Other Oleg's photos

Hello!
We are Elena and Sergei, parents of Oleg Soshin. Oleg is 12. He is our second child. Oleg has an elder brother who is a student.
Our Oleg is an active, fun-loving, kind and caring boy. He loves outdoor activities and trips. In 2009 Oleg went to the 6th grade at school. He was happy to meet his schoolmates after summer and share his holiday experiences with them.
In the middle of October our cheerful son became sad. He started to complain about feeling tired and having headaches.
He was also having nosebleeds that were very hard to stop.
We went to the policlinic and told the doctor of the headaches. Our doctor diagnosed Oleg with high blood pressure and said we should see a neurologist. The neurologist wanted us to have computed tomography done but we never got to do it.
Oleg suddenly had a fever. At about the same time he got a dark red rash on his neck and shoulders. As we were scared of swine flue we called for the doctor. We had a blood test done, and based on its result we were told to repeat it. When the doctor saw the results she insisted on an urgent hospitalization.
On November 10, 2009 an ambulance car took Oleg to Children's City Hospital 5, and from there he was right away transferred to Children's City Hospital 1 with a terrible diagnosis: leukemia. The horror we felt at that time can hardly be described! All we knew of that disease is that it was deathly!
We are very grateful to Natalia Belavina, my former colleague, who happened to stay in the same hospital ward as Oleg. Natasha literally brought us back to life and explained to us that leukemia is curable.
Oleg was diagnosed with medium-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The treatment course began.
The first chemotherapy block had complications that affected the brain – epileptic seizure. MRI scan of the brain revealed numerous foci of hemorrhage. The neurologist prescribed maintenance therapy.
We celebrated the arrival of year 2010 at hospital.
The basic treatment course is free of charge for Oleg, but we have to buy part of maintenance drugs on our own. For example, when Oleg had complications after the first block we had to buy the following drugs:

Berlition-300 (30 tablets) – 888 roubles
Mexidol (50 tables) – 332 roubles
Ubichinon Compositum – 450 roubles
Solidago Compositum – 740 roubles
Traumeel S, ointment – 296 roubles.

We also have to pay for some of the tests.
Our family is now in a very difficult financial situation. I am in hospital with my son. Oleg's father became the only wage earner. In February 2010 the company he was working at was reorganized. At present he is actively looking for a full-time job. We live on the money he makes with whatever jobs he can find.
The treatment course is going to be lengthy. The next step is a high dose chemotherapy block. After that course Oleg will need maintenance drugs again. Please help us acquire expensive drugs.
Thank you all for your responses and help to our son Oleg.

Home address:
Rabfakovskaya d. 3, korp. 2, kv. 139
192012 St. Petersburg, Russia
Contact phones:
+7 (905) 224-06-37 (Elena, mother)
+7 (911) 008-60-62 (Sergei, father)

Medical summary #1: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4
Medical summary #2

Update as of February 8, 2010. On February 6 Oleg had a central venous catheter inserted to provide intravenous nutrition. That had to be done because the boy's body rejects food. The doctors are trying to figure out what is causing this disorder.
Oleg's mother

Update as of February 9, 2010. Oleg was prescribed NutriZone, nutrition for feeding tube, 0.5 l (3 bags at 107 rubles), and Kabiven Central, 1.5 l – around the clock, intravenously (7 bags at 1,740 rubles each). The tests to determine the reasons for intestinal dysfunction are ongoing. Thank you.
Oleg's mother

Update as of February 12, 2010. The test results showed the reason for which Oleg was having gastrointestinal problems: he suffers from toxic hepatitis due to treatment side effects.
Oleg's second cycle was temporarily put on hold. He was prescribed supporting therapy:

Ursofalk - costs 1,167 rubles,
Motilium - 39 rubles,
Nutridrink (nutrition) - 110 rubles for 1 package of 200 ml.,
Kabiven 9IV - 1,740 rubles.

We are enormously grateful to Advita Fund for paying for part of the medications for Oleg.

Oleg's mom

Update as of February 27, 2010. Oleg feels much better. He is continuing the 2nd cycle that was interrupted. Oleg drinks 6-mercaptopurine, and receives injections of Methotrexate and asparaginase. In addition, Oleg still takes Ursofalk, Motilium and intravenous Heptral as supporting medications.
We are very thankful to St. Petersburg's parents forum, Littleone, Tatiana Runova and Irina Kioiki for help with buying medications for Oleg.

Update as of March 30, 2010. Oleg completed the second cycle of chemotherapy (Methotrexate, asparaginase and Rubidomycin). On Friday he is planned to have a lumbar puncture. Oleg does not feel very well.

