In January 2007 my son Alexander (born 1990) was diagnosed with a terrible
disease – extremely malignant form of idiopathic aplastic anemia. He was
examined and then treated at the hematology unit of the Children's Clinical
Hospital of Krasnodar. His condition has become stable but it remains grave.
Every 2-4 months Sasha has to come to hospital for substitution therapy that
consists in transfusions of erythrocytes. With such low platelet counts every
bleeding is extremely dangerous for him. In March and April 2009 my son was
examined at the Raisa Gorbacheva Children's Hematology and Transplantation
Institute. He was administered complex immunosuppressive therapy. HLA matching
was performed and 70 potential donors were found in Europe.
At present the doctors are absolutely sure that only a non-relative bone
marrow transplantation can save Alexander (his sister cannot be his donor).
We need 15,000 euros to activate the search for the donor in the international
bone marrow donor registry and another 2,500 euros to have the transplant delivered
to St. Petersburg. I work as a teacher at an orphanage and have nowhere to get
this money from.
That is why I am asking all of you for your help in saving a human life. It
is not a question of quality of life: if Sasha does not get help he will simply die.
Update as of June 20, 2010.
Dear friends, we need your help again. Sasha underwent bone marrow
transplantation, and on the 30th day post-transplant, he was transferred
to the day hospital. Unfortunately, a week later he returned to the
clinic with plummeting blood counts. The doctors are now discussing
second bone marrow transplantation, because a donor's bone marrow did
not engraft. Most likely, a new invoice for stem cell collection
will be issued.
Alexander's mom
Update as of July 6, 2010.
Sasha died on the second day after haploidentical transplantation.
Donor's bone marrow did not have time to engraft, while long-term
cytopenia after previous transplantation weakened Sasha and he
developed swelling in his lungs.
