Sasha Glushkov, born January 21, 1995, has been ill with acute lymphoblastic leukemia since
December 1997. The disease began with the flu symptoms followed by bone aches. The boy was
hospitalized at the St. Petersburg Institute of Children Infectious Diseases with the initial
diagnosis of poliomyelitis-type disease, and stayed there for a week.
On December 31, 1997 the patient was hospitalized at the Chemotherapy Department of the
St. Petersburg City Hospital #1 in a severe condition with the diagnosis of acute
lymphoblastic leukemia L1, and stayed at the hospital till June 5, 1998. The first course of
the administered therapy followed by a remission lasted for two years and four months.
On June 19, 2000 the early stage of acute lymphoblastic leukemia L1 "Common" relapse
complicated with neuroleukemia. Within the period of July 4, 2000 through January 29, 2001
the boy was administered complete anti-relapse 10-block chemotherapy course.
Currently, the patient needs the bone marrow transplantation. The patient's farther can be
a donor. The related allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is to be performed
at the Center of Hematology in the Saint-Petersburg State Medical University, and is planned
on July 2001.
The cost of the transplantation is about 580,000 rubles (USD 20,000). Unfortunately, the
boy's parents are not able to afford funding the transplantation. They appeal to anyone who
can help to save their child's life, and they are thanking those who would respond their
request in anticipation.
Updated as of August 29, 2001.
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was performed at the Center of Hematology in the
Saint-Petersburg State Medical University. Sasha's father was the donor of stem cells.
Unfortunately, the boy's parents are not able to afford funding the purchasing of expensive
medicines for support therapy.
Updated as of November 13, 2001.
Sasha is doing well. We meet him every Monday and Thirsday, when he comes for control examine.
Every time he has been taken his blood in ordre to determine the level of drug -
Cyclosporin A. This medicine helps to protect the transplantat and prevent it engrafment.
Unfortunatly, the minimal symptoms of Graft-versus-Host Desiase have appearenced. It means,
that Sasha needs in higher doses of this expencive medicine.
Sasha after bone marrow transplantation
Updated as of March 11, 2003.
We are thankful to all kind and considerate people who responded to us.
We are especially grateful to Maxim Zhukov and his brother, Dmitry Semeichenko from
Hanty-Mansijsk, Galina Volodina from Moscow and Pavel Parnachev from Syktyvkar
for providing us with financial support. Thank you for your assistance and advice.
Sasha is currently at home and he feels well. He is an outpatient and he is prohibited
from receiving any immunizations. He has to endure certain limitations, including
inability to go to school and communicate with his friends. Sasha receives home
schooling, and his teachers tell us that he is a smart and kind boy with amazing memory.
Unfortunately, after going through the therapy, Sasha got burdened with several
complications.
Sasha suffers from progressive nearsightedness and he was observed to have a paleness
of optic nerve at the bottom of his right eye. Due to remaining traces of neuralgia
caused by damage of cranial nerves, Sasha receives treatment by neuropathologist.
Recently, Sasha was also found to show symptoms of light damage to the root of shinbone
nerve, which caused myalgia syndrome of lower extremities. This condition contributes
to periodic lameness in Sasha's legs.
In addition, Sasha is under oversight of cardiologist, as he is likely to have heart
complications after the transplant.
However, despite all the difficulties, we are staying optimistic and hoping for the
best. As Sasha has to be constantly watched by the doctors, we often have to visit
hospitals and medical centers. We do not have anyone who could baby-sit Sasha's
little sister and we have to take her around with us. Our Verochka has grown and
she is getting too heavy to be carried. Sasha's mom would be very grateful for help
with getting a folding baby carriage, which we could take with us in the public transport.
If someone has a used baby carriage, which is no longer needed, we would like to purchase
it or accept it as a gift.
We would like to express once again our sincere gratitude to all the people who came to
our help. Thank you very much.
Updated as of April 15, 2003.
Anonymous donor transferred $10 to Sacha via WebMoney system.
Updated as of June 9, 2003.
Anonymous donor transferred $1.98 and 1.18 rubles to Sacha via WebMoney system.
Updated as of July 9, 2003.
We would like to thank Shutin family for giving our daughter Vera a very chic baby carrier.
Now it is much easier and more comfortable for our children to travel to the hospital.
Between the hospital examinations, Sasha visits his grandmother in the village in Pskov region.
He has a great time in the country as he goes to the forest to pick mushrooms,
bikes, goes to fish and learns to drive a tractor. Sasha is saying hello to all the
visitors to his page and wishes everyone a fun-filled summer.
Updated as of December 30, 2003.
Sasha congratulates everyone with the New Year! He wishes all the best and that people believe
in miracles (they do happen). We would like to thank everyone, including Shutin family, Mr.
Kolesnikov and others, for support during difficult times. Thank you very much for everything!
Happy New Year!
Updated as of March 5, 2005.
Thanks to Alexander Korotkov from Moscow for the help!
