Hello!
I don't know how to put this into words to be better understood, if it could be
comprehended at all... I'm turning to you for help, for I don't know how to handle
the situation I found myself in.
I was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia in September of 2009. I didn't
understand much of what was going on when I ended up in the hospital. I thought
it was just a plain cough, runny nose and simple flu. It turned out to be much more
complicated than that. Out of nowhere came back the vague memories about the things
learned at school, such as white blood cells, red blood cells... some cells destroying the
others... It all sounded so horrible! I didn't dare ask the doctors for explanation choosing
to trust them instead.
Initially I was put on Gleevec (Imatinib), then switched to Sprycel (Dasatinib), now the
doctors claim that my only chance for survival is to get the bone marrow transplant.
There is no need to mention all the risks involved. The downside is that I don't have a
related donor and the bone marrow material needs to be delivered from abroad. I neither
have 17,500 euros for it nor I would ever be able to make this much money.
I was born and grew up in Ukraine, went to college there, got a job and was doing my
best supporting both of my parents, who lost their jobs in the 1990s. At times it was so
difficult that I thought I wouldn't be able to take it any longer. I have a half-sister, with
whom I share a mother. When the times got really tough, I went to Moscow in search
of my biological father. I sent several requests to the TV program
called "Find me",
the main purpose of which is to help people find their loved ones,
friends or relatives who got lost. I got nowhere.
When I was a child, I was pretty good at drawing and still enjoy it. I like doing things with my
own hands, such as gardening, growing things, knitting, crocheting, embroidering and sewing.
I love kids and they love me back. I still go and visit the kids I used to babysit when they were
little. They always look forward to my visits and enjoy the time spent in my company. This joy
alleviates the pain of not having the kids of my own.
I'm begging you to help me raise the money needed for the procedure. Please, don't leave me to
die and give me a chance to live on! I'm begging you from the bottom of my heart! Please help!
Update as of June 21, 2011.
Oksana's transplantation is planned for July 13.
Update as of August 2, 2011.
Transplantation had been postponed until August 1 upon the
donor's request. Oksana had been administered chemotherapy
and then the transplantation was performed. The blood counts
have dropped but Oksana is feeling ok.
Update as of August 10, 2011.
Oksana is in the second week post-transplant.
She is in cytopenia, but feels rather well.
Update as of August 22, 2011.
Oksana fully recovered after transplantation and was discharged
for outpatient monitoring. Donor's bone marrow engrafted and
Oksana feels well.
Update as of September 14, 2011.
Unfortunately, Oksana's transplant is being rejected.
Based on last puncture, she has close to 10% of donor's
bone marrow cells. She was taken off immunosuppressive
drugs and prescribed Sprycel. Donor's lymphocyte
infusion is also planned. Oksana feels relatively well.
Update as of October 30, 2011.
Unfortunately, donor's transplant did not engraft.
Oksana received the third donor's lymphocyte infusion.
Based on planned tests she has 9% of blasts.
Update as of January 8, 2012.
As donor's transplant did not engraft, and conservative therapy is
not leading to remission, it was decided to perform another donor
search and transplantation from a different donor. A bill for 14,500
euros was issued and it needs to be paid as soon as possible.
Update as of February 8, 2012.
Oksana is now taking Tasigna. Control tests are scheduled for late February.
Based on evaluation results, repeat transplantation will be considered.
We are sincerely grateful to Euroenergo Espana, S.L. for paying for
the bill for repeat bone marrow donor search for Oksana.
Update as of February 23, 2012.
Follow-up puncture is scheduled for February 27. Based on its results the
doctors with choose between continuing the Tasigna therapy and performing
the second bone marrow transplantation.
Oksana is feeling fine. She sends all her supporters her best wishes and
says happy Maslenitsa.
Update as of March 12, 2012.
Based on puncture results, Oksana has insignificant increase in minimal residual
disease, but overall she is stable. It was decided to continue Tasigna therapy
for another month to evaluate its effectiveness. Repeat puncture will be done in
late March, and its results will be used to discuss repeat transplantation.
Update as of April 5, 2012.
Oksana feels rather well. Based on control puncture, the disease is
in a chronic phase, but Oksana's condition is stable. Second bone marrow
transplantation has been recommended.
Update as of April 10, 2012.
Unfortunately, another matching bone marrow donor was not found.
It was decided to add interferones to the base therapy and type
Oksana's mom as a potential bone marrow donor (haploidentical
transplantation is being considered).
Update as of April 25, 2012.
The best matching donor for Oksana has been found, but the transplantation
had to be postponed due to a relapse. Oksana is currently undergoing chemotherapy
to achieve remission. The date of the transplantation will be decided depending on
Oksana's response to the treatment. Oksana feels fine and is tolerating chemotherapy
rather well. She is eagerly waiting to know the response to the treatment.
Beneficiary:
Non-Profit Organization
"AdVita Charitable Foundation"
acc. 40703840712001000468 Beneficiary Bank:
JSC Bank Otkritie, Moscow
SWIFT: RUDL RU MM
For Petrovskiy branch,
St.Petersburg
SWIFT: RUDL RU M1PET Adress of Beneficiary Bank:
191186, Saint-Petersburg Russia,
Nevsky pr. 26
Correspondent Bank #1:
Bank of New York Mellon,
New York, USA
SWIFT: IRVT US 3N Correspondent Account No:
8901003069
Correspondent Bank #2:
JP Morgan Chase Bank,
New York, USA
SWIFT: CHAS US 33 Correspondent Account No:
822839205
*,**
Beneficiary:
Non-Profit Organization
"AdVita Charitable Foundation"
acc. 40703978312001000468 Beneficiary Bank:
JSC Bank Otkritie, Moscow
SWIFT RUDL RU MM
For Petrovskiy branch,
St.Petersburg
SWIFT RUDL RU M1PET Adress of Beneficiary Bank:
191186, Saint-Petersburg Russia,
Nevsky pr. 26
Correspondent Bank #1:
Deutsche Bank AG,
SWIFT: DEUT DE FF Correspondent Account No:
9477134
Correspondent Bank #2:
Commerzbank AG,
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
SWIFT: COBA DE FF Correspondent Account No:
400886482900
*,**
* - 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....
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