euros. Therefore, we urgently need to raise 5,000 euros for the search for the donor.

Update as of October 4, 2008. Based on our agreement with Russian Help fund we have to forward 5,000 euros to Stefan Morsch registry for Marina within a week. However, as of now we received no donations for Marina's treatment except for help from Olga Lebed.

Update as of November 4, 2008. Hello! I just wanted to thank everyone who have helped and continues to help my daughter Marishka. Thank you very much! God bless you!
Marina's mom

Update as of November 16, 2008. The AdVita fund and Russian Help Fund jointly paid for the search and activation of the donor for Marina. A donor has not been found yet. We still need to raise 2,500 euros for delivery of transplant.

Update as of December 8, 2008. A donor for Marina has been found! Transplantation is planned for February 4. Funds for the delivery of transplant have not been raised yet.

Update as of January 3, 2009. We have news. Marina's hospitalization is scheduled for January 15th. We bought tickets for January 13th. We will need to rent an apartment once we arrive. Please help us with finding and renting a place in St. Petersburg, preferably, near the clinic.
We would also like to ask for help with paying for delivery of the transplant.
We would like to thank everyone who is donating money to us and other patients! God bless you!
Marina's mom

Update as of February 17, 2009 Marina has been admitted to the bone marrow transplantation clinic. Today the girl has had a transplantation from a non relative donor. Many thanks to the Mary Kay company that helped pay for the transplant delivery for Marina.

Update as of March 20, 2009 Marina's bone marrow is now actively engrafting. She keeps running temperature and receives antibiotics.

Update as of April 4, 2009 Marina recovered after BMT and was discharged for outpatient monitoring.

Update as of April 15, 2009 Marina had a cytomegalovirus reactivation, she is being treated with Acyclovir. Donor bone marrow engraftment is progressing without any complications, on Monday she is having a check puncture.

Update as of June 3, 2009. Marina is being monitored as an outpatient. During control puncture, traces of the damaged gene were found and on Thursday she is planned to undergo another puncture, after which either lymphocyte infusion or prescription of Dasatinib will be discussed. Marina feels relatively well and dreams of getting to see the Baltic Sea. If someone could volunteer to drive Marina in their car to the gulf, we will be very grateful.

Update as of July 20, 2009. I would like to express my enormous gratitude to all our supporters, all the doctors who are doing everything to help Marina recover, and also volunteers, blood donors, AdVita fund and Russian Help Fund.
You cannot imagine how grateful we are to you! We would not be able to cope without your help. Marishka feels better. Although she was found to have mutated gene protein in her bone marrow again, we are hoping for a complete recovery, even if it will not come as soon as we would like.
Marina says hi to everyone and wishes everyone would have as many friends as she had made during this time. Stay healthy!
Marina's mom

Update as of July 23, 2009. Based on results of imaging, Marina still has minimal residual disease, and she is not in remission on molecular level. Based on that she is planned to receive lymphocyte infusion and a course of therapy with Dasatinib. Marina feels relatively well.

Update as of August 23, 2009. Marina is monitored as an outpatient. She receives therapy with Gleevec instead of Dasatinib and feels well. A decision was made to postponed lymphocyte infusion and monitor Marina's condition.

Update as of September 8, 2009. Marina received donor's lymphocyte infusion. She is still monitored as an outpatient and receives Gleevec.

Update as of October 2, 2009. During therapy with Glivec, Marina entered complete remission. Unfortunately, she started developing complications and had to be taken off Glivec. The control tests found traces of the mutated gene again. For now, Marina's condition is monitored and the therapy with Roferon is considered. Marina feels well.

Update as of November 3, 2009. Marisha still suffers from chronic skin GVHD. She is in remission in regards to leukemia. In a few days, she will undergo another puncture. If the results are satisfactory, Marina will be allowed to go home, at her place of residence.

Update as of February 22, 2010. Marina is being monitored locally. She still has chronic skin GVHD and stomatitis, but she feels well. Marina studies at home with a tutor, and she finished the second quarter with good and excellent grades. As soon as she receives quota, Marina will come for tests and further treatment of GVHD in St. Petersburg.
Marina is saying hi to all her friends in St. Petersburg and her mom is asking to thank everyone who is helping them.

Update as of March 26, 2010. Marina still suffers from skin GVHD. She was prescribed immunosuppressive therapy with hormones and Cyclosporine. For now she will be monitored at BMT clinic.

