29.12.2006 Our hospital has celebrated the New Year. All the 700-odd patients who had to spend the holidays in their hospital wards received personal congratulations and presents from Santa Claus.
Just as last year, there were fireworks at night. It is funny that there was also a short winter thunderstorm right after the pyrotechnic show was over...
We thank everybody who helped in providing the presents for so many children. More and more people help us every year.
The celebration was shown on TV by the NTV news channel. In several days, we will place all the photos on our site.

Special thanks to Armen Popov and his colleagues, Elena Smirnova and the Sozidanie (Creation) foundation, Karina Mikhailova, the Podrugi club of the wives of Russian politicians, Ilya Polesskii and coworkers, Kirill Zavada, OOO Infogrupp, Chicco, VideoInternational, Bonduelle, OOO PiroClassic, Alexander, Roman, Vneshtorgbank, and many other private persons and companies who helped in the organization of this celebration.
And we also thank Maxim for the fireworks!

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The total sum paid by the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children for buying medications and consumables in December 2006 was 1,061,288.84 roubles ($40,050). Continued...

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In December, the Boomerang charity foundation paid for the radiation therapy of the following children from the Departments of Oncohematology-16 and -27, Oncology, and Marrow Transplantation: Vladislav Parashchenko, Anya Klyakovkina, Dasha Kuzerina, Artem Chumakov, and Fedor Bragin. The total cost of the treatment was 83,267 roubles ($3142).
The same foundation also provided Sulperason, Vancomycin, and Albumin for Faina Trofimova; Ampholip for Vitalik Sotnikov; Rocephin, Albumin, Selemycin, and Leucovorin for Vitalik Bestaev; and Albumin, Selemycin, Leucovorin, Vancomycin, and Sulperason for Ramina Kostoeva. The total sum was 210,721 roubles ($7952).
We thank the Boomerang foundation for regular help and cooperation.

28.12.2006 The news from Munster about Nastya Kuzmina.
Up to yesterday, she had all the necessary examinations and CT scans. A joint meeting of physicians decided that radiation therapy should be started on January 3. The course will last three or four weeks, depending on the girl's condition during the treatment. Nastya likes Munster very much, especially the Christmas decorations in the streets.

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25.12.2006 We have received a letter from the physicians and administration of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. Although it was sent to our foundation, the words of gratitude are addressed to all of you, our friends and sponsors.
"The Administration of the RCCH, represented by Head Physician N.N. Vaganov, the staff of the Departments of Marrow Transplantation and Oncohematology-16 and -27, and all parents of patients from these departments thank the Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children and personally its president Lina Saltykova for their constant readiness to help in the treatment, timely purchase of lacking drugs, consumables, medical equipment, games and computers for the children. We are grateful for this fruitful and noble cooperation, and we value the help and the wonderful spiritual qualities of the people working in the Foundation.
Thanks to this help, many of our patients continued the vitally necessary treatment and received a chance for survival. Also, the staff of the Foundation provide moral support for the parents and the children, thus again helping them in the struggle with grave diseases.
Thank you for your noble and selfless work!"
Head Physician of the RCCH N.N. Vaganov
Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantation E.V. Skorobogatova
Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27 N.V. Myakova
Head of the Department of Oncohematology-16 D.V. Litvinov.

24.12.2006 Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27 Natalia V. Myakova tells about the condition and treatment of the patients of this department:
"Serezha Simonov and his mother returned from Berlin on December 21. Although at first they went there only for an examination, the boy also had surgery. The residual tumor was completely removed. On December 23, they went home to celebrate New Year. His mother has already learned to smile again. She thanks everybody who has helped Serezha.
Nikita Semenov is in remission. Marrow transplantation is planned for the beginning or middle of January. The Health Department of the Novgorod region has provided 10,000 euro for marrow donor activation.
Unfortunately, Eugene Yakovlev has had reactivation of his disease during the therapy after the attainment of remission. The disease is aggressive and refractory with respect to the therapy. So, unfortunately, marrow transplantation is no longer considered in this case.
As to Artem Romanov, marrow transplantation is postponed, because the bone marrow analysis showed up to 20% blast cells. Treatment has been started to achieve the 3rd remission. If this attempt is successful, we will consider the possibility of marrow transplantation again."

Stas and Natalia, the parents of Matvei Korzh, thank the readers of this site:
"We are grateful to everybody who helps our Matvei. After treatment with Proleukin, which was bought thanks to your donations, our son is feeling much better. We thank the founders of the charity foundation. Their work enables the children to receive expensive drugs, which give them hope and save their lives."

Katya Sh. and her new mother Olya have recently visited our hospital. Both have a short haircut and look very much alike. And both are so happy! They have found each other via our Web site.

21.12.2006 The situation with Artem Romanov is extremely difficult. The boy has had a relapse. Marrow transplantation has been postponed, and intense anti-relapse therapy has been prescribed. And right now, to crown it all, Artem's mother is in critical financial situation. The family urgently needs your help!

19.12.2006 Some news about the orphan children.
The small kids from the Department of Urology, Dima S. and Lera V., have had a successful surgery. Lera has already been allowed to walk, and Dima will get up some time later. Their treatment will last a long time, and they will arrive at our hospital for follow-up surgiries several times.
Alesha K. from the Ivanovo region has arrived for follow-up treatment. Our wonderful volunteer Masha is taking care of him again. Unfortunately, the boy arrived in poor condition. During his previous visit to the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital, our physicians worked a lot to choose the optimum anticonvulsive therapy for the child. As a result, they managed to get rid of Alesha's epileptic seizures. When the boy was discharged from hospital, he was provided with these drugs for two weeks, and then the anticonvulsants were to be received free of charge at the local pharmacies according to documents from the hospital (the total treatment course should last several years). But nobody at Alesha's orphanage cared to receive them! We have checked the situation: all the anticonvulsants are available at pharmacies in Ivanovo, and there are no problems with receiving them as prescribed free of charge. We just can't understand why the administration of the orphanage treated the boy with such negligence and indifference. Our physicians have received no normal explanations from Ivanovo. Now it will be difficult to achieve remission for the second time. And the prospects of the continuatio of this treatment is unclear. It is such a pity this has happened to the boy! His intellect is absolutely all right, and adequate treatment could enable him to have a normal life. Besides, he is such a fine and kind boy!
Sasha K. has had an expander set on his cheek for deep stretching and smoothing of post-burn scars. He will stay at the hospital for a fairly long time. Many of our volunteers have become his friends. Now the boy is much more sociable and less shy. Besides, he is no longer afraid of being photographed.
Zhanna has recovered after the surgery and left the hospital. The follow-up surgery is to take place three years later. Zhanna is a very smart girl, with excellent speech development. She often has fantasies about her mother: as if she has a mother but this mother has just gone away, but soon she will come back and bring a little dog... The girl was happy to receive a Barbie doll as a New Year present.
Charming Anton has also left the hospital after the examination and necessary treatment. He has grown up a great deal and gained some weight. Now he proudly shows a set of wonderful milk teeth. He made his first steps and said his first words at our hospital. It was a real pity to part with him.
The elder girls Katya A. and Zhenya F., have also left the hospital. They have received good New Year presents in advance.
Sasha and Kolya have left the hospital. They will arrive after the New Year holidays for follow-up treatment. All the presurgical preparations are over, but the doctors have asked to bring them for the surgery one after the other, because both need very serious medical care.
Good news from Smolensk: little Katya Sh. has been adopted. She will leave Russia soon. Let us wish her good luck!

