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Beginning of October 2000. This was written later in an attempt to tell you in a few words about Sergey’s last days. Remission did not happen despite all the efforts made by the medical staff. When unexpectedly Sergey started bleeding and there was no time to order any donors blood, Svetlana A. Vasilenko, a doctor on shift, gave her blood for transfusion immediately. How was she related to Sergey now? A sister by blood?…

A trip to Italy… Basically, a trip was possible. Doctors and parents from the Initiative got in touch with an Italian clinic in Trieste – fortunately, there is a “Russian doctor” working there currently. However, they could not manage to find money for the operation. The two most popular Crimean papers and the Crimean TV channel Chernomorka made another announcement about Sergey’s illness. One person responded to the call – a man brought 100 Ukrainian Hryvnias (about $ 20) to Anna at the hospital. He said that his children had seen Sergey on TV and told him to go and help as much as they could. It is a pity that others who also saw or read the same announcement did not decide to bring at least 1 $…

Sergey and his mother were coping very bravely, considering that nothing was concealed from Seryozha – he knew he was living on the edge. He was thinking a lot and we will never know what it was about. But he was saying: “I think I will still recover!” He began taking a herbal mixture which had been received from a herbal specialist (not a witch-doctor!!!) When his milk teeth became loose, everyone got panicky because the boy was in the state of deep leukopenia as a result of heavy chemotherapy, which meant that any small injury could result in heavy bleeding. Sergei just pulled the teeth himself with his fingers and gave them to his mother. First, one tooth and then another one, in a couple of days – there was very little blood.

But for all that, blast cells, infected lymphocytes, which turned into cancer cells, were still in his blood – even though leukocytes almost did not disappear as a result of therapy. But blast cells were left behind.

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11 October 2000. On the 9th Sergey and his mother took the decision to come back home. Chemotherapy was no longer bringing any results. There was still some hope with the herbs… Sergey was still very determined not to lose his stamina. While saying good-bye to the doctors and nurses, he promised to come to the next celebration of the Day of a Recovered Child, on 1 June. 

Anna took a painful decision. She was prepared to come back to hospital whenever it was necessary to get blood for transfussion since it was impossible to get it in their hometown (meaning that she had to cover 200 kilometres once or twice a week!) For three days all the medical staff were teaching her to make intravenous droppers and catheters, and Anna was practicing her newly acquired skills on our doctors and nurses. Perhaps it was easier to stay in hospital up to the end. But she chose to do what her son wanted. Sergey was really homesick and was in particular missing his cat. And he had a chance to see it again.

Today Sergey died.

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HOW WE FOUGHT FOR SEREZHA'S LIFE

For almost a year Sergey has been undergoing treatment for a severe mieloblast leucosis, and the treatment was going successfully. It seemed that everything was already overcome. But… The disease, the course of which has been quickly changing (the result of the Chernobyl'!) was soon back. Now only transplantation of the marrow could help Serezha. The cost of the operation in the USA is from 100 to 200 thousand dollars! But now it is possible to make such an operation in Kiev, and it costs only 5-7 thousand dollars. Still, Serezha's parents didn't have such an amount of money; but the family was determined to overcome the disease at any cost. So Anya went with her son Serezha to Kiev.  Ten-years-old Serezha knew exactly how serious was the disease he had, and what the outcome could be, but all this time he was very courageous, and even encourages his mother Anya at the times of despair.  Transplantation was performed in April, 2000.  Further on this site there is Serezha Borovik's story. 

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February 12, 2000. Serge is still being prepared for the bone marrow transplantation. He has had a cold, but now he is in a good state. We knew from the letter that Serge is very active now, he runs along the hospital corridors, has invented a kind of water pump gun, using injector, parts of medical dropper and so on. He sprinkles everybody in the corridors and enjoys that. Like all our children he knows everything about his disease and coming operation, but he does not lose heart and is quite sure he will overcome in this battle. His mother Ann is also rather cheerful. The operation was decided to delay - to give the boy some time to prepare and have a rest, therefore to be sure in the result. For the moment it is planned on middle of April. For several days Serge was let to be free from the treatment, a kind of vacation. They were afraid to return to Crimea and stayed in Kiev. They were invited by Svetlana, a journalist of Christian magazine “Sledy” (Traces). She knew them from our site and offered to stay with her.

