<BR/>On December 16, 2006, in our family a new baby was born, we named her Sashenka: she was a very much welcome and pretty baby. Her birth was a real wonder for us: firstly, because she was the third daughter in the family and secondly, because of the fact that all of our three girls look so very much alike that one can hardly say who is who when looking at their pictures. <BR/><BR/>Before she turned three a half months, she was growing well and we were happy to have lived just one more day with her; elder girls were very happy when she started to pronounce the first sounds: "A-huuu”; when she smiled at us; when we first heard her laughing; and only minor jaundice on her skin made our hearts beat faster, though even doctors failed to notice it at first. The troubles began all of a sudden: one day Sashenka lost her appetite and apparently, was suffering from diarrhea. This condition was being observed for three days in a row; thereupon, she was taken to a hospital; doctors began to take various measurements and to conduct analyses. Finally, we were faced with a devastating diagnosis: "Billiary atresia; non-correctible type under Kasai classification.” The baby requires the first, initial operation – artificial drainage between liver and colon; thereupon, transplantation of liver. After we had heard those words, we literally lost the ground under our feet: Why? How could it happen - no doctors had had any concerns regarding the baby’s prenatal condition? This must be a mistake – we thought. Thereupon, endless stays at the hospitals; analyses; simple and intravenous injections followed… Every single day we would fall asleep and awake, thinking: How can we save our baby? Sashenka was looking into our eyes and did not understand what was going on; why this world was so cruel to her; why mummy kissed her, said that she loved her, though did allow some unknown adults (wearing white gowns) to hurt her; why, instead of the smiling faces of her sisters, she would see the serious eyes of the same unknown adults; why, instead of the warm spring sun, her hands and feet were warmed with the "blue lamp”; we asked ourselves numerous other questions commencing with "why” and failed to find any answer that could be understood by her and ourselves. We did not want to accept the cruel reality; we would look into the eyes of the doctors, hoping to see any signs of reassuring news… Alas. "Rapidly developing cirrhosis of liver; she requires urgent transplantation!” – those words sounded like a capital sentence to us. <BR/><BR/>In September of 2007, we were admitted to the Institute of Surgery and Transplanthology named after Academician Shalimov; the professionals working at the Institute commenced the examination and treatment course aimed at selecting a relative donor for the relative transplantation of liver. Even at that stage, we were devastated again: out of the four relatives with the required blood group, no one could be a donor in the planned operation. <BR/><BR/>Now our girl has only one chance to live – due to the non-relative transplantation of liver, to be conducted abroad. The costs to be incurred in connection with the operation are equal to approximately 200 000 EURO (the operation is to be conducted in Germany, where Sashenka stays at the moment). <BR/><BR/>We very much hope that there will be individuals and entities that would be able to render financial assistance to us; we are extremely grateful to anyone who would be able to provide any help. We sincerely believe that your kind hearts will help Sashenka’s little heart to beat for a long time…<BR/><BR/>We kindly request you to help us by giving her a chance to live! We shall not be able to cope without your support. On December 16, Sashenka turned one year. This is a critical age, given her condition!
<BR/>On December 16, 2006, in our family a new baby was born, we named her Sashenka: she was a very much welcome and pretty baby. Her birth was a real wonder for us: firstly, because she was the third daughter in the family and secondly, because of the fact that all of our three girls look so very much alike that one can hardly say who is who when looking at their pictures. <BR/><BR/>Before she turned three a half months, she was growing well and we were happy to have lived just one more day with her; elder girls were very happy when she started to pronounce the first sounds: "A-huuu”; when she smiled at us; when we first heard her laughing; and only minor jaundice on her skin made our hearts beat faster, though even doctors failed to notice it at first. The troubles began all of a sudden: one day Sashenka lost her appetite and apparently, was suffering from diarrhea. This condition was being observed for three days in a row; thereupon, she was taken to a hospital; doctors began to take various measurements and to conduct analyses. Finally, we were faced with a devastating diagnosis: "Billiary atresia; non-correctible type under Kasai classification.” The baby requires the first, initial operation – artificial drainage between liver and colon; thereupon, transplantation of liver. After we had heard those words, we literally lost the ground under our feet: Why? How could it happen - no doctors had had any concerns regarding the baby’s prenatal condition? This must be a mistake – we thought. Thereupon, endless stays at the hospitals; analyses; simple and intravenous injections followed… Every single day we would fall asleep and awake, thinking: How can we save our baby? Sashenka was looking into our eyes and did not understand what was going on; why this world was so cruel to her; why mummy kissed her, said that she loved her, though did allow some unknown adults (wearing white gowns) to hurt her; why, instead of the smiling faces of her sisters, she would see the serious eyes of the same unknown adults; why, instead of the warm spring sun, her hands and feet were warmed with the "blue lamp”; we asked ourselves numerous other questions commencing with "why” and failed to find any answer that could be understood by her and ourselves. We did not want to accept the cruel reality; we would look into the eyes of the doctors, hoping to see any signs of reassuring news… Alas. "Rapidly developing cirrhosis of liver; she requires urgent transplantation!” – those words sounded like a capital sentence to us. <BR/><BR/>In September of 2007, we were admitted to the Institute of Surgery and Transplanthology named after Academician Shalimov; the professionals working at the Institute commenced the examination and treatment course aimed at selecting a relative donor for the relative transplantation of liver. Even at that stage, we were devastated again: out of the four relatives with the required blood group, no one could be a donor in the planned operation. <BR/><BR/>Now our girl has only one chance to live – due to the non-relative transplantation of liver, to be conducted abroad. The costs to be incurred in connection with the operation are equal to approximately 200 000 EURO (the operation is to be conducted in Germany, where Sashenka stays at the moment). <BR/><BR/>We very much hope that there will be individuals and entities that would be able to render financial assistance to us; we are extremely grateful to anyone who would be able to provide any help. We sincerely believe that your kind hearts will help Sashenka’s little heart to beat for a long time…<BR/><BR/>We kindly request you to help us by giving her a chance to live! We shall not be able to cope without your support. On December 16, Sashenka turned one year. This is a critical age, given her condition!