Hello!
I am a mother of 11-year old Masha Vartsan. Last year, on November 15th,
our daughter suddenly got sick, although there were no previous signs of
the illness. She lost consciousness, and then she had seizures and vomiting.
Masha was urgently hospitalized. For two weeks, she stayed at St. Olga hospital
where she was diagnosed with epilepsy. However, additional testing with MRI
showed presence of a tumor in the right temporal lobe of Masha's brain.
We consulted with different doctors and a decision was made to perform operation
on Masha's brain. However, when she was already admitted to Filatov hospital
No.5 on December 1, 2008, the doctors had some doubts, and after additional
testing, issued a different diagnosis: focal encephalitis. Then Masha underwent
a course of treatment with antibiotics and hormones. On December 30, 2008 Masha
was discharged from the hospital.
When Masha had another MRI scan on January 12, 2009, it turned out that she
actually had a tumor, and it was already several times larger. On January 19,
2009 Masha was operated and on January 23rd we were urgently transferred to
hospital No.31, because the biopsy results indicated glioblastoma.
We have waited until February 2nd for the histology results. Since Masha's
case was unusual, we had to forward biopsy material to London. Then the
diagnosis was confirmed: stage IV glioblastoma. Masha was prescribed treatment:
chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The Temodal medication is very expensive,
and even though both of us, Masha's parents, work, we have to ask for help.
Please help us save our daughter!
Update as of February 26, 2009.
Masha needs to receive therapy with several courses of Temodal. The dosage
will vary. The first course together with radiation therapy will require
4 packages of Temodal (100 mg) and 17 packages of Temodal (20 mg). The cost
of the course of 247,500 rubles.
Update as of March 6, 2009
We are continuing treatment and go to radiation therapy. Masha takes Temodal.
There are no significant changes and Masha feels so-so. Sometimes she is
better and sometimes she is worse. We are hoping to get a chance to go
home for March 8th.
Masha's mom
Update as of March 13, 2009
We are continuing out treatment. We go radiation therapy every day and take Temodal.
Masha is in a relatively good condition, but has very little appetite. I constantly
have to make her eat a few more spoons. Masha lost some weight.
Masha's mom
Update as of March 19, 2009.
The treatment is going on, as are radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Masha is
not feeling too well, sometimes she throws up. Her appetite is not too good either,
she's lost some weight. She spends her free time in the playroom with other kids.
She'd love to go home for the weekend if the doctor allows her to.
Masha's mother
Update as of March 30, 2009.
On March 26th Masha completed the first block of chemotherapy and
radiation therapy. The same night, she started feeling unwell, vomited
and got high temperature. Masha went to bed early, probably due to a cold.
We give her nose drops and throat rinses. She feels a little better now.
We are hoping that we will overcome this cold as soon as possible.
We'd like Masha to get well and get stronger by the second course,
so that Masha can stay at home until the start of it.
Masha's mom
Update as of April 23, 2009.
We were at home for three weeks. Had a chance to eat and sleep better.
We have now started the next chemotherapy round. The medicine dosage
was increased almost three times. The first day, Masha felt very unwell
and was vomiting. She now feels better. On April 21 she had MRI,
which produced ambiguous results. A second operation is now a possibility.
We will consult with the neurosurgeons.
Masha's mom
Update as of May 24, 2009.
At the beginning of May, Masha had a second surgery on her brain at
hospital No.5. She tolerated the operation relatively well. By now, she
had almost completely recovered from the surgery. She is only bothered
by her ear that is swollen after the operation. On May 14th Masha was
transferred to the hospital No.31 again. She had started the 3rd round
of chemotherapy.
Update as of August 14, 2009.
Today we are starting a new course of chemotherapy. Masha feels pretty
well and really wants to go to school on September 1. We bought school
supplies, and Masha is reading books for summer reading and catching up
on math. With God's will, everything will be well.
Masha's mom
Update as of September 10, 2009.
Today is Masha's second day of another chemotherapy round. The MRI results
show improvement compared to the previous test. Masha started 6th grade.
She went to the line gathering on September 1st, saw her classmates and
even stayed for a few classes. However, she will be studying at home for
now. Masha feels well.
Masha's mom
Update as of October 2, 2009.
Based on the control test results, Masha has positive dynamic. She continues
therapy with Temodal. Masha studies at home and feels rather well. Once a
month, she stays at the hospital for testing and correction of therapy.
Update as of December 13, 2009.
Masha is continuing treatment with Temodal. In total, she will need
12 courses. She now recovered after the last round and is getting ready
for the new course the following week. Masha feels relatively
well and is in a good mood.
Update as of December 28, 2009.
Masha completed another round of chemotherapy. Based on PET results,
her tumor is inactive. Masha gets tired easily, but she is in a happy
holiday mood. Masha even went to a celebration at hospital No.31 and
participated in all the activities.
Our family is sincerely grateful to all the doctors, volunteers and
supporters and wishes happiness, health, success and strength
in the New Year.
Masha's mom
Update as of February 3, 2010.
Masha has recovered after a chemotherapy block and is now at home feeling fine.
The next chemotherapy block is scheduled for February 8.
Update as of February 21, 2010.
Masha completed another cycle of chemotherapy. She is now
recovering and feeling well.
