Hello, I am the father of Nika Baranova. My name is Igor and my wife's name is Olga. When our daughter Nika was seven months old, she was diagnosed with a malignant tumor - neuroblastoma. But the doctors told us that there is a chance to save Nika! Our doctors got in touch with specialists from St. Petersburg City Hospital No. 31, and St. Petersburg physicians began treating our daughter. The problem is, however, that we are from Kalmykia, and the Hospital No. 31 is a municipal organization, so federal quotas do not apply there. The doctors hoped that we might get the chance to treat Nika under a federal quota, but this was not the case. Since we could not wait any longer, as the doctors were telling us to move quickly, we brought Nika to St. Petersburg and she is now a patient of the City Hospital No. 31 thanks to the guarantee letter from the AdVita Fund.
The treatment has already started!
In the commercial department of the clinic we were told that the complete course of treatment could cost over a million rubles. We can never raise such an amount by ourselves! At the moment I'm the only breadwinner (my salary is 8000 rubles a month) and we barely manage to make ends meet. Recently Nika underwent surgery. The doctors told us that she might not be able to tolerate it, but despite everything she withstood not only the operation but the most difficult first three days, with un-childlike courage. Nika is fighting tooth and nail for her life and she won't give up, we can see it and feel it! The only problem is paying the medical bills. I am asking for your help. I will do my best to earn as much as I can myself, but I can never earn a million rubles. Thank you everyone! May you always be in good health!

Igor Baranov, Nika's dad
Home address:
358000 Republic of Kalmykia,
Elista, ul.Vetkalovoj, 58
Telephone numbers:
+7 (921) 333-92-73 (Olga, Nika's mom)
+7 (937) 467-85-53 (Igor, Nika's dad)

Update as of August 15, 2011. Nika was admitted to hospital No. 31 on June 28th. She had a very hard time tolerating the first chemotherapy cycle: she cried a lot, did not eat and had damage of her mouth. After her blood counts dropped, she could not recover for a long time. In addition, Nika had a difficult time coming out of anesthesia (her post-operative stitches were removed under general anesthesia). The second cycle was a little easier than the first. Nika feels relatively well, but cannot eat at all.

Update as of August 31, 2011. Nika feels rather well and she was allowed to go for walks. Unfortunately, as soon as she started another chemotherapy cycle, her problems with mucous tissue returned. Her family received the first bill for treatment for 99,960 rubles.

Update as of September 7, 2011. We are grateful to all the supporters. The first bill for Nika's treatment was covered. Russian Help Fund joined the fundraising effort and it was able to raise 800,000 rubles for Nika's treatment. The next bill will be paid from that amount. We are temporarily halting fundraising for Nika and will restart it once the money raised by Russian Help Fund runs out. We will continue publishing news about Nika. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped!

Update as of September 22, 2011. August 28 marked the end of another chemotherapy course, and on September 1 Nika stopped eating completely. For 10 days Nika was on intravenous nutrition since the doctors failed to install the catheter. Several days later the girl began to eat little by little but she still has difficulty putting on weight.
Blood counts remained low for a very long time, which is why the next chemotherapy course was postponed for almost a week. During this time she had and MR and radiologic diagnostics which showed that the tumor had decreased in size.
Yesterday another chemotherapy course started. So far Nika is feeling ok.

Update as of October 14, 2011. Nika had a radioisotopic examination and magnetic resonance imaging of the tumor performed. MRT showed that the tumor had decreased in size a little, but the radioisotopic examination testifies to a significant improvement.
The decisive factor for determining further treatment plan will be a biopsy that will show what the tumor cells are like. Preliminary biopsy is scheduled for Wednesday.
Nika and her mother have been allowed to go home until Monday.

Update as of October 19, 2011. On Monday the doctors decided to postpone the biopsy for about a month and administer another chemotherapy course based on the protocol instead. Today Nika has started with the chemotherapy, she's feeling ok.

Update as of November 10, 2011. Nika finished another cycle of chemotherapy and her blood counts dropped. She receives antibiotics, blood and platelet transfusions. In a month she will undergo a surgery. She feels rather well.

Update as of November 26, 2011. Nika did not feel well for two weeks: she suffered from nausea and vomiting. She was receiving anti-emetics and vitamins, as well as special nutrition, but still lost weight. Fortunately, she is better now. The doctors decided to perform surgery as planned on November 29th.

Update as of December 25, 2011. Based on histology results, there are a few live cells in the removed lesion, which means chemotherapy needs to continue. Nika feels rather well already and had recovered after the surgery.

Update as of January 24, 2012. Nika celebrated New Year outside hospital walls, but on January 5th she already started the next chemotherapy cycle. Her blood counts are still low, although she feels relatively well. Based on test results, a decision regarding the next cycle timing will be made on January 26th.
After the 8th cycle of chemotherapy, maintenance chemotherapy is planned to start. Nika's dad came to see her. At first, she did not recognize him, but now she does not want him to leave and keeps calling him.
Nika's parents plan to stay in St. Petersburg during the maintenance chemotherapy. They rented an apartment and Nika's dad is looking for a job in St. Petersburg.

Update as of February 15, 2012. Nika is undergoing the 8th cycle of chemotherapy. Afterwards, evaluation is planned followed by transfer on maintenance chemotherapy. Nika did not tolerate previous cycle well.

Update as of February 23, 2012. Isotopic tests and computed tomography show that there are some zones in the girl's arm and chest that accumulate contrast. The doctors suppose it might be scar tissue. On Monday maintenance chemotherapy begins. Follow-up examinations are scheduled after the first four maintenance chemotherapy courses.

Update as of February 26, 2012. Nika needs Endoxan in 50 mg pills. She would then be able to take maintenance chemotherapy at home instead of coming to the hospital for IV infusions.

Update as of March 11, 2012. Nika feels rather well and sometimes has a good appetite. Unfortunately, yesterday she pulled off her catheter. The next chemotherapy cycle will be probably in pill form. It will start on Thursday.

Update as of April 10, 2012. Nika was transferred to maintenance therapy in pill form, and we only come to the hospital for evaluation. Nika is developing rapidly: she talks a lot and explains things she cannot say with gestures. She is very sociable.

Update as of April 19, 2012. Nika is very happy to be home. The last chemotherapy course went well, the girl did not even need antiemetic drugs. Nika is feeling fine. Her hair is growing.

Update as of May 11, 2012. Nika is done with the last maintenance chemotherapy course. The medical examination showed two fused ribs and a fluid-filled cyst in the intercostal region. The doctors believe the current situation does not require any surgical involvement. Nika was prescribed a course of Roaccutane. Once every three months the girl will undergo medical examinations. Nika's parents decided it's better to stay in St. Petersburg, but Nika and her mother are going back home for one month.

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