Update as of April 15, 2010. Marina was recommended to undergo photopheresis which will allow the girl to overcome the chronic skin GVH reaction and stop taking hormones. Unfortunately expendables for the photopheresis machine are not covered by the state and have to be paid for. A set for each session costs 31,920 roubles. It is not clear yet how many sessions Marina will need – that depends on how the girl will respond to the therapy.

Update as of April 30, 2010. Marina started a course of photopheresis. She feels well. The doctors even let her see a play at Children's Theater. We are sincerely grateful to Polimetall Company for a donation that was used to pay for supplies for photopheresis procedure.

Update as of May 24, 2010. Marina had two sessions of photopheresis and she feels well. We are waiting for improvement in her skin condition. We are very thankful to everyone who is helping us.
Marina's mom

Update as of June 22, 2010. Marina has a break from photopheresis due to bronchitis. She is receiving therapy. Photopheresis was effective and her skin condition had improved, but six more courses are planned to complete therapy. She is gradually being taken off hormonal drugs.

Update as of June 23, 2010. We are very grateful to the employees of RN-Trade Company who organized a trip to Peterhof. Marishka dreamed about it and it came true! Thank you so much! We are also grateful to all the supporters, volunteers, blood donors and AdVita fund for their help and support.
Marina's mom

Update as of August 18, 2010. Marina is feeling ok but her hemoglobin count is low (she has been prescribed Erythropoietin once a week). Marina is now administered photopheresis once a month, and the last session is scheduled for September. The situation with the skin GVH reaction is gradually improving.
Marina is looking forward to beginning her studies. As soon as she gets school books she will begin the studies with a volunteer teacher.

Update as of September 9, 2010. Marina and her mother are sincerely grateful to Lukoil Bunker, Ali Izmailovich Beglov and Elena Vladimirovna Lykova for help with buying much needed medications.
We are enormously grateful to you!
Respectfully, Irina Devyatkova

Update as of October 8, 2010. Marina finished 14th photopheresis session. Her skin condition is slowly, but gradually improving. She also does breathing exercises, physical therapy and studies under her school program with Svetlana, a volunteer.
Marina and her mother would like to thank all the doctors and medical personnel at R. Gorbacheva clinic, volunteers and staff of AdVita fund and all their supporters for helping them.

Update as of October 24, 2010. Marina has been administered another course of photopheresis. Her skin is getting better, but doctors believe it is too early to stop. Unfortunately her hemoglobin count is still low. The girl is very homesick, however thanks to Advita's volunteers and donators, she has some interesting things to do, such as going to the theater and various shows or doing homework with Svetlana. Thank you so much for your help.
Irina, Marina's mother

Update as of November 23, 2010. Marina is still undergoing courses of photopheresis. Also she is given iron supplements ones a week but unfortunately her hemoglobin still does not go up.
Marina feels well, just easily gets tired.
Marina studies various school subjects with a volunteer Svetlana. Recently we had a visit from a volunteer Lena who helped Marina and other kids to create postcards for the New Year. The cards turned out beautifully! Now Marina impatiently waits for the next visit from members of "Yes" studio that do animation with the kids.
Thanks everyone for the help!
Irina, Marina's mother

Update as of March 12, 2011. Marina and I came to St. Petersburg for planned examination. The main tests are still ahead, but in general we can say that her condition is good, and although she still has skin GVHD, it is improving. Unfortunately, she has cataracts on both eyes.
Marina is happy to come to St. Petersburg and see her favorite doctors and friends. We are very grateful to the doctors, Advita Fund volunteers, and our supporters for help! Stay well!
Marina's mom

Update as of April 13, 2011. Based on control puncture, Marina is in complete remission. However, due to skin GVHD symptoms, it was decided to continue photopheresis. She already completed two cycles. Marisha feels well.

Update as of May 25, 2011. Marina is in sustained complete remission. She feels great. In June she will complete photopheresis therapy and the doctors are planning to let her go home for a few months.

Update as of June 25, 2011. Marina is administered a photopheresis course, her skin's condition is getting better. The doctors are considering another several courses.

Update as of July 7, 2011. Marina had significant improvement of GVHD and the doctors decided to stop photopheresis and let her stay at home until October.

Update as of October 22, 2011. Marina was in for planned tests and a course of photopheresis. She feels well and is now at home. The next round of tests is scheduled for mid-December.

Update as of December 25, 2011. Marina came in for another cycle of photopheresis. She feels well.

Update as of January 24, 2012. Marisha successfully completed planned tests and photopheresis sessions and returned home. The next session and tests are scheduled for March. Marina feels well.

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 Marina'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: