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Hello!
I am a mom of three girls. My middle daughter Natasha needs help. We live in republic of Mary El. My children went on vacation to our relatives in Vologda region in summer. While she was there, at the end of July 2008, Natasha got sick. Her left eyelid started to swell and in three weeks in started to push out her eye. We went to the specialists at Vologda Regional Ophthalmology hospital, but they could not offer us help and referred us to a neurosurgeon. Natasha was tested and at the end of August 2008 she was diagnosed with acute myeloblastic leukemia.
She started chemotherapy at Hematology unit of Vologda regional hospital. Natasha underwent two cycles of chemotherapy. Then we went straight to Raisa Gorbacheva Hematology and Transplantology Center in St. Petersburg for further treatment. We are currently at the Center where Natasha is undergoing high-dosage chemotherapy.
The doctors have told us that she will then need bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor.
We are in despair, because we do not have 17,000 euros for the search of the donor and delivery of transplant material from European collection center. This amount seems completely unreal for us. I am a single mother. The father of my children does not help us at all. I also receive no subsidies from the state, as in our Mary El region we do not qualify as a family with many children (the family has to have 4 or more children). Two of my daughters live now with their grandmother.
I am asking everyone to help my daughter survive. We really need money for food and clothes and paying for expensive medications. I will be very grateful to everyone who responds!

Anna, Natasha's mom.
Contact phone:
+7 (921) 185-37-33

Bill for the donor search in Germany

Update as of December 25, 2008. Natasha was administered two chemotherapy courses. She is now preparing for the next cycle. Natasha achieved remission and a decision was made to start the donor search at the International bone marrow donor registry. This requires payment of 15,000 euros, plus delivery of transplant would cost extra 2,500 euros.
Natasha's mom would like to thank all Natasha's supporters who purchased a laptop for her. The girl draws a lot and uses her new device.

Update as of January 30, 2009. Natasha successfully completed the third cycle of chemotherapy with Cytosar and she is now in cytopenia. She suffers from intestinal mucositis. Despite her condition, Natasha is very active and plays a lot.

Update as of February 17, 2009 Natasha is having a chemotherapy course. The girl is playing a lot and feeling well.

Update as of March 20, 2009 A donor for Natasha was found. However, her debt to the registry is still unpaid. Natasha is feeling well. Her port was removed. After CT scan showed infiltrate of fungal nature in her lungs, she started receiving antifungal therapy.

Update as of March 27, 2009 Natasha's transplantation is scheduled for mid April. We need to urgently raise the money to pay the 15,000 euros we owe to the Morsch registry, plus 2,500 euros needed to deliver the transplant.

Update as of April 4, 2009 We are sincerely grateful to our supporter, Viktor Latypov, who paid for the donor search and delivery of transplant for Natasha.

Update as of April 14, 2009 Transplantation for Natasha is scheduled for May 18. Natasha has been discharged from hospital for two weeks so she can go home.

Update as of May 12, 2009. Natasha came for the transplantation. Tomorrow she will start conditioning regimen prior to BMT.

Update as of June 4, 2009. Natasha successfully underwent bone marrow transplantation. Today is the 15th post-transplantation day. Natasha is now in cytopenia, but she feels relatively well.

Update as of June 17, 2009. Natasha exited cytopenia and was transferred out of sterile zone. She feels relatively well.

Update as of July 1, 2009. Natasha recovered after transplantation and was transferred for outpatient monitoring. She feels well.

Update as of July 15, 2009. Natasha is doing well. She is under the doctors' watch as an outpatient. She has limited symptoms of skin GVHD.

Update as of August 4, 2009. Natasha was hospitalized at the clinic with suspected relapse. She is undergoing tests.

Update as of August 23, 2009. Natasha got blasts in her bone marrow. After canceling immunosuppressive therapy, she developed symptoms of skin GVHD, but her blasts are gone. Natasha is monitored as an outpatient and she is feeling well. She needs urgent infusion of donor's lymphocytes (bill for donor's lymphocyte collection) to fight the relapse. It means we urgently need to raise 2,500 euros to deliver lymphocytes to Natasha. The infusion is scheduled for September 3rd.

Update as of September 8, 2009. The donor's lymphocyte infusion was postponed, as blasts have disappeared due to GVHD. The doctors are monitoring Natasha's condition for now. She feels well and was allowed to go home for a week.

Update as of October 2, 2009. Natasha is now visiting her aunt in Vologda. Next week she will return to the clinic. After the examination, further therapy will be considered.

Update as of October 27, 2009. Natasha came to St. Petersburg for donor's lymphocyte infusion, but unfortunately, the infusion has been postponed, as Natasha has acute cytomegalovirus infection and a cold. She is receiving antiviral therapy with Valcyte and antibiotics.

