Hello,
I am writing to you with a request for help.
My name is Marina. I am 32 years old. It is hard for me to write about what happened to me. I had a terrible oncologic disease, synovial sarcoma of shoulder. For three years I fought for my life, even after the doctors had nothing to offer me anymore. I survived at the end, but seven months ago, my left arm had to be amputated completely. My whole arm, up to my neck, was removed, including my shoulder blade and shoulder joint. I cannot even wear my clothes anymore. Since I have no shoulder, my clothes do not stay on me.
I need an advanced prosthesis. Unfortunately, I cannot be helped in Russia. I asked many clinics for help, but with such extensive amputation, they cannot make even a cosmetic prosthesis, much less a functional one.
The only clinic that agreed to help me was Scottish firm Touch Bionics. This company focuses exclusively on developing upper-limb prostheses. And it makes prostheses for cases like mine too. Since I know English rather well, I got in touch with them over the Internet. They designed three types of prostheses for me and sent me three price quotes that simply shocked me. A cosmetic prosthesis (that has limited functionality but looks just like real human hand!) would cost $33,850, a hybrid prosthesis (it has manual controls as well as electronic) was priced at $68,000, and absolutely perfect bionic prosthesis with myoelectric controls that looks like a real hand amounted to $101,190.
I have no more money left! My family and my relatives already spent almost 2,000,000 rubles on treatment, surgery, medications and endless chemotherapy courses. We asked no one for help, but sold our apartment, car and some of our belongings. We also loaned money.
I will be very grateful to you if you help me raise some money! If necessary, I will forward all the medical documentation I have.
It is terrible and very strange to be cast aside from normal life. Before I got sick I worked as a model and was active in the community (organized motocross competitions and coordinated Regional Motorcycle Federation). And now no one wants to know about my problems.
I write poetry. My book of poems titled "On Fresh Air" was published in January 2010.
Thank you in advance!

Respectfully,
Marina Kochemarova
Home address:
660062, Krasnoyarsky krai, Krasnoyarsk
ul Krupskoi, d. 28, kv. 13.
Contact phones:
+7 (963) 258-71-74
+7 (391) 247-41-04 (home)

Epicrisis
Price estimate for prosthetic devices

Update as of April 10, 2010. I just returned from Novosibirsk where I applied for a visa to the UK. It will take 10-15 days to issue a visa.
I would like to thank Sergei Mironov, Speaker of the Federation Council, the leader of Fair Russia party, for providing me with financial support of $34,000, as well as for his understanding and the words of support! Sergei Mikhailovich personally called me to inform about his donaition and support me. My family and I, as well as my parents and friends, are enormously grateful to him!
I called a clinic in Scotland and they have already set an appointment for me. I now need to make two trips to the clinic (the first will be to try prosthesis on, and the second - to actually install it). Then I will be able to get a prosthesis made for me and start living a normal life.
An article about me was published in the US edition of Argumenty i Fakty newspaper. I am very grateful to Advita Fund USA for their help. I will still need to pay close to $3,000 for the air travel and lodging.
Marina

Update as of April 26, 2010. The clinic in Edinburgh scheduled my first appointment for May 2. On May 3 at 10 am they will start working on a prosthesis. So I need to be there on May 2.
Marina

Update as of May 11, 2010. Yesterday I returned from Scotland. I really enjoyed my trip! I liked everything!
I was met at the airport and taken to the hotel. In the morning I was picked up and brought to the clinic. It is 25 minutes away from Edinburgh, in Livingston. Every day the clinic paid for the taxi to take me back and forth and for the translator. But I only used his services once, in my first day there.
Every day I spent most of the day in the clinic, where I was made and adjusted the sleeve that will hold the prosthesis. The clinic personnel took all measurements. The skin color selection was very extensive. They copied everything, including the skin lines from my right arm, hair, and moles, and the color of blood vessels and nails. Since our skin color is not the same along the length of the arm, they took it into account as well. The color of the palm, and color changes on nails and wrist were also considered. I will be able to bend every finger, however I need to, even if I will have to do it with my right hand. The same with the shoulder and elbow. I saw the samples. They were really impressive. I have no doubt that I will be able to wear short sleeves. I was brought clothes with different neck lines and sleeve length, and I tried them on so that they could select the best and least noticeable option to strap on the prosthesis.
Then the prosthesis was sent to New York for cosmetic covering. This unit in the US was purchased by the company two years ago. I will now need to wait 2.5 months and then I will return for the ready prosthesis.
Edinburg is a very beautiful city! I really liked the people! They always smile and are very polite.
Marina

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