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February 20, 2000. Serge was operated on lipoma (leg area). Today “Parents’ Initiative” sent antibiotics to Kiev, for Serge’s treatment.

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February 23, 2000. "The medications for Borovik was received at last, the biopsy tests are good. On Sunday the next course of Cytozar and Methaxandron was started, and to celebrate the beginning on Tuesday we played football with the Boroviks'... Right in the hospital corridor. The friendship was the winner."

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February 26, 2000. "The Borovils' are doing fine. A friend of mine visited the hospital ? he wanted to give the blood for thrombocyte mass (his blood can be transfused to Serge). The friend informed us that two days after the notorious football match (another words, five days after Cytozar) Serge was driving along the department fastened to the medical dropper and judging by his face was rather cheerful. He has good biopsy results, no blasts were found. Operation (lypoma section) he underwent with good result, and played football kicking the ball with this operated leg. When spring comes we shall bring everything for softball to the department. But tomorrow Borovik has a birthday and we are going to bring him a huge toy railway with remote control, with huge cake and balloons. We shall inform you about the consequences on Monday."

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February 28, 2000. "When the day of his birthday came Serge was given heaps of gifts, sweets, congratulations...and he confessed to his absolutely stunned mother, Ann, that that was "the best birthday in the life". The ocean of presents began its tide just from the morning and by the night all children from the department who were allowed to walk gathered by the holiday table. We came a bit later, having balloons and sweets with us, and as usually broke the settled order. Judging by the faces of the nurses in the department they are used to the "children unbound" and only smile sadly watching the chaos. We presented Serge two toy racers with a track, remote radio control and all necessary for real races sound effects. We installed the monster right in the hospital hall and in no time there was a crowd around it. The were onlookers, fans and potential participants ? without any age and sex segregation. The action lasted for almost two hours and involved more interest then races Paris-Dakar! Who can doubt that Borovik was the absolute winner (he defeated even me!), he was happy and cheerful. I can't believe that this Saturday he was made the punction with Cytozar. Now the doctors are waiting the tests to get worse, and leucocytes seem to fall a little. But that does not spoil the mood and activity of the boy! We left somewhere at eight and due to the only reason ? Serge had to receive guests. Of course, he'd better play racers but the duty of the host is stronger..."

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March 18, 2000. 'The Boroviks had an expected hard period - transition from the last medicamental course before transplantation. Sergey suffered with imflammation in mouth cavity, he could not eat at all, though he was starving - being hungry is his usual state. He was eager to eat something even in most difficult days. So, with his mouth all wound Sergey suffered terribly. And - a real miracle - it wonderfully stopped. Just in three days all his wounds have healed and disappeared as one. Now Sergey, pale but cheerful, tries to run along the corridors of the hospital, compencates all 'missed' meals and pleases all of us. The Boroviks were not allowed to return home, their doctor wants to make transplantation as soon as possible. They may have two days - not more, and I want them to stay with me. We shall go to the forest, visit Hydropark and tennis competition etc.). We've brought heaps of injectors for Sergey from Moscow. In Moscow they are considerably cheeper. 
We brought as well special medication, a kind of tonic, for Anna - it would be just in time for her now.'