14.12.2006 Dear friends,
a traditional December exhibition of our patients' drawings has been opened at the exhibition hall of the Russkoe zarubezhye (Russia abroad) foundation library. It will be held from December 14, 2006, to January 14, 2007. This exhibition is a continuation of the last-year exhibition My Reflection. The drawings have been made in art studios organized by the Alexander Men Help group, including the art therapy program at oncohematological departments of the RCCH.
The authors of the drawings are from 2 to 18 years old. Sensitive and talented, wise and sincere, they know the value of each day. Many of them are extremely talented. If you are in Moscow, just visit this exhibition and see. The address is ul. Nizhnyaya Radishchevskaya 2, phone (495) 915-1030. Continued...

Nastya Kuzmina left for Germany this evening. Alexander provided 2500 euro more for the treatment and tickets. Since it is impossible to postpone the radiation therapy any more, the administration of the German hospital agreed to admit the girl for treatment without complete preliminary payment. The final payment will take place after the completion of the treatment, according to the sums actually spent.
The same Alexander, who regularly helps us, paid the debt of 9769.85 euro to the Freiburg University Clinic, where Vadik Markunin had his treatment.

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Almost a Christmas fairy tale. Two days ago, we published an appeal signed by leading physicians of some hospital departments, who asked for financial help necessary to ensure the work of their departments during the approaching holidays, when budgetary supply of many drugs is interrupted. Today we received accounts for a total of 1,900,000 roubles ($73,000) from pharmaceutical companies. And suddenly the bank informs us about two large donations that have arrived at the account of our foundation! One, for 500,000 roubles ($19,230), is from our old friends Yulia and Sergei, who are always ready to help us, and the other, for 1,044,000 roubles ($40,154), is from PremiumLine JSC, which has transferred the money without any preliminary talks and agreements with us. We still don't know how these people got to know about us and why they believed us at once and decided to help the children.
The rest of the sum was available at our account as "donations transferred for all the children." So, the problem with supply of drugs at the beginning of January has been miraculously solved! We thank everybody for this great and timely help!

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Today we also learned of another story, which is not so optimistic. One of our best-loved orphan girls, Ira R., has had to return to her orphanage in Belgorod. Her new mother suddenly fell gravely ill and will need very long in-hospital treatment and then rehabilitation. She will be unable to take care of Ira any more. Ira has already gotten used to home life, to a new and very good school in Moscow. And now she has to part with her new home, with her friends, with the school, with the city. But we still believe that she will have good luck some time.

* * *

Some news about the orphan children at our hospital.
Valya Ch. has again arrived at the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery. The physicians have long been waiting for her arrival. We even had to phone to her town several times and remind the administration of her orphanage that Valya should be sent to Moscow. The girl has traces of a deep burn on her face. Long treatment is necessary. However, Valya does not feel bored in Moscow: she loves reading, and volunteers bring her a lot of new books. Besides, Valya is great at handiwork.
Zhenya F. has arrived at the Department of Endocrinology for her annual examination. She has become much more grown-up and much prettier. She is a very serious and hard-working girl. Presently she is in her 9th school year, and she is going to enter a college this spring. She wants to have some good, reliable profession associated with contruction or railways.
Zhanna from an orphanage in Vologda has also returned to the Department of Endocrinology after a year's break. Now she is a lovely long-haired four-year-old girl. She has already had her surgery.
Little Dima S. has also undergone a successful surgery. Everybody at his department loves the kid. He is a real and courageous man: while having an infusion drip after the surgery, he didn't whimper at all, only smiled.

SOS!
Dear friends, New Year and Christmas are approaching. Alas, among other things, this means interrupted budgetary supply of necessary drugs to the hospital during the holidays. Even departments that host children with the most grave oncological and oncohematological diseases and provide intensive polychemotherapy may suffer from shortage of medicines.
Leading physicians of the RCCH write:
"We, physicians of four oncohematological departments of the RCCH, ask for urgent help in providing certain drugs to our departments. We treat a total of 150 patients. All of them are gravely ill, and all of them need expensive treatment, including chemotherapeutic drugs, antibiotics, solutions for supportive therapy, etc. Now the difficult moment has come again: without charitable donations, the work of all our departments will be paralyzed. We will fail to provide the scheduled course of treatment to the children, and the consequences may be more than grave.
According to our preliminary estimates, the drugs required for adequate functioning of our departments till the moment when budgetary supply will be resumed cost about 2,000,000 roubles (over $75,000). It is a lot of money. But the possible consequences are incomparable with any expenses. Please help us and our little patients!"

With respect and gratitude,
Head of the Department of Oncohematology-16 D.V. Litvinov
Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27 N.V. Myakova
Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantation E.V. Skorobogatova
Physician of the Department of Oncology O.B. Polushkina

The situation is aggravated by the fact that very little time is left:
the last day when we can pay for the drugs in order to receive them in time is December 20, 2006!

11.12.2006 Some news about our patients. Dr. E.V. Skorobogatova, Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantation, is telling: "Serezha Shapoval has had rejection of donor cells after a haploidentical transplantation from his father. Transplantation from his mother will also be haploidentical; i.e., only one-half of all antigens will be matching. This means high risk of rejection even after T-cell selection. We need a graft that will contain a sufficient amount of immunocompetent cells. Therefore, search for a matching unrelated donor is still an issue. So far Serezha is in fairly stable condition, without serious infectious problems. But the blood counts are low, and the child needs transfusions. Although he lives in a sterile ward, there is high probability of infectious complications, viral ones above all. In addition, activation of his main disease is not excluded, and aggression of the lymphocytic pool against his own skin or mucous cells is possible. The sooner he has the second transplantation, the better."
An unrelated donor has been found for Vanya Makhnev!

