For five and a half years, Dashenka fought for her life. Numerous surgeries and chemotherapies were performed. Doctors, parents, and volunteers did everything possible to save the girl. But the disease proved stronger. Today, 4 November 2015 on her seventh birthday, Dasha left this world.
Dasha's illness began when she was 1 year and 3 months old. On 15 February 2010 Dasha suddenly became unwell and started vomiting badly. The girl was admitted to an infectious diseases hospital, where she grew even worse — convulsions began. Dasha was taken to intensive care.
The next day an MRI of the brain was done, which showed that she had a brain tumour and hydrocephalus.
The same day the girl was urgently transferred to the regional children's hospital, to the neurosurgery department, where she had two operations, after which she learnt to sit and walk again. A month later Dasha was discharged and sent to Kyiv for a consultation. In Kyiv the diagnosis «anaplastic ependymoma» was made and 12 blocks of chemotherapy were prescribed.
What Dasha has been through in that time you would not wish on your worst enemy. Unfortunately, neither the endless chemotherapy drips nor the radiotherapy brought results — the tumour went on growing. In such a short period Dasha received 18 blocks of chemotherapy and 54g of radiotherapy. She still remembers the intensive care unit, where it took them an hour and a half to put in a subclavian catheter. In June 2012 Dasha's headaches began to trouble her again. After a consultation in Kyiv it was decided to operate again. On 4 July her 3rd operation was carried out, after which Dasha stopped speaking. Since then she has not walked. Then came a consultation in Moscow, where Dr Zheludkova prescribed 5 blocks of Temodal chemotherapy. But that did not help either — the tumour would not stop growing. It was decided to go to Donetsk for radiotherapy, where Dasha received 58g of radiation. There the little girl won everyone over by her courage. And the results showed that the tumour had stopped growing.
Since August 2013 Dasha has had no treatment at all, as in Kyiv the girl and her mother were sent home. On 20 October 2014 Dasha began to cry and complain of headache. An MRI was done urgently. The examination showed that the tumour had grown 2 times.
Doctors in Barcelona are ready to take on the girl's treatment, which she badly needs now. The cost of the whole course — is 47000 euros. For Dasha's family this sum is impossible. They badly need your help!
For ways to help, see here.
