Hello.

My name is Svitlana. I have a daughter, Izolda; in February she turned 12. We live in Odesa. I am writing to tell you the short story of a child who needs help that we cannot manage on our own. My daughter's health has reached a point that is critical for her and very serious. Izolda was born with congenital genetic conditions that lead to serious health problems. Sadly, my daughter has been given a great many diagnoses. One of them is spondylolytic spondylolisthesis L5 S1 4-5 degree, complete obturation of the spinal canal, systemic connective tissue dysplasia. We learnt of this illness when Izolda was six. That was when she started school and began carrying a heavy satchel on her back. It all began with slight back pain, and went on growing worse. In that time we have met a great many different problems. Izolda was forbidden to walk; for a year and a half she was put in a corset of rigid plastic reaching from her armpits to her hip. It could not be taken off even at night. We have been through a great many different courses of treatment and rehabilitation. All of it helped, but only for a while, putting off the progress of the disease. There were longer periods of remission — of two or three months, when our daughter could run about and live like an ordinary child. Then a new course of treatment — and remission again. At present the treatment gives no result. The pain in her back, legs, chest and abdomen is more and more often long and agonising, turning the girl's life into hell. Constantly taking painkillers in tablets and injections has already led to problems with her digestive tract. Everything is clamped, the blood flow is poor, at times it even hurts to touch her back and abdomen. My daughter has weakness in her legs; her feet, toes and pelvis go numb, and the pelvic organs do not always work. Her ribs simply lie in the pelvis, and the friction when she turns on her side causes severe pain. All the internal organs are constantly compressed, and because of this everything often goes numb. During the night the child wakes several times from pain, even though we give her painkilling injections in the evening. Izolda is often troubled by headaches and dizziness. All the horrors of living with these afflictions could be listed for a very long time. One could resign oneself and go on living, but the process does not stop, and it leads to dreadful consequences that threaten paralysis. Her illnesses have other symptoms too, but they do not have such a ruinous effect on her life.

We have been through many courses of various kinds of treatment in Ukraine, and we regularly attend procedures and take medicines. But, unfortunately, this does not improve our daughter's condition; it only helps to some extent with the symptoms. Hope of improving Izolda's health was given to us by the neurosurgeon and orthopaedist Professor Ali Ashkinazi of the «Assuta» clinic (Tel Aviv, Israel). In December we went there for an examination.

At the consultation Professor Ashkinazi said that he would be able to help my daughter recover by performing an operation to stabilise the spine with a special metal construction fitted. Rehabilitation will be needed after the operation. The professor gives us a very optimistic prognosis. We were given a price for the operation of 129510 shekels. At today's exchange rate that sum is 37584 dollars. It covers the operation itself, the construction that will be fitted into the spine, 5 days of hospitalisation, tests and so on. A day of rehabilitation costs 140 dollars and it lasts 10 days. Rehabilitation is prescribed after the operation at the patient's wish and is not included in the price. We shall have to stay in Israel for about 15 days. Sadly, I shall not be able to raise such a sum by my own efforts. I am bringing my daughter up alone; as for work – irregular, not very large odd jobs, since I have to be with my child almost all the time. Three times a day I have to massage Izolda's body and legs. If this is not done in time, everything stiffens and then my daughter feels worse. We receive a disability allowance and a low-income allowance, but this sum is not enough.

Izolda very much hopes to become like all other children. She is an active, creative girl. She is keen on art, she draws, she dreams of becoming an artist and teaching other children. When her health allows, she attends art school. She loves sport but cannot take part in it; she would like to learn to play football. At her ordinary school our daughter is taught individually in order to reduce the load. So Izolda is hardly ever there. And she would very much like to be with other children more.

Every person, whatever their physical condition, wants to live. And everyone fights for life, for every day, minute and moment. How we have lived until today with a spine in such a state, only God knows, but now, without the operation, our daughter will be lost. The operation must be done as soon as possible, because if paralysis sets in, nothing can be put right any more.

 For the ways you can help, see here.