5.12.2006 Unfortunately, Nastya Kuzmina's departure for Munster has been postponed. The doctors have calculated the volume of the work and said that the preliminary sum would be 10,000 euro rather than 5000. The girl will be admitted to the German hospital only after this sum is paid completely. But so far only 5000 euro has been transferred to the account of the hospital. We resume the fundraising for Nastya Kuzmina!

The inhaler for Anya Frolova has been ordered, and its cost has been paid. Anya is waiting for its arrival at her home in Yekaterinburg. The parents of a boy from the same department, who also lives in Yekaterinburg, will bring it to Anya. Thank you very much for your help!

4.12.2006 The total sum paid by the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children in November 2006 was 592,565.6 roubles ($22,361). We are whole-heartedly grateful to everybody who helps the patients of our hospital! Continued...

We thank the Boomerang foundation for regular cooperation with us. In November, this foundation provided 250,463 roubles ($9451) for helping patients of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. The following kinds of treatment have been paid for:
- radiation therapy worth 160,295 roubles ($6049) at the Institute of Roentgenology and Radiology for Vitali Moiseev, Elena Amelina, Anastasia Martynova, Olga Mikhailova, Vadim Kalinin, Alexander Korneev, Vladislav Serov, and Artem Romanov from the Departments of Oncohematology-16, -27, and General Hematology.
- Natulan, Fungizone, Cardioxane, and Oliclinomel worth 90,168 roubles ($3403) for Islam Magomedov and Alan Bagaev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.

We thank private sponsors whose financial support in November 2006 (a total of 400,298 roubles, or $15,106) made a significant contribution to normal functioning of three hospital departments:
Roman paid for Leucovorin and Zyvox worth a total of 79,132 roubles ($2986) for the Departments of Oncohematology-16 and -27;
OOO V-r bought Dimedrol, Zyvox, Oliclinomel, Tavegyl worth a total of 150,155 roubles ($5666) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Maxim paid for Oliclinomel worth 40,328 roubles ($1522) for the Department of Marrow Transplantation;
Vladimir paid for Vancomycin Teva, Diflucan, and Oliclinomel worth a total of 40,514 roubles ($1529) for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.

2.12.2006 Four new orphans were admitted to the hospital in the second half of November: Olesya T. and Katya A., as well as little Dima S. and Lera V.. Nastya Zh-na has been admitted again and had had another surgery. Sonya had also had the second surgery, and now she has at last got rid of the problem that was the source of constant trouble for her since birth. Ira T-va has had the next surgery; this time it was correction of new nose. Kolya B. and Sasha Ch. from Kolomna have arrived for follow-up treatment.

30.11.2006 Yura and Katya Makukha have brought a lot of diapers and games for the children to the hospital. Thank you very much!

It is the greatest joy for us to see our former patients, who were suffering from the most severe diseases, as normal happy kids. When David Gubaidulin entered our church today, at first we recognized only his father, not the boy. He is not only healthy and active now, but the funny thing is that he is blond (before the unrelated marrow transplantation, he was black-haired like his dad). He came for a check-up. His condition is all right. His father thanks everybody who helped David cope with his illness and wishes good health to all the children!

We have completed the fundraising for the benefit of Andrei Trofimov. Given the current state of his leg, it is impossible to make and use a prosthesis. As soon as it becomes possible, the whole sum will be paid: a total of 66,242 roubles (approximately $2500) has arrived at the account of our foundation for Andrei, and Vyacheslav has promised to donate the remaining sum.

29.11.2006 Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantation Dr. Elena V. Skorobogatova tells about Anya Klyakovkina: "On November 21, we performed the second transplantation from Anya's brother. Prior to it, she received radiation therapy at the Institute of Roentgenology and Radiology. She is in normal condition and has no fever. But it is too early to speak of any result. We can assess the engraftment only in three or four weeks."
We remind you that Anya's family is extremely poor and needs all sorts of help and support.

28.11.2006 Dr. Elena V. Skorobogatova, Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantations, has asked for help in buying some urgently needed drugs:
"Please consider supply of the following medicines for patients of the Department of Marrow Transplantation: Anna Klyakovkina, Serezha Shapoval, and Karolina Eksuzyan:
1. Zyvox 600 mg (20 vials)
2. Diflucan 150 mg/caps (50 caps)
3. Oliclinomel 1 l (50 bags)
4. Vancomycin 500 mg (50 vials) or 1000 mg (25 vials). The total cost is 546,412 roubles, or $20,240.
Anya Klyakovkina also needs IV Cyclosporin A (Sandimmune) 50 mg/ml N 10 (5 packs) and Oliclinomel 1 l (20 bags). The total cost of these medications is 78787.25 roubles ($2920). In addition, Anya needs IV Endoxan (Cytoxane) 8 mg. This drug costs 7040 roubles ($260)."

26.11.2006 The physicians tell about their patients' condition. Dr. Elena V. Skorobogatova, Head of the Department of Marrow Transplantation:
"Little Serezha Shapoval shows engraftment of donor cells. He is restoring his blood counts, and his condition is fairly stable."
Dr. Natalia V. Myakova, Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27:
"Patient Artem Romanov, 2 years old, had extremely early relapse of acute myeloid leukemia. Marrow transplantation is recommended. A donor has been found, and the transplantation is scheduled for December 12. Artem is currently in remission after all the necessary chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Eugene Yakovlev had extremely early relapse of T-cell leukemia. Transplantation is also necessary. A donor has been found. But the child is not yet in remission after standard therapy. Now he is receiving nonstandard anti-relapse therapy. If it proves successful, transplantation will take place."
Dr. Dmitri V. Litvinov, Head of the Department of Oncohematology-16:
"A donor for Vanya Makhnev has not yet been found. Search is going on. The child's aplasia after a chemotherapy cycle will soon end.
As to patient Vitalik Sotnikov, we have started preliminary discussions with the surgeons about the possibility of starting a series of reconstructive surgeries on his face.
Matvei Korzh is still receiving Proleukin therapy. So far there are no signs of relapse. Continuation of this therapy is recommended. The child feels fine and currently receives out-patient treatment."

18.11.2006 We thank
Alexander, who brought 5000 euro (the sum required for treatment in Munster) to the mother of Nastya Kuzmina. The German hospital has agreed to take the girl for radiation treatment. Now only organizational problems (visa and tickets) are to be resolved.

We are also grateful to Alexander and Larisa, who have brought a lot of diapers, disposable sheets, and a wheelchair to the hospital.

Finally, we thank Lev, who has brought a new DVD player for the children.