Update as of November 13, 2009. Natasha was found soft-tissue tumor in her ear (supposedly, blasts' accumulation). She also has increased percentage of blast cells in her bone marrow. Natasha was diagnosed with a relapse.

Update as of December 24, 2009. Natasha has recovered after a FLAG chemotherapy course, the puncture has testified to a remission. Natasha has been transferred to the day patient facility. The girl's dream is to see her sisters, so they will be coming to St. Petersburg for a few days during the new year holidays.

Update as of January 18, 2010. Unfortunately, Natasha has blasts again. She is planned to receive a course of Cytosar followed by donor's lymphocyte infusion.

Update as of January 29, 2010. Natasha recovered after chemotherapy. She is planned to receive donor's lymphocyte infusion. She feels well. Natasha rolls along the hallways on the IV drip stand and entertains the whole unit.

Update as of February 20, 2010. Natasha is to going to be administered immunotherapy with Roferon and Neostim.

Update as of March 3, 2010. Natasha is in remission. The course of treatment with Roferon and Neostim will last two more months.

Update as of March 26, 2010. Natasha is still receiving Roferon and Neostim. The last control puncture results confirmed remission (less than 2% of blasts in bone marrow).

Update as of April 3, 2010. Natasha developed symptoms of skin GVHD. She is now monitored as an outpatient. Due to GVHD, she was taken off Roferon and Neostim.

Update as of June 10, 2010. Natasha had grade II GVHD in her skin and mucous tissues. She is in remission in regards to her primary diagnosis. The last puncture results showed for the first time no residual disease.
Natasha's mom

Update as of July 14, 2010. Natasha's liver indicators have increased and she was prescribed Heptral. She is also planned to receive a course of MabThera. Natasha needs 400 mg of the drug.

Update as of August 18, 2010. Manifestations of liver GVH reaction remain, Natasha is being treated with Mabtera and hormones. She is feeling fine.

Update as of September 8, 2010. Based on results of hormonal tests, the endocrinologist prescribed Cortef, which is not available in St. Petersburg's pharmacies.
Other test results are good. Natasha is in a great mood. She really wants to go home to her sisters and her grandma.
Natasha's mom

Update as of September 24, 2010. Natasha's hormone development function is suppressed due to immunosuppressive therapy. She was prescribed Cortef. At the end of September, test will be repeated to evaluate effect of therapy. Natasha feels great. She reads a lot, walks around and plays.

Update as of November 3, 2010. Natasha is still taking Cortisone. She feels great and is being monitored at the day hospital. Based on tests of her external breathing, she is improving.

Update as of November 24, 2010. Natasha is still under observation in the day hospital, she feels well. The Cyclosporine dosage is being reduced continuously, and Dexamethasone was replaced with Singulair. Today Natasha is going to the theater, to see a play "Shadow". This is her first time attending the evening show and she is eagerly awaits it.
Anya, Natasha's mother

Update as of December 9, 2010. Based on puncture results, Natasha has atypical cells, although blasts were not found. She was scheduled for donor's lymphocyte infusion to prevent possible relapse.

Update as of December 15, 2010. Based on control puncture after donor's lymphocyte infusion, Natasha is in remission. She has mild chronic GVHD in skin and mucous tissues, and donor bone bone marrow percentage fell to 80%. She will undergo therapy with roaferon. Natasha feels well.

Update as of February 22, 2011. On February 16th Natasha had control puncture that confirmed remission. She still has mild GVHD of mouth and skin. Natasha really likes to study English with a volunteer. She enjoys drawing and making art.
Natasha's mom

Update as of March 17, 2011. The control puncture results show slight increase in blasts (6.8) and additional tests are planned. Natasha has slight GVHD of mouth.

Update as of March 28, 2011. Natasha has had donor lymphocytes transplanted. GVH reaction is a little stronger but Natasha is feeling ok. Further treatment will depend on the results of the examination.

Update as of May 4, 2011. Based on the follow-up puncture results, blood counts are normal, there is no minimal residual disease. The small changes in lungs remain, with positive dynamics. Natasha continues to take Singulair. The next follow-up puncture is scheduled for end of May.

Update as of June 25, 2011. Follow-up puncture results testify to a complete remission. The donor transplant is functioning well. The doctors allowed Natasha to go home for two months. Follow-up examination is in August.

Update as of July 7, 2011. Unfortunately, during her pre-discharge tests, Natasha was diagnosed with eosinophilia. The doctors are suspecting re-activation of GVHD reaction. Natasha is now undergoing tests. Her return home is postponed.

Update as of July 17, 2011. Based on latest test results, Natasha still has eosinophilia, but there is no change, and the doctors are allowing her go home. She will finally see her sisters and she cannot wait to leave the hospital! We will be leaving for two months, and will return in September for planned tests.
Natasha's mom

Update as of October 31, 2011. Natasha came in for planned tests. Based on puncture results, she is in remission and has no signs of GVHD. Natasha feels great.

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