June, 2010
The following article was recently translated from Russian.
It appeared in the Klintsy City Newspaper
It’s been 24 years since Chernobyl tragedy, but until nowadays we see consequences of it. Living in the contaminated areas not everybody has a possibility to move to clean area and get necessary medical help. At the same time “Chernobyl” diseases progress: upper respiratory diseases, GI , Thyroid, heart and others.
CCP USA gives hope for cure to young victims of the tragedy. Children from Klintsy have been getting treatment in the best Boston’s hospitals for 13 years, living in American host family’s houses. There is 10 y.o. Julia Nosenko a girl with a congenital heart defect, amongst operated on in the USA children. The little heart had not been working well since the first days of the life. She was discharged completely healthy from a Mother Baby Unit, but 3 month later a pediatrician found a severe murmur in the heart. In a year a cardiologist made a diagnosis “congenital defect of the heart”. Julia got disability when she was 2 y.o. and she was advised to have an emergency operation at the Bakulev Cardiovascular Institute in Moscow.
They waited for their turn from Bransk region and parents took the girl for an operation, however upon arrival in Moscow it turned out that financing wasn’t available and parents had to pay high price for the operation out of pocket. They were able to save enough money only for the work up. And subsequently there was another year of expectation for their turn. At the same time Moscow physicians came to Bransk for the follow up visit. They warned parents about necessity of complex operation requiring replacement of the valve which should be done in several stages. And again money was an obstacle, which were required for postoperative care and living in Moscow. The mother and the father did not trust Russian medicine which they had encountered already.
Condition of the little one was getting worse every year. Doctors prognosed mental and physical delay as well as more severe consequences. After parents heard about successful surgeries in the USA under CCP USA they asked Russian representatives of the project to help them. It was necessary for the girl to be 8 y.o. to be eligible to be in the project.
Only in 2008 Julia was able to go to America. There her diagnosis was confirmed and preparations for the surgery started.
However financial crisis in the USA became another obstacle. There was not enough money for the operation. CCP thought to sponsor the surgery in Moscow. They started to raise the money for the operation. To acquaint potential donors with the problem the movie was created. Information about need for help was published in Canton, MA newspapers. Majority of the money was donated by Steve Cady, Kings relative, the family which hosted Julia over several years. This big and friendly family has been helping the project for several years. Casey King future doctor oncologist came to Klintsy along with a group of volunteers last year to renovate Klintsy Children’s Hospital. In America money was donated by churches, schools, simple people and hospital employees where the operation was done. The Hospital made very big discount for the Chernobyl child’s operation.
Julia was invited for the operation in January of 2010, because delay is unacceptable in her situation. The hole in the heart enlarged and because of malfunction of one valve the other one started failing as well. Parents were brought along with Julia to the USA. The Project arranged their stay in the USA. American doctors performed repeat work up and after 1 week of adaptation the doctors performed successful surgery in the best Boston hospital. Kings family from Canton kindly hosted the family from Klintsy. The first meeting with the cardiac surgeon, Dr. Warner who operated on Julia, happened soon after the arrival. The doctor met us after a surgery. Trying to hide his tiredness he found strength to consult us, tell us about the risks, morally support us and promised that everything would be fine. They took us for doctors appointments, tried to distract us so we wouldn’t get depressed. Distracting Julia, Patty invited the entire family to attend a “Boston Bruins” game. Julia met the player even before, at the clinic. The players sponsor the hospital were Julia had an operation. After the game they came to the Russian girl to support her before the operation.
Americans can feel others pain. We were not left alone for a second. On the day of surgery January 26, we were accompanied by Kings family friends, President of the project Patty Doyle, Kevin Petiti. They gave us enormous moral support. A pastor from the hospital came to us and said that he would pray for Julia. We held on tight. We trusted our daughter, our joy to American doctors with faith and hope. I was allowed to go into the OR and put on her an anesthesia mask before an operation. During this psychological moment your mom is with you and you shouldn’t be scared. I put on the mask and when she fell asleep I left the OR. It is very difficult. I thought my life was ending. Julia is a very emotional child. She was very scared that god forbid she wouldn’t survive the operation and was whispering: ”Mom I won’t survive, please lets go home, I’m scared.” Americans didn’t understand her and asked if she did not want to sleep and tried to calm her down saying “It’s OK sweetie we’ll give you anesthesia with any flavor you want strawberry, banana you name it”. Before the operation everything was not very serious, but only in the OR she felt the seriousness of the situation. I left the room and was whiter than snow. I had to hold on tight. There were children and their parents awaiting an operation. If I started to cry I would of scared them.
Operation lasted 6 hours. My husband and I rethought our life all over again. The first thing which Julia asked when she woke up after the anesthesia if she would be operated on soon. I responded that everything was behind already. Julia’s father was very nervous and his temples became gray immediately.
On postoperative day one Julia was given ice-cream, jello and juice. They let us in the ICU at any time. We could stay next to her at any time. Miraculous possibilities of American medicine let Julia to leave the hospital on 29th of January. She felt excellent. The big hole in the heart which was located in the problematic area in the atrial and ventricular septal area was repaired with her own tissue. After the surgery the doctor told parents: ‘I fixed your valve. It does not need to be replaced. About the second valve don’t worry it will be just fine.”
Over 2 month of staying in the USA the family did not nave any negative thought. They felt support everywhere. 1 week after the surgery Patty arranged the meeting with the catholic school students, who participated in the fundraising for Julia’s surgery. They also help other children from Russia. Different entertainment events were arranged. 2 weeks after the surgery Julia tried to run. She was very surprised with the feeling of ease. I feel so easy and good. I can run and my heart doesn’t flutter as before. I don’t choke. In march the family returned to Russia. Pediatricians from Klintsy were very happy that Julia has dealt with her problems. Despite a missed quarter at the school the girl is trying to catch up however she studies at home so far. She will return to her classmates on the 1st of September. About the surgery across the ocean she talks with a special feelings. I was surrounded with attention and care. Everybody was so kind and pleasant. It seemed that they selected the best and most beautiful doctors and nurses. I’m very thankful to everybody for a new life given to me.