If her test results are good, then on March 9th, Masha will
start another cycle. By that time, she needs to have anti-nausea
drug, Zofran in pills (4 mg a day for 5 days), since the hospital
is out of it. Masha's parents bought Zofran for the last course,
but they cannot afford it anymore.
Once chemotherapy is over and Masha's condition is good, she will
need to have PET imaging that costs 14,000 rubles.
Masha's mom is asking for help with paying for PET.
Update as of March 14, 2010.
Masha started the 12th chemotherapy cycle.
She feels relatively well, but as usual during the cycle she does not want
to eat much.
Her mom is thanking the forum members of St. Petersburg's Parents for their
help with buying Zofran for Masha.
After this chemotherapy cycle, Masha will need to undergo MRI (on March
24th - on a quota), and on March 26th - PET at Brain Institute (we are
grateful to Grant Life fund for paying for this study).
Based on the test results, further treatment strategy will be determined.
Update as of April 15, 2010.
Masha had PET and MRI of the brain: no dynamics. There remain two
microscopic foci which accumulate contrast moderately.
The girl had a consultation at the Burdenko hospital in Moscow.
The doctors recommended to avoid surgery and suggested a new Temodal
treatment scheme. As the doctors of Hospital 31 recommended,
Masha's papers were sent to Germany for a consultation, because
at present there are several opinions what to do with
the remaining tumor.
Update as of May 25, 2010.
We received a bill for Masha's surgery
from Wurzburg University Clinic for 17,135.50 euros.
Update as of June 3, 2010.
Masha and her mom flew to Germany today.
A part of the surgery cost was raised through donations, and the rest
was borrowed. We will be able to publish complete information about
donations only after Masha returns in about two weeks. We are
enormously grateful to everyone for their help!
Update as of June 21, 2010.
Masha's surgery was rescheduled due to swelling on her leg and high
temperature (she was diagnosed with a fungal infection). Last week Masha
was moved to infectious diseases unit.
The surgery was scheduled for June 22 and is supposed to last many hours.
Masha is not in a very good mood and she has no appetite. Masha's family
was amazed at how large the hospital was (it is practically a city)
and how clean it was (2-3 times a day someone comes to clean thoroughly).
If they need to go for tests at another building, a taxi comes and takes
them, even if it is only 200 m away.
The doctors are very attentive and listen carefully. A translator is
used to explain everything. Due to postponement of surgery for a week,
the hospital bill might increase, but for now no one mentioned it.
Natalia, volunteer
Update as of June 23, 2010.
Masha's surgery was rescheduled again due to low platelets - for now,
for June 24th. Masha's mood and appetite have improved.
Natalia, volunteer
Update as of June 25, 2010.
Yesterday Masha was operated. The surgery lasted 6 hours. Afterwards,
the doctors said it went well.
Today's MRI results are good. Masha was taken off the ventilator and
transferred to the regular room. She feels rather well and takes naps.
Natalia, volunteer
Update as of June 30, 2010.
Masha was taken off all catheters and was scheduled for a few more tests.
The doctors' council is planned for Thursday or Friday. Masha and her mom
already went out for a 10-minute walk.
So we are keeping our fingers crossed.
Natalia, volunteer
Update as of July 7, 2010.
Today Masha's stitches will be taken off. All the samples were sent to
Belgium for a consultation, the results of which will help determine
Masha's further treatment. We are not sure, however, if there is enough
samples.
On July 10th Ira and Masha will fly back to St. Petersburg. They were
told that response from Belgium should come before their departure.
It is terribly hot in Germany right now, much hotter than in St. Petersburg.
Ira and Masha do not tolerate heat well, so they do not go out much.
Other than that they feel well.
Natalia, volunteer
Update as of July 23, 2010.
Masha will continue therapy in Belgium, at the University clinic in
Leuven, where she will participate in a clinical trial of an anti-cancer
vaccine, which is designed to prevent a relapse. This clinical trial
was recommended by the doctors who operated Masha in Wurzburg.
On July 28th she needs to be at the clinic to start the therapy.
We are enormously grateful to all the supporters who have helped Masha!
She feels well and hopes that her treatment will be over soon.
Unfortunately, we need to ask you for help again. A course of treatment
in Leuven will be paid for by the Belgian charities, but Masha's family
also needs money for tickets, hotel stay and food for six weeks - which
will total 4,000 euros. They also still owe money for treatment in
Germany. We will be grateful for any help.
Irina, Masha's mom
Correspondent Bank:
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas,
SWIFT: BKTRUS33
Beneficiary Bank:
OJSC Bank Petrovski (f. EEFC Bank Plc.)
SWIFT: PETRRU2P
Account No. 04096265
Beneficiary:
Non-Profit Organization
"AdVita Charitable Foundation",
account # 40703840712001000468
*,**
Correspondent Bank:
Deutsche Bank AG,
SWIFT: DEUTDEFF
Beneficiary Bank:
OJSC Bank Petrovski (f. EEFC Bank Plc.)
SWIFT: PETRRU2P
Account No. 100 9497918 1000
Beneficiary:
Non-Profit Organization
"AdVita Charitable Foundation",
account # 40703978312001000468
*,**
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