20.04.2017
Thank you to everyone who helped our Zhenechka! Today, Zhenechka passed away...
30.03.2017
Zhenya and her mother are returning to Odessa.
The girl has suffered a second relapse and there is no longer any hope for recovery. The parents have made a very difficult and important decision – they will no longer torment their child. Zhenya simply couldn't handle all this.
Now we need to create the most comfortable conditions possible for Zhenya and make all her childhood dreams come true!
Volunteers Charitable Foundation "Little Bee" are as prepared as possible and will be meeting Zhenya from Belarus on Saturday. A huge thank you to Yana Alferova for your help! Zhenya already has gifts waiting for her at the train station.
A huge teddy bear, given to Aleks Sh (special offer «Miracles on New Year's Day!». Svetlana asked for it to be given to her when Zhenya returns to Odessa), he will come to visit Zhenya in the hospital!
Thank you to the children's clothing factory, TM "SMIL" and Leonid Yavorskiy for the gift for our Zhenya! Zhenya will also receive it at the hospital.
On Sunday, if she feels well, Zhenya is expected at the stables! This is Zhenya's dream; she loves horses. She even has a whole park of toy horses :) A huge thank you to Ekaterina Fedorenko (Ekaterina Aleshina) for making Zhenya's dream come true.
Zhenya loves Kinder Surprise, and not even the chocolate, but the toys inside. Anyone who wants and can buy Kinder Surprises will be grateful.
Let's make all of Zhenya's wishes come true!!! It's not that hard! Giving kindness – is easy!
11.03.2017
"Hello to everyone interested in our Zhenya. We have some news, unfortunately, not very pleasant. We've been hospitalized for two months now. All this time, Zhenya has been hooked up to IV fluids 24/7. The problem is that all previous treatments for leukemia and its complications have significantly damaged her bone marrow and its surrounding environment. The nutritional cushion that allowed donor cells to thrive and function properly has been disrupted. The cells haven't taken root in the numbers needed. Recent bone marrow tests have shown that the cell count has decreased. Because of this, her blood counts remain low. Her white blood cell count isn't sufficient to fight off any infections that flare up. Meanwhile, these infections cause even greater damage to the fragile donor cells. At a consultation, the doctors decided: "A retransplant is needed." While Zhenya's condition was severe during our initial hospital stay, and a transplant was impossible, her condition has now been stabilized. Zhenya feels better when she's receiving albumin, donor blood, and platelet concentrate. This lasts for a couple of days, and then things get worse again. If the weather is good and she's feeling well, the doctor allows her to go outside wearing a respirator mask to help her lungs develop. This can't continue for long; her body will stop accepting the donor infusions. The medical records are currently being prepared and the costing is being done. A preliminary bill has been announced for 100 thousand dollars for a repeat transplant. Official documents are promised to be ready soon. We are forced to ask for help again. Please help us! Our chances are good, but there's very little time to save Zhenya!"
22.12.2016
Hello. Sorry it's been so long since we've written. There haven't been many good things, and I don't really want to write about the bad.
It's been a little over two weeks since Zhenya was discharged from the transplant unit to the day hospital. During this time, we've been in intensive care, where he vomited to the point of convulsions (sorry for the details). When his condition stabilized, Zhenya was transferred to the hospital, then back to the day hospital.
The donor cells are partially rejected, causing low blood counts, one infection after another is detected, and new medications are added, increasing toxicity. This is causing the vomiting to return. To prevent further convulsions, we prescribed an anticonvulsant, which is also toxic. And so it becomes a vicious cycle, from which we're still struggling. Now we're back "undergoing IV treatment" in the inpatient department to reduce toxicity, and we're eagerly awaiting the final results of the puncture on +60 the day that was 13 December.
Well, that's not much good news for now. But we're not losing heart. We're fighting the fight. We really miss our family and friends.
Thank you all for your support.