Some news about Masha Tseberyaboi. She and her mother left Munich and went home on November 15. The German doctors are more than satisfied with the results of the surgery. In their opinion, Masha had a congenital esophageal disorder, which was aggravated by antileukemic treatment. Now Masha can eat by herself and feels much better. She and her mother are optimistic. Other medical problems must be resolved half a year later, when Masha and her mother come to Munich again for a check-up.

16.11.2006 Some news about the orphan children at our hospital.
Sasha K. has arrived for follow-up treatment; the next reconstructive surgery is to be made. Sasha B-v is a new patient of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery; his operation has already taken place. Sonya from the Department of Microvascular Surgery has also had her first surgery. She will have to stay in Moscow somewhat longer than planned before, and so she needs winter clothes: a jacket and boots. Sasha B., Olya T., and Ivan have left our hospital. Milena is back; her condition has become much better after rest and rehabilitation.

8.11.2006 On October 25, 2006, a charity concert for the benefit of children from the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital took place at the Russian Culture Fund within the Sixth International Musical Festival ArsLonga. Participants of this concert were musicians from Russia, United States, and France: pianists Ivan Rudin, Mikhail Mordvinov, Oleg Dusaev; legendary violinist Zvi Zeitlin, singer Stefanie Jaquenot, violinist Alena Baeva, cellist Alexander Buzlov. An exhibition of drawing by little patients of our hospital was arranged at the lobby. Continued...

7.11.2006 News about the orphan children at our hospital.
A skull model has been bought for Olya B-na. The girl has been allowed to go home till the surgery. This surgery will be possible after a RED appliance is bought.
Galina, the nurse who takes care of Ira T-va from the same department, tells about Olya and Ira:
"I saw Olya only for ten days, but my impression of her was very good. This girl is sociable and affectionate, studies hard at school and plays with all children and adults. She liked the hospital and didn't want to leave it, but then she smiled and joked about her future return for the surgery.
We have been studying with Ira T-va for six weeks. We started from the very beginning, so to speak. Ira has already learned 12 letters and tries to read, although it is still difficult for her. She also started writing and knows some arithmetic and simple geometry. Also, a speech therapist gives her two lessons each week, and the result is already noticeable.
Actually, Ira is quite bright. She makes very interesting models with toy construction sets and draws with pleasure.
On November 5, Ira turned 10 years old, and we went to the zoo together with her. She was amazed. It was the first visit to a zoo in her life. We will also go to the circus. The only problem is the cold weather: Ira has no warm boots and no autumn cap.
She is a kind and sweet girl. But she doesn't want to speak about her orphanage or return there. She dreams of becoming a doctor and curing other children."

5.11.2006 The news from Munich about Masha Tseberyaboi. The surgery on her esophagus took place on October 26. It was very difficult; the physicians say that it is the second such case in their experience. But now Prof. Schweinitz is satisfied with the result. Masha was transferred back to her ward from the intensive care department on November 3. So far she receives parenteral nutrition. Masha has yet another serious problem: a thrombus. The German doctors promise to pay attention to this problem and control this dangerous clot.

We thank the Boomerang charity foundation for regular help and support. In October 2006, this foundation paid for
- radiation treatment of the following patients (Departments of Oncology, Oncohematology-16 and -27, Neurosurgery) at the Institute of Roengenology and Radiology: Alexei Tararychenkov, Dima Moiseev, Marina Ukhanova, Aslan Balkoev, Vanya Prokofiev, and Sasha Kozlov (a total of 70,941 roubles, or $2627).
- medicines for Vitalik Sotnikov and Matvei Korzh from the Department of Oncohematology-16 (a total of 140,750 roubles, or $5213).

We thank private sponsors, who provided funds for the purchase of vitally important drugs for some hospital departments in October:
- Maxim paid for Metrogyl, Oliclinomel, Zavedos for the Departments of Oncohematology-16 and -27 and Holoxan for the Department of Oncology worth a total of 76,875 roubles ($2847).
- Vladimir paid for Vancomycin for the Departments of Oncohematology-16 and -27 and Holoxan and Amicacin for the Department of Oncology worth a total of 76,683 roubles ($2840).
- Roman paid for Methotrexate, Vepesid, Puri-Netol for the Department of Oncohematology-27 and Holoxan for the Department of Oncology worth a total of 47,924 roubles ($1775).

1.11.2006 Head of the Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery Andrei V. Lopatin asks for help in purchasing a RED (Rigid External Distractor) appliance for external distraction of facial bones. Presently this apparatus is necessary for surgical treatment of Olya B-na, and subsequently it will be used to cure other patients with similar disorders.
The distractor costs about 10,500 euro.

31.10.2006 ATG Fresenius C has been bought for Diana Omarova and Ondar Kezhik. The fundraising for these children is completed. We thank everybody who has helped.

26.10.2006 The total sum spent by the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children for medications, consumables, and medical services for the RCCH patients from October 1 to 25, 2006, was 559,992.44 roubles ($20,740). Continued...

26.10.2006 Some news about the orphan children at our hospital.
We are happy to tell you that a family of Muscovites has adopted little Yulia Yu., who has received help and attention from lots of people, both doctors and volunteers. Before the end of all the legal formalities, the girl returned to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, where she had a successful operation. She was discharged from hospital two days ago to go to her new home and loving parents. Before this departure, her new mother came to the hospital church and thanked everybody who helped cure the kid during all these months. She was especially grateful to Dr. Andrei V. Lopatin, Head of Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, for his extraordinary professional skill and attentive attitude to his little patients and their parents.
Vanya B. has been discharged from hospital. The doctors decided that the surgery is not necessary so far, but the boy will come back to the hospital in several months, and then they will decide on further treatment tactics. This affectionate and friendly boy was reluctant to leave the hospital and especially his favorite nurse Tatiana.
Milena and her nurse are currently living at a rehabilitation center near Moscow. Our volunteer Nadezhda visited them last Sunday and was glad to see that Milena will have many restorative procedures at this center. Besides, there are good playrooms, and a speech therapist and a psychologist work with Milena every day. The girl is happy to stay there. Also, the staff of Milena's orphanage in Yakutsk remember her and regularly phone us to learn about her condition.

21.10.2006 An orphan girl of fourteen has been admitted to the hospital. Olya B-na has a grave congenital cranial pathology. The girl needs long and very expensive treatment. The required appliances cost 10,500 euro. Please help her!