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March 30, 2000. "About 'Help from President Kuchma'to Sergey, so much talked about in Simferopol, I've heard nothing about it. If something of the kind had happened, Anna certainly informed me of it, in all details. So, that is just a tale, a legend, folklore on old but eternal topic - a tale about the kind and generous king...
Actually Anna was given some 'government, or state help' it was transferred not from the president of Ukraine. She got the help thanks to the efforts of their local deputy who begged in Parliament - and I really meant what I've said. This deputy begged for financial help for the boy. Our deputies, our 'chosen ones' are famous for their 'generosity' (a sad joke) so he had not collected much but even a small drop is better then none. But I can say nothing about the First Person of the state... Only gossips...
Now more real is another thing (real and sad) - Sergey's transplantation is delayed. To enshure positive result of the operation, Sergey has to finish one more course of Cytozar in large dozes together with some other medicine to help with lymphatic glands.
On Saturday Anna and Sergey visited Kievsky Zoo. Sergey was impressed with hippopotamus. Everybody couldn't help admiring it. We liked the elephant as well, but hippopotamus was much better. "That is Begemoth, which I've created like you' (Book of Jove). Sergey seemed to feel that and spoke about the animal with almost brotherly tenderness. We planned to go somewhere next week but it is very difficult to make plans now... Everything is in the hand of God... 
My former students from Donetsk, actresses of one small but great theater, agreed to spend a part of their time in Kiev (I've invited them to the Conference) at the hospital playing with ill children. That's great and I hope both sides will be glad.' 

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April 17, 2000. "The Borovik's are quite well, they began the course of Neipogen. As soon as possible they will be prepared for the transplantation.. But now - yesterday we played checkers, tomorrow we are going to visit Lavra. The doctor who will operate Sergey advised one of my students should make a picture for the boy, she'd draw death. And before the operation he will take his water gun or darts and kill this death."

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May 31, 2000. "Yesterday, on May 30, we saw the Borovics off. They went fo Simferopol by train. Now probably they are near home! You are sure to meet them soon. Sergey is the same fidget. He went fishing already and caught something with his new fishing rode! He is a collectioner of phone cards - he has hips of them. He laso loves toys (one sack of toys he took to Simferopol, another is left here, in Kiev, just for a time). He is not against ice-cream, cherries, strawberries etc. as well. 

Anna, his mother is glad and anxious about him. In 60 days they have to return to Kiev for control checkup. The doctors consider the operation was very successful, all tests are normal. But they are afraid of relapse. For such case she is advised to think of a new donor. That could be either Anna herself or her daughter Ira. One of them should go to Saint-Petersburgh for genetic tests. The result will show who is a future donor. The possibility of new transplantation is 50/50. Anna was rather upset, but she stays optimistic! 

The Borovics are real heroes! Anna considers they can manage, Sergey has not a slightest doubt about that. Same here."

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June 1, 2000. Early in the morning of June, 1 our department saw real, alive Sergey Borovik in flesh and blood! He came here with his mother. The 34th day after the transplantation of bone marrow was the crucial to see the results. The doctors in Kiev, where he had undergone the operation, defined his state as satisfactory. 

And Sergey begged his doctor to let him stay a bit at home. The doctor let him go home... Not only let him go from the hospital, but let him visit SIMFEROPOL! 

Sergey had to visit the Holiday! Exhausting way home and sleepless night in the train could not change his mind. "We are going to our department, we must be at the Holiday!" It happened so that clown Tolyan knew nothing about

Sergey's presence at the holiday. But when Tolyan was calling helperf from the audience, he fished out the crowd - whom do you think? Yess, Sergey. And Sergey (with a little help of the clown) made some acrobatic stands!.. 

 Though that is no time to relax. The time of post-operation observation is one hundred days. He will be tested and examined at the department and after that he will go to Kiev again. The control tests and examination is nesessary. During this period his close relatives would be examined for possible donation of bone marrow, on the case if - IF! - Sergey needs the second transplantation. 

Look for news about Sergey on our site. 

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June 22, 2000. Today Serge visited Simferopol to make new tests and undergo the medical examination. All tests are satisfactory.

Ann Borovik has brought the photos she had made in Kiev. In the nearest future you can see them on our site.

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21 July 2000 the doctors and parents-members of the active of "Initiative" took the decision. Now "Parents' Initiative" has the fund of $ 520. This money has left from the sum that citisen of Moscow D.S. and Anna have sent for presents on The Day of Recovered Child. We planned to spend the money on purchasing antibiotics for the whole department. But it happened so that we failed to do that twice. We could not buy medications with discard, though it was prearranged. TWICE... Maybe it happened what had to happen. The money MUST be at the department to be spend on that occasion!