Sincerely, the Vishnyakovs
08.11.2016
"Hello! We have some news. Zhenya's cells are starting to appear. And it's very important that these are donor cells (a special analysis was done for this). There are still only a few of them, of course, but they are starting to engraft, multiply, and function. Zhenya feels unevenly—sometimes well, sometimes not so well. Sometimes she gets a fever and often feels nauseous. Her general condition and mood are improving. When she feels well, the doctor has allowed her to take a walk down the hall for 15 minutes. We've already done it several times. And although such a short walk requires a lot of energy, her mood improves significantly afterwards. Zhenya has picked up her pencils again. Her drawings were even entered into a contest. That's all the news for now. We're trying our best. Thank you to everyone who's worried about us. Zhenya sends her regards to everyone."
Sincerely, Svetlana Vishnyakova.
18.10.2016
"Hello. On the night of 14 to 15 October, Zhenya underwent a transplant. Things weren't going smoothly. Zhenya's fever spiked, and she had to stop several times. We're really hoping the donor cells will engraft and start working. This should become apparent in about two weeks. In the meantime, we're hanging on as best we can. Zhenya is trying to stay positive. She continues to draw. As soon as Dad and I approach the window, she immediately shows us what she's drawn while we were gone. It gives us tremendous strength." Svetlana Vishnyakova
01.07.2016
Zhenya Vishnyakova and Svetlana Vishnyakova thank everyone who helped them! Tomorrow, Zhenya is going to Belarus for a couple of days and 5 July - to prepare for the BMT. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
14.06.2016
The Ministry of Health is allocating funds for Zhenya's BMT. But we're not stopping the collection, as she's still undergoing expensive antifungal therapy. How much more money will be needed is still unknown.
05.04.2016
"Hello! We finally have some good news; we really didn't want to write any bad news. Last week, we had to go to Kyiv twice. S.B.'s chest CT scan showed negative results. Donskaya didn't give us permission to start chemotherapy, but recommended intensifying the antifungal therapy by continuing "Vfend" and replacing "Mikamin" with "Candidas". I admit, knowing the cost of "Candidas" my eyes welled up even in Donskaya's office. We had already encountered this drug during our previous treatment. How much effort it took to buy this medicine for Zhenya! But our doctors' confidence that the progress should already be positive has been passed on to us, because Zhenya is feeling much better. After a repeat CT scan, which showed positive progress, I rushed back to Kyiv. The Kyiv IT specialists confirmed the positive progress. Then S.B. Donskaya recommended that we continue the anti-relapse chemotherapy and switch to prophylactic antifungal therapy (i.e., stop one antifungal drug and reduce the dose of "Vfend" ). So, we still desperately need help to buy "Vfend" for Zhenechka. For our family, even the prophylactic dose is prohibitive. But our chances of recovery have increased.
Today at 6.00 we started another chemotherapy block. Those who believe in God, please pray for Evgenia. Those who don't, just wish us luck.".
Sincerely, Svetlana, Zhenya's mother.
29.03.2016
"Hello. On Wednesday, we had a CT scan of her chest and abdomen. The scans showed slightly enlarged liver and spleen. We were very worried it might be due to a fungus. But, thank God, no fungus was detected in the abdominal cavity. However, the fungus in her lungs is showing negative dynamics. Perhaps because the antifungal medications take time to work. Zhenya is feeling much better. She hasn't had a fever for three days now, her cough has almost completely disappeared, her appetite is good, and she's in a good mood! So we're really hoping the next CT scan will show good results. The trip to Kyiv has been postponed until Tuesday due to a disagreement with the Kyiv IT specialist. We've ordered more bottles of Vfend. Our dad often goes to the district administration, to the dep
... We have a chest and abdominal CT scan scheduled for Wednesday. We're planning a consultation with Donskaya on Friday. Vfend arrived today, 10 "
22.03.2016
"Hello. Zhenka is feeling a little better. Her temperature rises less often (2 times a day). We have been out of the ward several times, though so far only as far as the playroom. We are booked in for a CT scan of the chest and abdomen on Wednesday. On Friday we plan to get a consultation with Donska. Today Vfend was delivered, 10 vials. We had to pay for it out of the money transferred for the transplant. That is all the news for now."