20.10.2006 Since Serezha Shapoval was in extremely grave condition and needed urgent intervention, the doctors performed marrow transplantation from this mother. For this purpose, her bone marrow was subjected to a purification procedure. The kit for this procedure costs 187,000 roubles (almost $7000); Alexander provided the remaining part of this sum.
An unrelated marrow donor has been found for Artem Romanov in the Stefan Morsch registry. The transplantation will take place in the beginning of November. We thank Alexander, who has provided the remaining part of the sum for donor activation.

17.10.2006 News about the orphan children. Our new patients are Sonya (5 years old) and Ivan (17 years old). Ira T. will have her second surgery in two months. The girl will stay at hospital till that moment; a speech therapist and a teacher are working with her.
Little Olya T. needs warm clothes and boots for going out (age 12-18 months).

11.10.2006 Some news about the children who receive help via our Web site.
Head of the Department of Oncohematology-16 Dr. Dmitri V. Litvinov tells about the condition and treatment of Vitalik Sotnikov:
"The staff of the Department of Oncohematology and Chemotherapy thanks the kind people who provide financial help necessary for continuation of Vitalik's treatment. His condition has improved to such an extent that presently Vitalik is receiving out-patient treatment. We hope that we will be able to continue the therapy thanks to your help. After debridement of the infectious lesion, we hope to conduct a reconstructive operation with plastic surgery of facial soft tissues." Continued...

10.10.2006 Today we tell about the opening ceremony of our House of Hope in detail. As we have already told, it is a cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment. Again and again, we want to thank everybody who helped in this work at all stages. Your help made it possible to implement a project that seemed completely impossible two years ago. It will help in solving one of the most difficult problems for families whose children receive treatment at hematological and oncological departments of our hospital: the problem of their stay in Moscow. We remind you that more than 90% patients come to our hospital for treatment from regions very far from Moscow and have no money to rent an apartment in Moscow. It would take years to wait till the state solves this problem...
The cottage was bought and furnished solely using charity fundraising. This example is so far absolutely unique for our country. But a lot of people from Russia and Italy have managed to do this together. Success of such a project doesn't mean only a solution to a difficult problem encountered by families of gravely ill children. It is also a sign of the development of civic society, of the people's responsibility and independence.
We thank our Italian friends: Enio Bordato, President of the Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini Onlus Association; Elena Demaria, representative of this Association in Moscow; and many other Italian citizens. Some leading Italian companies have also contributed a lot through the mediation of the Association: Brennero Mobili, Magistri, Battistella, Falomo, Chicco, Merloni.
The furnishing of the house was completed with the help of Russian sponsors, both companies and private persons. We thank Mikhail Arsentievich, Vyacheslav, the Sozidanie foundation and personally its director Elena Smirnova, Euroservice Co., and many other people, our old friends and regular benefactors. Continued...

9.10.2006 An anonymous company placed alms-boxes on its grounds to raise funds for our patients. In September, they raised 20,121.15 roubles ($745) for Usman Metrishev, 28,154.5 roubles ($1043) for Lena Babkina, 35,579.9 roubles ($1318) for Diana Omarova, 25,410.7 roubles ($941) for Ilona Klimuk, and 47,118.65 roubles ($1745) for Ondar Kezhik (the first child is a patient of the Marrow Transplantation Department; all the rest receive treatment at the Kidney Transplantation Center). We thank this company for organizing this efficient method of fundraising.

6.10.2006
The total sums spent by the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children for buying medications and consumables and paying for certain kinds of treatment in September 2006 was 418,077.85 roubles ($15,484). Continued...

4.10.2006 We thank the Boomerang foundation for its regular help to patients of the Russian Chilren's Clinical Hospital. In August and September 2006, this foundation paid for
- Radiation treatment of patients from the Departments of Oncology and Oncohematology, worth a total of 203,890 roubles ($7551);
- Dissolvable materials for patients from the Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, worth a total of 104,705 roubles ($3878);
- medications for the Departments of Oncology and Oncohematology-27 and -16, worth 284,290 roubles ($10,529).

We thank Dmitri Kryzhanovski and his friends from the Leader Class educational center, who have regularly helped patients of our hospital during the last two years. For example, in August and September 2006, they raised a total of 68,000 roubles ($2519) - in particular, for the treatment of Lena Babkina.

3.10.2006 We thank Alexander, who has brought several large boxes of child clothes to the hospital. All the clothes are beautiful and high-quality.
Some news about the orphan children:
A new child from an orphanage is Ivanovo has been admitted to the hospital. Olya T. is one year old, a very nice and merry kid.
Maxim V. has been discharged from hospital. After all the examinations, the doctors decided to try conservative treatment and to postpone the surgery. Maxim has gained weight at last, and the staff of the orphanage thanked his nurse Nadezhda for her excellent care of children and the Help Group for financial and organizational help to little orphans.
Vanya B. has again arrived at the hospital. A nurse takes care of him.
Ira T. is recovering after the surgery. She was lucky to have a nurse who is a former school teacher, and now she studies all the necessary school subjects: maths, reading, writing, etc. Imagine that Ira hasn't had any lessons earlier owing to her disorder and could neither read nor write! But she is quite smart, understands everything very quickly and writes accurately and correctly.
Milena is more or less all right. Soon she will go to a rehabilitation center for children. Svetlana, who works at the representative office of Yakutia (Sakha Republic) in Moscow, helps Milena and provides her with all the necessary things, including seasonal clothes.

28.09.2006 The cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment was opened today. On the initiative of our Italian friends from the Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini Onlus association, it was named The House of Hope.
Among those present at the opening ceremony, there were representatives of the Italian Embassy in Moscow, leaders of the Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini Onlus association, and administration and doctors of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital.
We thank everybody who has helped in the implementation of this project, which is still (alas!) unique for Russia.
We'll soon publish a detailed report about this event.

16.09.2006 We thank Masha, who has bought two packs of Keppra for Kirill Smykov.

15.09.2006 News about the orphan children.
A new kid from the Ivanovo orphanage has appeared at the RCCH. He is Sasha B., a boy of six.
We thank Tatiana and her colleagues, who have bought clothes, food, and other necessities for orphan children receiving treatment at the RCCH. The clothes included warm jackets, linen, T-shirts, slippers. It is not the first time that Tatiana and her colleagues help our children in this way.
Three friends (Irina, Olga, and Anya) have brought warm clothes and a lot of fruit for the children. Irina has become a good friend of Ira T..
Thank you very much, dear friends!

11.09.2006 We thank
- The Commission for Social Church Activity working at the Moscow Diocesan Council, which has raised 31,000 roubles for Vitalik Sotnikov. This sum was used to buy Zyvox for the child.
- People who provided Colimycin for the Department of Medical Genetics: Maria has brought 100 vials from France, and Albert has sent 10 vials from Germany.

