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Hello to all citizens of the world!
This is a message from the mother of a little boy, Zhenya, who is
struggling for his life. A year ago a disaster came into our house – my son, Zhenya Mitrofanov (5 years
old) fell ill with a very heavy form of leukemia. It was so painful to watch the tears of suffering and
sadness running down the child's face. There were moments when he was not able to get out of his bed.
Five years old and so much pain and sorrow in his eyes! Yet my son has been doing his best to hide
the pain in order not to upset me. When I heard Zhenya's diagnosis for the first time, I felt
despair and hopelessness. But the Lord and the doctors gave us faith and hope in recovery and future
happy life! I realized that the way to recovery is the way of faith. There is no other way and life
goes on.
Medicine gives us a big chance of recovering and having a normal life. Now Zhenya is in the Children's
Department of Oncology and Hematology at the Clinical Centre of Advanced Technology, St Petersburg (hospital
No 31). Only a very expensive and complex operation of bone marrow transplantation can save him.
This is why we are knocking at every door asking you for your priceless support. I know that we are
all having hard times but I am still appealing to your compassion, kind-hearted people. How much I wish I
could see the child laughing, feeling eternally happy about the infinite sky and a ray of sun and just
enjoying life.
I know that my boy will be fine and that in spite of everything he will
overcome this ruthless disease and that childhood and serene happiness will come back into his life! A smile
of a happy child makes the world brighter. It is such a joy to see children healthy and happy!
Please give us your helpful hand and the Lord will bless you for your understanding and care. We
believe that your sincere kindness, friendship and Love will help us to cope with this disaster. Our
hearts are kind and warm enough to heal all sick people in the world!
Children are life. Love your children. Good luck to all of you
and bless you!
Natalia Prokusheva, Zhenya's mother
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NEWS
October 6, 2001. We are grateful to all
who helped to buy Introne-A for Eugene (Zhenya)! With the help of the web-master Paul Grinberg
we have managed to collect he necessary money for buying this medicament.
The names of those who helped are in this page.
Now Zhenya is in a sanatorium close to St.Petersburg. His mother came
to Simferopol for a few days.
At this time, it is necessary to think about the transplantation of the bone
marrow - until the boy is in the remission. Unfortunately, the information about a sponsor who
wished to provide money for the surgery, turned out to be false. We need to look for funds, to
look for a bone marrow donor...
THE MITROFANOV FAMILY IS NT GOING TO SURRENDER. HELP THEM!
July 14, 2001. Eugene is still waiting
for a bone marrow transplantation in a hospital in Saint-Petersburg, though there is a new trouble
he has to face.
Now Zhenya needs to be treated for Hepatitis B, which he received during a blood
transfusion. The only drug that can help him is Intron A – a very expensive medicine (the whole course
costs $ 3.000-4.000). Eugene’s mother is calling to all kind people to help them.
10 June 2001. Zhenya is still in the clinic
in St.-Petersburg. Though they've found funds for the operation, there is still no donor of the bone-marrow.
1 February 2001. Here is an extract from
the letter, which we received from Margarita Borisovna Belogurova (Head of the Children's Department
of Oncological Hematology, the Center of Advanced Medical Technology, St Petersburg):
"Eugene is undergoing treatment and feeling O'K. He
is a cheerful and lovely child. Our Italian contacts are actively searching for a donor. Only one donor
has been found so far, but they are still optimistic, so are we".
1 December 2000. We have received a
letter from his mother Natasha! This is an extract from her letter:
“We are doing alright. We are undergoing
treatment (now it is remission) and of course moving further. Zhenya feels O’K. He has an appetite
for food and what is most important, a will to live. This is in spite of the fact that he also has
hepatitis B… Presently we are going through chemotherapy. Also Zhenya’s foot has deformed and he has
to wear orthopaedic shoes. But then a test for cytomegalovirus that has been done few times shows
negative results. The diagnostic apparatus in hospital are really good. The children are regularly
visited by clowns, as well as teachers of English and chess instructors. There is also a nice
playground here. While the doctors are considering a trip abroad, we are trying to find funds. I
believe that you still remember us over there, in Simpheropol. My child
has a true chance to recover – to make it real everything we need now is
funding. Please send our regards to Valentin Usachenko, Olga Stiopkina and
other doctors. Keep in touch! Do not forget about us.”
In Simpheropol Zhenya’s grandparents are doing their
best to find funds. Unfortunately, very few people respond.
The Mitrofanovs’ are grateful to a Crimean company
Soyuz-Viktan for $ 1,000, which they have paid for the medicine necessary
for Zhenya to enter remission. They are also grateful to an anonymous
donator who after having read an article about Zhenya in a local
newspaper, sent as much as he/she could (about $ 30). We wish everyone
could help with anything possible…
Date: Friday, 20 October 2000 16:07:45
From: “Margarita Belogurova”
To:<café.init@west.crimea.ua>
Subject: Zhenya Mitrofanov
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Thank you all for your eagerness to participate in Zhenya’s life. We hope that our
joint efforts will make him and his parents happy.
Unrelated bone marrow transplantation at the Medical University of St. Petersburg
costs 150,000 German Marks and searching for a donor costs 30,000 German Marks.
We have entered Zhenya’s name into the list of St Petersburg children who need
transplantation in Italy, where our patients have been treated quite a few times. If this plan works
this time again, then there will be no need for Zhenya’s family and his friends to find the whole
amount. They will still need some money, but this cannot be even compared with the real value of
bone marrow transplantation.
Thank you again for your care about the child.
Regards,
M.B. Belogurova
Deputy Director Oncological Haematology for Children, Centre of Advanced Medical Technology
15 October 2000. Part of the
money sent by Mark OXBROW has been passed on to the Mitrofanovs at St Petersburg ($ 600).
4 September 2000. Today we have
got a letter from Natasha. There is an enclosed
extract from disease record
Mitrophanove Eugeny Sergheevich of 29/05/95 is the ward of child
oncological and haematology of clinical center of leading medical technologies in St.Peterburg. He
has been staying there since 17/08/00. The diagnosis - the replase of T- cellular of non-Hodzhin
liphom (within affection of mediastinum, left testicle, total affection of marrow, within
left-side pleurisy, ascites and pericarditis).
The treatment according the protocol COALL-92 has been
started. The clinical positive dynamic was attained (the number of leukocytes of the
blood has decreased from 94 to 12; pleurisy, ascites and pericarditis have disappeared).
The boy still needs an intensive polichemotherapy to
be continued. Doctors also say, he will later need the donor transplantation of the bone marrow.
Manager of the department G. Radulesku
Physician G. Goroshko
On 16 Aug. 2000 Zhenja Mitrofanov and his mother
Natasha left to St. Petersburg, to the Clinical Center of leading medical technologies. The doctors of
our department made an agreement with the stuff of the Center who will prepare the boy for the operation
and will conduct the operation itself. But there is no money for the transplantation! They went there, not
waiting until the support is found, because the time is very precious.
Please, help us with Zhenja's treatment!
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