Sasha was born 16 May 1999 and grew up very smart. By school, he could already read and knew his multiplication tables. In he started school at 6 years old. He was a good student and participated in school activities: singing and dancing. In the 6 grade, Sasha was elected class monitor. He always defended the weak and helped struggling students. He played handball. At parent-teacher meetings, the parents were always thanked «for» their son.
At home, he helped his parents with housework and in raising his younger brother. Everything was fine until, in August 2011 of the year trouble happened. Sasha, while riding his bike, fell and hit his pubic bone. For a couple of days, he didn't tell anyone anything because he was afraid his parents would scold him. And when the pain intensified and there was no longer any hiding they possibly sought help from a surgeon at the district hospital. In Belyaevka, they took an X-ray, diagnosed inflammation from the bruise, and prescribed treatment.
Towards the end of September, Sasha felt better, and he went to school. In October, pain began in the pelvic area. The parents took the boy to the Odesa Regional Children's Hospital, where he underwent his first surgery and a biopsy for examination. At the Kyiv Cancer Institute, he was diagnosed with a tumor of the right pubic bone. In early November, Sasha underwent a second surgery and after biopsy tests, a terrifying diagnosis was made: Ewing's sarcoma of the pubic bone. Sasha is currently undergoing treatment in the oncohematology department of the Regional Children's Clinical Hospital.
He has been prescribed six courses of chemotherapy, after which — he will undergo surgery. Sasha is in very serious condition. The cancer has spread to the entire right side of his pelvis (3 bones, nerves, tendons, and veins).
At a consultation in Moscow, the parents were informed that the treatment would cost 6 million rubles. This cost proved too much for the parents, so treatment continued in Kyiv. In Kyiv, Sasha underwent 20 radiation therapy sessions and 5 chemotherapy sessions.
Sasha didn't tolerate chemotherapy well. Tests showed that «his platelet and» white blood cell counts dropped, and he still has a high temperature ( 38-39).
Thanks to the TV channel «Grad» and Anna Pashedko for help:
08 October 2012
Sasha's endoprosthesis is ready; his parents are just waiting for the invoice showing the cost. Sasha is currently undergoing the 11th chemotherapy course. The doctor has forbidden the 12th, because they were supposed to stop at seven chemotherapy courses. And because the endoprosthesis has not been bought yet, Sasha cannot have the operation.
25 September 2012
Sasha's dad called and said that the boy had already completed 10 chemotherapy rounds, and that the 1 round will begin in 11 October. The therapy resulted in serious complications; Sasha was also diagnosed with hepatitis B. His dad said that the boy will need to undergo chemotherapy until he gets an endoprosthesis. The endoprosthesis itself can be priced from 160 000 UAH to 200 000 UAH
The surgery will only be performed once the full amount has been raised. Sasha now has difficulty walking for long periods. He tires very quickly. His dad bought him a special tent, where he can meet his friends in the fresh air. Sasha also visited his favorite school, but afterward, he felt very sad; he came home and burst into tears: «Why is this happening to me?».
Sasha has been undergoing treatment in Kyiv for over two months. He has completed 20 radiation therapy sessions and 5 chemotherapy rounds. His health is serious, and he will soon have another round and a complex, expensive surgery. During the surgery, the bone may be replaced with an implant. After the surgery, a plaster cast will be applied for 1-3 months, and chemotherapy and rehabilitation therapy will continue.
Sasha will soon undergo a complex surgery. The tumor is located near the coccyx and has already spread to the adjacent bones. The treating physician has several possible outcomes: good and bad. If all goes well, the bone will be treated at a temperature of 120 degrees, and the adjacent bones will be strengthened with plates.
The surgery requires the presence of not only a surgical oncologist but also a vascular surgeon and other specialists, and it will last at least 10 hours! If all goes wrong, the best outcome would be a hip replacement. Alexander's parents are currently considering only the first option, which involves autoclaving.
Since such an operation can only be performed at «OKHMADET», additional expenses will be incurred. These include purchasing the necessary «surgical package», purchasing plates, transportation from OKHMADET to the city hospital where Sasha is currently being treated
on Verkhovinnaya Street, as well as postoperative recovery. Before the surgery, a CT scan, MRI, and ultrasound are mandatory. Therefore, we need to raise approximately 23 000 UAH for Sasha's surgery.
This is a very large sum for the Zhuravlev family. Sasha's mother only has 1 500 UAH. Sasha and his parents really need help and support!