7.09.2006 Vanya V. has been discharged from hospital. Now he is back at his orphanage. We thank everybody who helped the boy and cared for his destiny. We hope that this charming kid will have parents some time. Please pray for him.

* * *

Sums paid by the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children for the work of paid nurses and babysitters taking care of orphan children at the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital:
Yulia Yu. (Diagnostic Department): at hospital from June 7 to July 12, 2006; sum paid 20,493 roubles ($759);
Ilya K. (Center of Microvascular Surgery): at hospital from June 22 to July 31, 2006; sum paid 18,079 roubles ($670);
Vanya V. (Department of Urology): at hospital from July 10 to August 9, 2006; sum paid 15,281.71 roubles ($566);
Gena B. (Department of Coloproctology): at hospital from July 5 to July 24, 2006; sum paid 3570 roubles ($132);
Denis K. (Department of Clinical Immunology): at hospital from July 17 to July 31, 2006; sum paid 9918 roubles ($367);
Valera B. (Department of Clinical Immunology): at hospital from July 17 to July 31, 2006; sum paid 7177 roubles ($266);
Serezha S-n (Department of Maxillofacial Surgery): at hospital from June 30 to August 29, 2006; sum paid 21,706.22 roubles ($804);
Vanya V. (Diagnostic Department): at hospital from August 12 to September 1, 2006; sum paid 9261.29 roubles ($343);
Ruslan Kh. and Katya K. (Infectious Department): at hospital from August 8 to August 29, 2006; sum paid 10,911.49 roubles ($404);
Artem T. (Department of Neurosurgery): at hospital from August 4 to September 1, 2006; sum paid 12,965.81 roubles ($480);
Milena L. (Center of Microvascular Surgery): at hospital from August 16 to September 1, 2006; sum paid 2711.03 roubles ($100);
Maxim V. and Anton B. (Diagnostic Department): at hospital from August 26 to September 1, 2006; sum paid 3637.17 roubles ($135).

6.09.2006 The total sum paid from the account of the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children in August 2006 was 757,764.67 roubles ($28,065).

Purchased medicines and consumables:
Valtrex (N 20), Zyvox (N 2) worth 63,679.36 roubles ($2358) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Baxter dialysis set with consumables worth 329,503.77 roubles ($12,204) for Dima Lopatkin from the Department of Oncohematology-16;
Prograf (N 6) worth 77,797.5 roubles ($2881) for Lena Babkina from the Center for Kidney Transplantation;
Puri-Netol (N 97) worth 83,869.11 roubles ($3106) for the Department of Oncohematology;
Vincristine (N 10) worth 14,700 roubles ($544) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Cymeven (N 15) worth 29,700 roubles ($1100) for the Center of Kidney Transplantation;
Zavedos (N 10) worth 35,000 roubles ($1296) for the Department of Oncology;
Zyvox (N 1), Leucovorin Lance (N 6) worth 25,098.22 roubles ($930) for the Department of Oncohematology-16;
Proleukin 1 mg (N 1) worth 13,000 roubles ($481) for Matvei Korzh;
Sandimmune Neoral (N 1) worth 11,338.41 roubles ($420) for Vitali Fedortsev from the Department of Clinical Immunology;
Neoton (N 3), Riboxinum amp. (N 1) worth 2022 roubles ($75) for Dima Pozdnyakov from the Center for Kidney Transplantation;
Dacarbazine Lance (N 20) worth 2505.6 roubles ($93) for the Department of Oncohematology-16;
Neoton (N 3) worth 2017.95 roubles ($75) for the Center of Kidney Transplantation;
Bepanten cream (N 1), Clotrimazole Acri (N 1), Betadin (N 9) Gentamycin cream (N 1), Maalox susp. (N 4) worth 2276.5 roubles ($84) for Zuleikhan Akhmetova from the Department of Marrow Transplantation;
Calcium D3 (1 pack) worth 237.6 roubles ($9) for Zuleikhan Akhmetova from the Department of Marrow Transplantation;
Aminosteril KE (N 10) worth 2831.5 roubles ($105) for Salmin Minnokaev from the Department of Clinical Immunology;
Latranum (N 3) worth 2106 roubles ($78) for Sergei Simonov from the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Freederm cream 15 g (N 1) worth 240 roubles ($9) for Nastya L. from the Department of Rehabilitation;
Novo-passit (1 pack), Phenibutum (2 packs), Milgamma sol. (2 packs), Pantogam (1 pack), Magne (1 pack), Stugeron (1 pack) worth 1098 roubles ($41) for orphan children in the Infectious Department;
Convulex (N 10) worth 1300 roubles ($48) for Dasha S. from the Department of Psychoneurology-2;
Mannitol (N 50) worth 2650 roubles ($98) for the Department of Oncology;
Cortexin lyoph. (2 packs), Glatilin (7 packs) worth 4402 roubles ($163) for Valeri and Nastya Maksimovs from the Department of Ophthalmology;
Certofix Mono (N 5) worth 3342.5 roubles ($124) for the Department of Clinical Immunology;
Surgical smocks (N 100), boot covers (100 pairs), caps (N 100) worth 4631.99 roubles ($172) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Three-layer masks (N 100) worth 176 roubles ($6.5) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Aspirator OM-1 (N 1) worth 9600 roubles ($356) for the Department of Oncohematology-16;
Disposable masks (1 set), Nera filter (1 set) worth 605.63 roubles ($22) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.

Paid tests and examinations:
Repeated determination of blood cells at the Center for Molecular Genetics:
for the Gagiev family, worth 1100 roubles ($41);
for the Gubaidullin family, worth 1100 roubles ($41).
Tests at the Sklifosovski Research Institute worth 5265 roubles ($195);
CT scanning worth 6600 roubles ($244) for Daniil Starikov from the Department of Oncohematology-16;
Medical services at the Blokhin Oncological Center in July 2006, worth 15,600 roubles ($578);
Diagnostic services at the Rospotrebnadzor Federal Center worth 1460 roubles ($54);
Diagnostic services at the Rospotrebnadzor Federal Center (orphan children) worth 910 roubles ($34).

2.09.2006 Some news about the orphan children at our hospital.
Many children need autumn clothes and shoes. Soon some of them will just have nothing to put on for walking out or for going home.
Among those who need warm clothes and boots, we can name Milena L. (5 y.o.), Serezha Ch. (9 y.o.), Vanya V-ov (3 y.o.), Ira T. (9 y.o.), Anton (9 m.o.), and Maxim V. (2 y.o.).
Orphan children regularly get to our hospital, and many of them have no seasonal clothes, not even a set of extra clean clothes. It often happens that orphans arrive at our hospital in pretty clothes but then persons accompanying these children take all these things back to the orphanage, because other children may also need them.

