A huge thank you to everyone who helped Dima! The sum needed for treatment has been raised!
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My name is Yevheniia, I am Dimochka's mother.
In April 2014 I became pregnant with our beloved little son; the whole family waited impatiently for him to arrive. But, unfortunately, the birth did not go as it should. Dima became stuck in the pelvis, and the result was hypoxia of the brain. The doctors insisted that this was nothing serious and that the child would be fine.
Time went on, the child cried and fretted constantly, breast milk and later formula were poorly digested and often caused vomiting. Only a year later were we told that a test for lactose intolerance should be done. That was where it all began. The test confirmed that the child could not digest lactose, which meant a diet had to be introduced and the gut, damaged by a year of milk, had to be treated.
Physically Dimka developed within the usual norms, but we were always troubled by his poor eye contact, his repetitive and unusual play, his over-emotionality and, above all, the absence of any reaction to speech or any attempt to speak.
Over all these years we have been to consultations with every possible doctor, in every branch of medicine, from an audiologist to a psychiatrist. We have heard a million opinions on how and with what to treat our child, and we have followed as many recommendations. But there is no result. Since the age of two Dima has had the diagnosis – delayed psychological and speech development with an autistic spectrum. Since the age of five – disability.
Our son is now 6 and a half. He is an affectionate, kind boy, and we still have not lost hope of helping him become healthy and of helping him learn to communicate with us and with other children his age. In January 2021 we were lucky enough to get to Kyiv, to a clinic of neuroimmunology, where one more diagnosis was added to ours: a genetic deficiency of the folate cycle. That is the root cause, and it has to be dealt with.
The treatment has several stages. The first stage is antiviral; we got through it successfully on our own. Then the immunomodulating stage begins, with the first stage continuing in parallel with the start of the second. The second stage uses a very expensive drug – octagam, in fairly large quantities.
Unfortunately, we cannot pay for it every month for half a year. Dima's father is at work without a break and gives all the money he earns for his treatment. I am with our child and take care of his treatment and development, because besides the medication he needs constant sessions with specialists, visits to a correction centre and procedures that stimulate the brain.
We firmly believe that we can help Dimulia, but we need your help; there is no time to put it off, because in December our son will already be 7. And he has still not said a single word to us. And I have still not heard the cherished word "mummy".
Dima has already been through two courses of octagam – these are daily 8-hour drips over 4-5 days, which our son endured bravely; he is our little hero! This is far from the last stage of treatment, but it is the most expensive, and that is why we are asking for your support now.
We would be immensely grateful for any help! A huge thank you to all those who care! We wish you and your loved ones good health!
Sincerely, Dimochka's parents.
For information on how to help, see here.