Update as of April 30, 2010. Oleg underwent re-induction after the second cycle: dexamethasone in pills. After the re-induction he also had therapy for his liver because he had high transaminase counts. We would like to thank the women from Littleone forum and Tanya Runova for helping to buy reamberin for liver therapy.
On April 26th Oleg started the third high-dosage cycle of Methotrexate IV and asparaginase injections. Oleg's condition is relatively good. We are very grateful to everyone who helps Serezha and supports our family in such a difficult time.
Oleg's mom

Update as of May 18, 2010. On April 26th Oleg underwent the first cycle of high-dosage chemotherapy with Methotrexate without complications. After a break, on May 12th, we had a second cycle, but this time Methotrexate did not leave his body as it was supposed to: the residual concentration in Oleg's blood is 63, while the norm is 0.25.
On May 14th Oleg was transferred to intensive care unit where he is receiving therapy with Leucovorin. We are enormously grateful to AdVita fund for helping us buy Leucovorin for Oleg. We'd like to thank everyone who is supporting us at this difficult time.
Oleg's mom and dad

Update as of May 26, 2010. On May 22nd Oleg returned from intensive care to the unit. The level of Methotrexate in his blood after several procedures (hemadsorption and plasmapheresis with Leucovorin support) had normalized.
Oleg is now in a stable condition. He is on maintenance therapy at the unit, awaiting the doctors' decision regarding further treatment.
Our family is expressing enormous gratitude to the students, parents, teachers and administration of school No. 171 for Kindness Lives in the World event that raised money for Oleg's treatment. Thank you for your kind, caring hearts and souls!
Oleg's mom and dad

Update as of June 16, 2010. On May 31, Oleg turned 13. From June 3 to June 15 Oleg was at Infectious Diseases unit at Children's hospital No.1 with repeated chickenpox (he had it when he was 4, but due to treatment for leukemia he lost immunity to the virus). Primary treatment was stopped for this period.
On June 15th we returned to our unit and continued therapy: intramuscular injections of Methotrexate and intravenous Rubomycin. I am sending two of our recent photos: Oleg by himself and together with his roommate at the hospital.
Oleg's mom

Update as of July 7, 2010. On June 30th Oleg started re-induction with Dexamethasone in pills, and Vincristine intramuscularly, once a week. We were allowed to go home to rest a little.
On July 7th we came for planned Vincristine injection and Oleg had CBC and biochemical blood test. The tests showed low hemoglobin (75), and high transaminase and sugar in blood. Oleg received a blood transfusion to increase hemoglobin.
He was prescribed therapy by an endocrinologist and a supporting drug for his liver (Heptral).
We will once again stay at the hospital for some time.
Oleg's mom

Update as of October 16, 2010. Oleg was transferred to the Municipal hospital No. 31. He is now undergoing radiation therapy at the Oncology hospital on Berezovaya Alley. Oleg was scheduled for 6 sessions and he completed three of them by now. He feels well.
Oleg really wants to complete his treatment and return home to continue studying with the teachers from his school. He is tired of hospitals.
We are very grateful to everyone who participates in our son's life and helps us in difficult times. We'd like to thank AdVita fund for the tickets to the concert at Octyabrsky concert hall.
Here Oleg is in an autumn park with his closest friend: bunny Gosha.
Oleg's mom

Update as of November 24, 2010. The radiation treatments are over, and stomatitis and other complications have been treated. Now Oleg is at home, studies with a teacher, and goes to Children's hospital #1 for tests ones a week. On December 8th he is going to be stay for two weeks in the hospital for re-inductions (total eight re-inductions are planned), at the same time he would have a biopsy.
Oleg's mother

Update as of December 23, 2010. Oleg is on treatment at Children's Hospital No.1 since December 2nd due to complications from radiation therapy. He is now on re-induction, and his condition is satisfactory.
Happy New Year to everyone! Stay in good health and may all your wishes come true!
This is a photo of Oleg, his dad and Lisa Mitchell (Boney-M) at Children's Hospital No.1.
Oleg's mom

Update as of February 28, 2011. Recently Oleg finished another re-induction. There was no complications. Thank you very much for help!
Oleg's mom

Update as of March 28, 2011. Oleg arrives at the hospital according to the same schedule as before. He is feeling more or less all right. He studies a lot with teachers from his school, making up for the missed classes. The teachers visit him even during the school holidays, and Oleg's family thanks them very much!

Update as of September 18, 2011. Oleg is undergoing maintenance chemotherapy under the protocol. He continues taking 6-MP and dexamethasone in pills, and receiving injections of methotrexate and vincristine. From August 23 to September 6th he had the 5th re-induction of maintenance therapy (of 7 total cycles).
Oleg normally stays at home. He started the new school year, 8th grade, as a homeschooling student. His teachers from 527th school visit him.
Oleg does not feel too good. He started losing hair again and had to shave his head. In May he was hospitalized at Children's hospital No.1 for 20 days due to issues with liver - planned tests showed high transaminase levels and they stayed high for quite some time.
Liver issues re-emerged during therapy with 6-MP. We help it by taking Heptral medication that we buy in a pharmacy.
If there are no complications and interruptions in treatment, the main medications will be stopped in April 2012.
Oleg as a real fighter endures all the challenges. We are thankful to everyone who continues helping our boy!
Oleg's mom
Oleg's new photo

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