And some news about the children. Ira T-va has recently had her surgery. She is already feeling better and more optimistic. The mother of another girl from the same ward takes good care of Ira and treats the girl as if Ira were her own daughter. Therefore, Ira's postsurgical period proceeds smoothly. Volunteers also often visit her. Next week, the girl from Ira's ward will be discharged, and we'll find a nurse for Ira.
Katya's surgery was also successful, and the girl has been discharged from hospital. A year later, she will come for an examination, and the next surgery will take place in two years.
We regret to inform you that little Artem died. He received medical aid too late.

29.08.2006 We thank Irina, who regularly helps us. This time, she transferred $700 for re-equipment of the cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment.

Some news about the orphan children at the RCCH.
Little Artem is in critical condition. The main disease has caused an extensive infection. The boy has been transferred to the intensive care unit. It was impossible to perform the surgery.
Two new boys from an orphanage in Ivanovo have been admitted to the Diagnostic Department. They are Anton (9 months old) and Maxim (2 years old). Nastya L. and Ruslan have been discharged from hospital. The medical examinations showed that Ruslan's health is virtually all right. Little Vitya from the Department of Neurosurgery has also been discharged. His prognosis is good: the doctors have concluded that the congenital disorder will not develop any further and no treatment is required. Vitya needs only parental love and care, nothing else. However, he still has heart problems: a congenital cardiac anomaly. In November 2006, the kid will be taken to the Bakulev Institute of Heart Surgery to decide on an operation. The boy is very quiet, with such attentive eyes that you can hardly believe he is only a small kid. When volunteers took him in their arms, he looked at them with such intensity and concentration, as if asking, "Where is my mom?" Mothers of other children from the same department say that the boy has become simply unrecognizable after three weeks at the hospital, where he was always together with a kind and attentive nurse, who carried him in her arms and spoke to him. We hope that this tiny kid will indeed have a mother some time.

24.08.2006 We thank
Alexander, who has paid for the purchase of ATG for Dima Pozdnyakov; Denis, who has provided us with Valcite (Valgancyclovir) worth 67,000 roubles ($2481) for the treatment of Usman Metrishev from the Department of Marrow Transplantation; and Stasya, who has bought a microwave over for the cottage that will host children receiving out-patient treatment. Stasya is our old friend; she regularly brings various stationery for the kids to the hospital.

22.08.2006 Ira R. has recently come to Moscow. We are happy to tell you that this time she did not live at the hospital: she will live in a family of Muscovites!

We thank Roman, who has brought nine packs of Cardioxane 500 mg worth 55,993 roubles ($2075) for Dima Moiseev and Fedya Bragin from the Department of Oncohematology-27.

Anton and Georgi with their friends (44 people all in all) raised 30,000 roubles ($1100) for buying Prograf for Lena Babkina within one day. Also, 30,000 more roubles were received from the Sozidanie foundation. Thank you very much, dear friends!
Now Lena has a sufficient amount of this medicine up to the middle of October. But we do not interrupt the fundraising, because nobody knows when and if the budgetary supply of Prograf will be resumed.

We thank Irina Belentseva, who has again brought nice clothes for the children to the hospital.

20.08.2006 Two more children have been admitted to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery. For Katya, a girl of three, this is her third visit to our hospital. And Ira, who is nine now, has come here for the first time.

We thank the Mediaservice-VI company, which has supplied the hospital with an impressive batch of disposable Pampers diapers. The total number of all diapers is about 102,000.

We thank Alexander, who has transferred 11,000 roubles ($407) for Fedya Vakhrushev. Fedya is currently receiving treatment at the Children's Department of the Institute of Roentgenology and Radiology. This money will be used to perform special mapping of the tumor and to select individual treatment techniques.

We also thank Anna, who has presented 130 large and very pretty photo albums for patients of our hospital. Many children become interested in photography during their treatment at our hospital, and they will be glad to take albums full of photographs to their homes.

17.08.2006 Two new patients from orphanages have been admitted to the hospital: Serezha Ch., a boy of nine, and Vitya D., who is only six months old. Little Serezha S-n has been discharged from hospital.

16.08.2006 Some news about orphans at the RCCH. We have three new little patients: Artem (1.5 years old) is from Tver, and Katya and Ruslan are from Ivanovo. Serezha S-n and Alla T. had their surgeries on August 9. They will be discharged soon. Kolya B. and Sasha Ch., as well as Denis and Valera from the Department of Immunology, have also left the hospital.

15.08.2006 Refurnishing of the cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment will soon be completed. We thank our dear Italian friends from the Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini Onlus Association and personally its leader Enio Bordato and its Moscow representative Elena Demaria, who have covered the majority of financial expenses for refurnishing of this cottage. Very good Italian furniture for the rooms and for the kitchen has recently been delivered to the cottage. Representatives of the manufacturing company have specially come from Italy to assemble it. And the famous Merloni company provided fridges and laundromats free of charge. Muscovites promised to help with buying the dishes and other necessary things. But even now the house is comfortable, and some patients already live there. For example, Vadik Markunin with his mother, who will soon go to Germany for a check-up. The cottage will be officially opened in September 2006.

11.08.06 Unfortunately, Kolya Semenov's condition has become worse. Acting Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27 Dr. O.V. Makarova is telling:
"Presently Kolya is in grave condition. After the completion of radiation therapy, he had fever and pains in the abdomen and chest. We noticed lesions in the liver and lungs, and biopsy showed that they were specific; thus, we have to state further development of the main disease. Presently we are planning a cycle of chemotherapy to stabilize the boy's condition and to get rid of the pain syndrome."

4.08.2006 We whole-heartedly thank Igor, who has bought an oxygen concentrator for Kristina Gaidareva.

We thank the Boomerang charity foundation, which has paid for the radiation treatment of the following children at the Institute of Roengenology and Radiology in July 2006:
Issa Albogachiev (Department of Oncohematology-27): 40,786 roubles ($1511);
Erik Inashvili (Department of Oncohematology-27): 29,086.20 roubles ($1077);
Vlad Belyakov (Department of Oncohematology-27): 34,991.70 roubles ($1296);
German Dubrovin (Department of Oncology): 21,181.68 roubles ($785);
Roman Romanko (Department of Otolaryngology): 21,181.68 roubles ($785).
Total: 147,227.26 roubles ($5454).

