Nastia died on July 18, 2010

Another Nastia's photo

Hello!
In the autumn of 2009 trouble came to our family. In September my daughter Nastia (she had just turned 2 at that time) found herself at the hematology unit of the Nizhnevartovsk Regional Children's Hospital where she was examined and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The treatment administered did not give any positive results, so we had a consultation with Professor A.I. Karachnunsky, head of the oncology unit of the Federal Center of Children's Hematology in Moscow, who recommended us to continue with Atriance treatment which was to be followed by a bone marrow transplantation.
Since that drug could not be administered in our hospital we were transferred to Ekaterinburg for further treatment. We spent 4 months at the Children's Oncology and Hematology Center. Nastia had 4 blocks of high dose chemotherapy administered (2 blocks with Atriance and 2 more with Methotrexate). Unfortunately the treatment course did not result in a remission, and the girl was prescribed maintenance therapy.
On February 15, 2010 we were invited to the Raisa Gorbacheva Institute of Children's Hematology and Transplantology in St. Petersburg for a consultation. The doctors' decision was to perform a haploidentical bone marrow transplantation (which means transplantation from one of the parents with only a 50% compatibility) in March 2010.
I have not worked for a long time (I am on maternity leave until my daughter turns 3), so my husband's salary is the only income we have, that is why our family is now in a difficult financial situation.
Nastia now needs expensive Vfend, plus we have to pay for a rented apartment, so there is no way we can cope on our own. We live and hope for only the best... We believe in our strength, the doctors' knowledge and God's help, as well as in good people. With your support we will be able to continue with my daughter's treatment.

Respectfully,
Irina Sergeevna Opochitskaya

Medical conclusion

Update as of April 2, 2010. On March 9-10 Nastia underwent transplantation. With doctors' help, Nastia overcame the first serious reactions. It has been 20 days since transplantation. Nastia's blood counts are growing gradually. She feels rather well: runs, plays and eats well. We are enormously grateful to everyone for their help!

Update as of April 21, 2010. Nastia was discharged for outpatient monitoring. She feels well and goes for tests regularly. All is well.

Update as of April 22, 2010. Nastia's dad sent us a list of donations he received in his personal bank account. The total amount is 374,409 rubles. We are enormously grateful to all the donors!

Update as of May 7, 2010. Nastia is monitored as an outpatient and she lives in a rented apartment. She feels well and is in a great mood. Every day she plays outside. She is always busy: either making clay sculptures, or gluing, or playing. Her blood counts are normal.
Nastia takes Cyclosporine for now, so we go for blood tests twice a week. She is continuing immunosuppressive therapy and still needs Vfend. On May 6th Nastia had puncture, as the 60th day after the haploidentical transplantation is coming up. The results made us happy: Nastia is in remission. We are hoping that in the future everything will go just as well.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to AdVita fund supporters, readers of Metro newspaper, employees of the following companies: TNK-BP, TBInform, NRS, MI SWACO, Siam Nefteservice, SIBUR, Yugoria, Slavtek, Sodruzhestvo, Stalmarket-N, Hanty-Mansiisky Bank, IKFService, Kompressorny Complex, and others, for the help that our family received. We really appreciate it. With your support, we know that Nastia will get well.
Irina, Nastia's mom

Update as of May 20, 2010. Unfortunately, on the 67th day after transplantation, Nastia was diagnosed with a relapse. She was hospitalized and in the next few days she will start anti-relapse chemotherapy and lymphocyte infusion. She still needs Vfend.
Irina, Nastia's mom

Update as of June 7, 2010. After chemotherapy Nastia did not achieve remission. Her disease is very aggressive, so a decision was made to offer her second haploidentical transplantation (her father will be the donor).
On June 7th Nastia will start conditioning and the bone marrow transplantation will take place on June 15th.

Update as of June 23, 2010. Transplantation took place on schedule, but unfortunately, on the 3rd day post-transplant, Nastia started having severe vomiting that cause rapture of esophagus. Nastia is now in intensive care unit. It was decided to sedate her because any movement can cause internal bleeding. We now need to wait for the esophagus to heal.
Nastia needs Neupogen to stimulate leukocyte growth, as well as albumin and Vfend.
Irina, Nastia's mom

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