$ 350 were given to Serge Borovik preparations to the second bone marrow transplantation.

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15 Aug. 2000. Svetlana Panich and Sergey Kokurin from Kiev keep helping Sergey. They have sent him medicines: alkeran and unacin. 

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5 Sept. 2000. A month and a half have passed after the repeated recurrence that Serezha Borovik has had. The results are far from being comforting. The chemotherapy that our doctors are conducting in co-operation with the specialists from Kiev that have made the transplantation for Serezha, does not seem to bring any results. In the blood there is still a large number of blasts… Nevertheless, the doctors, Serezha's mother Anya and Serezha still have a hope. In spite of the seriousness of the situation Sergey feels well, he has no difficulties with movements, and doesn't feel the symptoms of the disease.  Within the next week it will be clear if the boy is going to have a remission or not. But even if he doesn't, there STILL REMAINS A CHANCE. One of the Italian clinics is ready to take Sergey for a donor transplantation of the marrow, even before the remission starts. The whole course of treatment, including transportation, hospital fees, donors, and operation, makes $41.000 (to compare: in the USA and Israel it costs $100.000 and more). But this is still a huge sum for us, which makes the major difficulty. So we keep looking… 

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Beginning of October 2000. This was written later in an attempt to tell you in a few words about Sergey’s last days. Remission did not happen despite all the efforts made by the medical staff. When unexpectedly Sergey started bleeding and there was no time to order any donors blood, Svetlana A. Vasilenko, a doctor on shift, gave her blood for transfusion immediately. How was she related to Sergey now? A sister by blood?…

A trip to Italy… Basically, a trip was possible. Doctors and parents from the Initiative got in touch with an Italian clinic in Trieste – fortunately, there is a “Russian doctor” working there currently. However, they could not manage to find money for the operation. The two most popular Crimean papers and the Crimean TV channel Chernomorka made another announcement about Sergey’s illness. One person responded to the call – a man brought 100 Ukrainian Hryvnias (about $ 20) to Anna at the hospital. He said that his children had seen Sergey on TV and told him to go and help as much as they could. It is a pity that others who also saw or read the same announcement did not decide to bring at least 1 $…

Sergey and his mother were coping very bravely, considering that nothing was concealed from Seryozha – he knew he was living on the edge. He was thinking a lot and we will never know what it was about. But he was saying: “I think I will still recover!” He began taking a herbal mixture which had been received from a herbal specialist (not a witch-doctor!!!) When his milk teeth became loose, everyone got panicky because the boy was in the state of deep leukopenia as a result of heavy chemotherapy, which meant that any small injury could result in heavy bleeding. Sergei just pulled the teeth himself with his fingers and gave them to his mother. First, one tooth and then another one, in a couple of days – there was very little blood.

But for all that, blast cells, infected lymphocytes, which turned into cancer cells, were still in his blood – even though leukocytes almost did not disappear as a result of therapy. But blast cells were left behind.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11 October 2000. On the 9th Sergey and his mother took the decision to come back home. Chemotherapy was no longer bringing any results. There was still some hope with the herbs… Sergey was still very determined not to lose his stamina. While saying good-bye to the doctors and nurses, he promised to come to the next celebration of the Day of a Recovered Child, on 1 June. 

Anna took a painful decision. She was prepared to come back to hospital whenever it was necessary to get blood for transfussion since it was impossible to get it in their hometown (meaning that she had to cover 200 kilometres once or twice a week!) For three days all the medical staff were teaching her to make intravenous droppers and catheters, and Anna was practicing her newly acquired skills on our doctors and nurses. Perhaps it was easier to stay in hospital up to the end. But she chose to do what her son wanted. Sergey was really homesick and was in particular missing his cat. And he had a chance to see it again.

Today Sergey died.

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