It is hard to talk and write about the tragedy that happened to us. In December 2005 our 6-year-old Kseniya got seriously sick.
She was diagnosed with aplastic anemia. This is a serious illness that is very difficult to treat. Ksyusha's bone marrow
does not function. She lives only due to help of thrombocyte suspension transfusions that are made from the
donated blood. Transfusions are needed 2-3 times a week. Otherwise, Ksyusha would develop external or
internal bleeding which could lead to her death.
Since December 13th, Ksyusha and her mother have been staying at the sterile room of 6th department of
Children's Hospital No.1 in St. Petersburg (located at Avangardnaya, 4). She cannot even go out
of her room to the hallway. Any infection can be deadly.
In the beginning, we were hoping that bone marrow could be transplanted to Kseniya from her 2-year-old sister.
Unfortunately, they did not match.
What are our perspectives for the future?
In January Ksyusha will start chemotherapy. Its effectiveness is expected to be less than 60% and the response can
be evident not sooner than in six months.
A bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor is a possibility. The cost of search is 15,000 euros, and it may
take up to six months.
What help do we need?
We will be very grateful for any help.
We need blood donors.
Kseniya has rare blood type A(II) Rh(-). She will constantly, throughout her treatment period, need donated blood.
The blood can be donated only in St. Petersburg. Transportation of blood and its components from other regions
will destroy the thrombocytes.
We need money.
The system of compulsory medical insurance does not cover treatment of such patients. For example, the insurance
does not cover services of bone marrow transplant centers, and we have to pay out of pocket for blood, blood components,
several medications and filters.
A pool of thrombocytes costs 4,900 rubles.
Thrombocytes separated via pheresis cost 12,000 rubles.
We need money to buy blood filters. They cost approximately 2,000 rubles each.
We also need money to start a search for an unrelated donor, which will cost 17,000 euros.
It is very hard to watch your own daughter die slowly. It is even more difficult when you realize that you cannot
help her in any way.
Please help us save our daughter!
With respect and gratitude,
Dr. Dmitry Afonin.
Home address:
195067, St. Petersburg, a/ya 85,
Telephones:
+7(911)743-6706 (Margarita, cell)
+7(812)493-0095 (Dmitry, home)
+7(911)253-8758 (Dmitry, cell)
Update as of January 8, 2006.
Ksyusha has sepsis. Her temperature is 38-40C. Today there was a suspicion she may have peritonitis. As a surgeon, I did
not think it was well-founded. However, I can understand my daughter’s therapists – they are being extra cautious.
Ksyusha had an x-ray. She is so weak that she could not stand by herself at the x-ray machine. I practically had to hold her
in my hands. The x-ray did not show anything wrong in her abdomen, and by the evening she had stool. I believe that
resolved the issue whether she had a peritonitis. Ksyusha is getting antibiotics and disintoxicating mixtures in her central
vein through two infusion systems. Any little thing makes her feel better. A small stuffed raccoon (about 25 cm tall) with a
smiling face and in a funny hat had quickly changed her mood. All evening she sat in bed and played with it (for two days
before she just lay in bed motionless). Even though she may forget it tomorrow, at least I managed to make one of her
days more tolerable.
Ksyusha's dad
Update as of January 10, 2006.
It is now possible to donate blood of ANY type for Ksyusha on exchange basis. Please go to blood center at the hospital No. 31
on any Tuesday or Thursday, 9 – 11:30 am. It is located on pr. Dinamo, 3. Please bring your passport and a certificate
from sanitary-epidemic service (it is not required for the residents of Primorsky and Petrogradsky districts). For more
information, you can contact a dispatcher of the charitable donor service at +7(901)300-0025.
Ksyusha's dad
Update as of January 20, 2006.
After the treatment with antibiotics was stopped, Ksyusha’s temperature rose again to 39 C, and she had a strong cough.
She was re-started on antibiotics and was examined by allergologist and other specialists. The chemotherapy has been
delayed indeterminately.
Ksyusha's dad
Update as of January 23, 2006.
I have met with Lyudmila Zubarovskaya, professor of BMT department of State Medical University. In essence, since
the risk of bone marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor is very high for aplastic anemia patients, the search for
the donor will be initiated only after chemotherapy results are analyzed. The immunosuppressive therapy for AA patients
is 65% effective, while the bone marrow transplant from an unrelated donor practically never engrafts fully,
unlike that for leukemia patients.
Ksyusha's dad
Update as of August 3, 2006.
Ksyusha responded to treatment, and she feels relatively well.
The timeline of Ksyusha's recovery is accessible at her web site.
Baltiyskiy Bank, St.Petersburg, Russia.
SWIFT code: BABJ RU 2P,
Corr/acc. N 04-097-778
with Deutsche Bank
Trust Company Americas,
New York, USA.
Account 42301840901002997171 (USD)
Name - Afonin Dmitriy Nikolaevich
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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If you would like to help us collect money for Kseniya's treatment, please e-mail to the
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and write your name, or company name, payment number, time and place of money transfer.
This information will help us to account for money collection and inform you about every
donation. If you would like to contact Kseniya's physican, please
e-mail or phone to doctor Ludmila Zubarovskaya
at (812) 234-06-76. Please don't forget to tell us about your donation. We need to make
sure that every donation reaches its intended recipient.