News from Zhenya's mother:
Everything is fine. Zhenya is slowly recovering. The Belarusian doctors are pleased with the results. We are continuing maintenance chemotherapy. O.V. Aleinikova extended it until December. A chest CT scan — shows slight improvement (the hole in the lung is slowly closing on its own). A brain MRI also shows improvement, but treatment is still needed to fully recover. The neurologist prescribed several courses (also until December). While waiting for the test results, we completed a course of physical therapy. If we continue at this rate, we'll be in our home country until December. And in December, a follow-up examination in Belarus (we really hope it's the final one).
4 January 2013
Hello, Elena! We wish you and all your helpers a Happy New Year and Merry Christmas! We wish you happiness, health, good luck, love, a good mood, and all the very best a person could wish for!
Thank you again to everyone who cared about our plight. If someone had told me a year and a half ago what kind of situation we'd find ourselves in, I probably wouldn't have believed it. I wouldn't have believed that in our time, complete strangers could respond so readily to a plea for help.
Zhenya and I's Troubles — Our hardships haven't been in vain – we've learned that kind, compassionate people still exist in our time.
Hurry to do good in word, deed, and action, because it's so easy and pleasant! Don't wait for a reward; the good will multiply and return to you and your loved ones! Zhenya and I are doing well. We were discharged from the day hospital and transferred to the outpatient department. We were registered with a hematologist and given recommendations. 2On January 1, we had a chest CT scan.
Compared with the previous scan, one focus has grown by 1-2 mm; otherwise there is no change. The doctor said this is not serious, — residual effects. In a month there will be another CT check of the chest and head. The final results of the puncture tests are good. Her haemoglobin is a little low (81); they think it is because of the drug «noxafil». We miss you all very much. Give our greetings to all the «bees». We hug and kiss you all very, very tightly.
17 December 2012
Everything is fine with us, we arrived safely and have settled for now in a flat. We were put on the day ward (every morning we walk to the hospital (about 1,5 km); Zhenechka walks the whole way holding my hand, sometimes she asks to be carried, but mostly she plods along herself). Zhenka had 2 punctures, the preliminary results are good, the final ones will be ready in a week. The neurologist has prescribed treatment. We were told the treatment is very long, in courses. As for the leukaemia everything is fine, she is in remission. The lungs show positive progress. We have problems with registration; we shall probably have to make an exit and re-entry to Ukraine. Perhaps we shall have a CT and MRI done in Odesa at the same time; they are needed in a month. So far we have paid 5000$ into the clinic's account. How long it will last is unknown. It is real winter here! About 15 degrees of frost, snow. That is all for now, I shall send news when I can. Greetings to Odesa!
27 November 2012
A little news about our Zhenechka! Her health is gradually improving; thank God the cause of the child's sharp decline was found in time. Zhenia is beginning to recognise everyone again and moves about the ward little by little. A couple of days ago we even went outside.
Today a computed tomography scan was done. The results showed that everything is unchanged. In this situation that is good, because the doctors feared that the fungus might start growing again now that new drugs are being used. In a couple of weeks Zhenia and her mother, after the course of treatment prescribed by the doctors from Minsk, will go to Belarus for another examination. We believe everything will be well.
Thank you to everyone who follows Zhenechka's story and helps her become well sooner. We hope the worst is behind Zhenia, which cannot be said of the child's mother. She has heart trouble again, and the doctors said that if a course of treatment is not given now, she may have a heart attack. And we cannot let that happen. We have ordered medicines for Svitlana, Zhenechka's mother, too. We need them both healthy. Too many trials have fallen on this family.
8 November 2012
A huge thank you to everyone who cares about our Zhenechka. At present further examinations are needed to understand the reason for such a sharp worsening of the child's health. In a few days the results of the puncture will be ready and then the doctors will be able to prescribe new treatment. We very much hope that this wonderful and open child will be able to be healthy! And Zhenia's parents — happy.
5 November 2012
An entirely unexpected turn of events has kept us in a state of stress for a week. The situation with Zhenka Vyshniakova is very grave. And yet only recently everything was going well. On 22 October Zhenka, delighted to see us in the department, announced: «Little Bee, I am not going to cook today, I am going home to my little brother».
Her doctor let Zhenia go home with her mother for a week. There they continued the prescribed course of treatment. But when they came back, something seemed wrong. Zhenechka was behaving in a very agitated way. On the first of November a computed tomography scan was done; it was thought that intoxication of the body had begun from the large amount of medicines.
The neurologist, having looked at the scan, reassured us that there was nothing serious. But Zhenia's condition is not improving.
Today (5 November) another scan was done — an MRI. There are two possibilities — either some virus, which may pass, or a fungal infection that has reached the brain, and if so, that is dreadful. We do not even want to think that it may be the second. Zhenia is now being given another antifungal drug by drip, «Zovirax».
One pack at the chemist's costs 420 UAH and lasts 2 days. How long this drug will be used, and whether it will be the only one, is not yet known. A very, very great deal of money has been spent on the child's treatment. And no little strength too. During the treatment Zhenka's mother has been put on a drip several times – her heart was failing her. A mother's heart always aches, and now, in such a state, even more so.
We, the foundation's volunteers, sincerely hope that Zhenechka will come through this stage too.
28 September 2012
Her mother telephoned and told us the results of the consultation with Svitlana Borysivna Donska. The progress is positive, the sores are healing, and the very expensive «Cancidas» has been stopped; it cost 4100 UAH a vial, and 2 vials lasted 3 days, plus one more drug had been prescribed, so that it came to 5 thousand UAH a day in all. Treatment continues with «Noxafil», which costs 13260 UAH a vial and lasts 10 days, plus «Fungizone» at 1000 UAH an ampoule, which lasts two days. Zhenia will be taking these drugs for at least six months. At present there are two vials of «Noxafil».
There is a good chance that the treatment will continue at state expense. If «Noxafil» is provided from the budget in full, only «Fungizone» will have to be bought, and at present it is not available in Ukraine. The question of an operation on the lung remains open.
25 September 2012
The treatment is not finished. This week Svitlana, Zhenia's mother, is going to Kyiv once again with the CT scans. The course prescribed by S. B. Donska is coming to an end. After that Svitlana Borysivna will either prescribe further treatment or at last say: «Everything is fine with you!»
11 June 2012.
A couple of hours ago Svitlana, Zhenia's mother, telephoned. She is in Kyiv now; she went for a consultation with S. B. Donska, the chief paediatric haematologist of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. After another examination the CT scan showed results that were not very good; as S. B. Donska explained, — this could be connected with Zhenia having had chickenpox. A larger dose of «Vfend» was prescribed and treatment with «Cancidas» was extended.
For all of it about 78510 UAH is still needed — 17750 UAH for «Vfend» and 60760 UAH for «Cancidas». The balance in the foundation's account is 25000 UAH. Her mother has about 7 thousand UAH in hand.
12 May 2012
Zhenia now VERY much needs expensive treatment. Svitlana, Zhenechka's mother, came back from Kyiv on 10 May, where she had a consultation with S. B. Donska, the chief paediatric haematologist of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, who prescribed treatment — the drug «Cancidas», 1 vial a day for at least two weeks. One vial costs 4470 UAH (earlier, for Marharyta Horbachova, it cost 4260,00 UAH).
We have contacted a representative of the medical company; they promise us a discount on this drug. How much, I cannot say yet, because we shall know after we buy it. The antifungal drug «Vfend» also has to be given by drip every day again. It costs 1260,00 UAH.
The foundation will be able to buy this drug for 4/5 days, and we have no more money, because we must help other children who also need expensive treatment. We are turning to every organisation that trusts us and helps us constantly.
Zhenechka is a very creative, kind and open child. We want with all our strength to help her become well sooner, and we ask all the forum members for help.
Please help save Zhenechka. You can bring money to the regional children's hospital (Slobidka) and give it to her mother in person. Zhenia is in ward 3.