We thank the following companies for their help in purchasing some medications:
- the Boomerang company, which has bought 6 vials of Cardioxane worth 37,434.48 roubles ($1386) for Roman Poleshchuk and Artem Romanov from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
- the Timex company, which has bought Certofix, Vepesid, Holoxan, and Emeset worth a total of 99,783.46 roubles ($3696) for the Department of Oncology.

We thank the Media Service-VI company, which has presented a large batch of Pampers diapers for all patients of our hospital who need them. This amount will be sufficient for six months. The same company is ready to provide the hospital with Pampers diapers during the next two years.

3.08.2006 Here is some news about the orphan children:
Vanya V-ov has fully recovered after the surgery. He goes out and plays with other kids. In this condition, he may be discharged from the hospital. But this means his return to the orphanage. Doctor Fuat Abdullaev and the entire staff of the Department of Urology address the readers of our Web site and everybody who can help the kid:
"It is vitally important for Vanya to live in a family. A state institution, even a very good one (and, by the way, Vanya's pre-school orphanage is good indeed) cannot provide the boy with the required care and medical control. On the contrary, there is no doubt that this charming kid will be quite healthy if he grows in a loving family. The doctors of the Department of Urology promise that they will provide all kinds of medical help to him whenever necessary and regularly control his condition until he turns 18."
Ilya K., one of our best-loved kids, went home yesterday. His future mother has not yet come after him. But the boy is optimistic: he must be back to our hospital for follow-up treatment six months later. He will be quite good-looking after that, as he says, and he has firmly decided to find a mother. It is a real pity that we had to part with Ilya, our little but faithful friend. We will miss his sense of humor and his stories, which he constantly invents and artistically tells. We will miss his warmth and love. We are looking forward to his return, and we believe that there is a woman who is ready to be his mother. Let us hope that she will find him in six months, just as Ilya says.

2.08.2006 We thank Vneshtorgbank [a large Russian bank], which has bought a universal endoscopic surgical set as a present for our hospital within the World without Tears program. This equipment is intended for performing complex microsurgeries. The set costs 1,652,381 roubles ($61,200). Continued...

* * *

Purchased from July 3 to 31:
Holoxan Baxter (N 50) and Ondansetron Lance (N 50) worth 60,400 roubles ($2237) for the Department of Oncology.
A set of endoscopic surgical equipment (N 1) worth 1,652,381 roubles ($61,200) for the Departments of Otolaryngology, Ophthalmology, and Microvascular Surgery.
Cymeven (N 21) worth 38,529.75 roubles ($1427) for the Center of Kidney Transplantation.
Berodual (N 2), Mezym Forte (20 packs), Mydocalm (N 5), Movalis (N 10), Monopril (N 10), No-Spa (N 5), Pariet (N 15), Preductal (5 packs), Enap (20 packs), Aerius (10 packs) worth 33,883 roubles ($1255) for Raya Avetisova from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Ampholip (N 1) worth 5168 roubles ($191) for Vitalik Sotnikov from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Amoxyclav 375 mg N 15 (10 packs) worth 1920 roubles ($71) for Kolya Semenov from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Aminoven Infant (N 15), Diflucan (N 6), Panangin (2 packs) worth 8076.3 roubles ($300) for the Department of Abdominal Surgery.
Mercaptopurin (N 10) worth 2650 roubles ($98) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Primadophilus (N 1), Metrogyl (N 5) worth 630 roubles ($23) for the Department of Abdominal Surgery.
Specially ordered child wheelchair (N 1) worth 13,473 roubles ($500) for Milena L. from the Department of Microvascular Surgery.
Diapers (54 packs) worth 4278.96 roubles ($158) for orphan children.
Venofix (N 200), Discofix (N 200), and Vasofix (N 200) worth 13,478 roubles ($500) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Proleukin 1 mg (N 1) worth 13,000 roubles ($481) for Matvei Korzh from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Bepanten (N 1) worth 150 roubles ($5.5) for Ilya K. from the Department of Microvascular Surgery.
Neoton worth 2690.6 roubles ($100) for Beslan Saaev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Holoxan (N 16) worth 22,641.76 roubles ($839) for the department of Oncology.
Cardioxane (N 1), Oliclinomel (N 10), Trental (N 10) worth 16,429.08 roubles ($608) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Sandimmune Neoral (N 1) worth 11,338.41 roubles ($420) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Dacarbazine Lance (N 20) worth 2505.6 roubles ($93) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
DNA testing reagent kit worth 86,245 roubles ($3194) for patients of the Institute of Child Hematology.
Prednisolon (N 50), Amoxycillin (50 packs), and Puri-Netol (N 20) worth 11,225 roubles ($416) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.

Paid for:
Repeated determination of blood cells
for the Aksenov family (Department of Marrow Transplantation) worth 1100 roubles ($41).
for the Rogachev family (Department of Marrow Transplantation) worth 1100 roubles ($41).
Refurnishing of the cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment worth 400,000 roubles ($14,815).
Tests at the Sklifosovski Institute in May 2006, worth 5265 roubles ($195), and in June 2006, worth 1160 roubles ($43).
Medical examination and treatment of Andrei Ivanishin at the Infectious Department for 10 days, worth 42,000 roubles ($1556).

1.08.2006 Alesha K. has been discharged from hospital. He was reluctant to leave his new friends in Moscow. We thank Masha, our young volunteer, who visited the boy for several hours every day in spite of her entrance exams to the Medical University, which also took place in July. But now they have been successfully passed, and Masha is already a student. And Alesha is the first patient she has cared for.

26.07.2006 We thank Vyacheslav, who has started repair and refurnishing of the residential premises of our hospital (building No. 6) at his own expense, hiring workers from his construction company. Two rooms that had been in the worst state have already been repaired. Vyacheslav is planning to continue this work so that all rooms in that part of the hospital would be improved one after another. In the nearest future, he is going to work on the bathroom.

* * *

Three more orphan children have arrived at the RCCH: Anton M-o (1 year 10 months, from the Sakhalin island); Nastya L-va (3 y.o., from Kostroma), and Alla T. (14 y.o., from Chukotka).
News about the small kids from the Department of Clinical Immunology: Denis and Valera. The doctors say the neither boy has any serious immune disorder. It seems that all these kids need is good care at home and a loving family, which they haven't now.
The doctors and the entire staff of the Department of Immunology like the children very much. The nurse who takes care of them told us that the boys wanted to eat all the time during the first few days at our hospital. When they saw any kind of food, they shouted and demanded it. And when they at last had enough food, the nurse suddenly saw that Valera, the elder boy, hides the tastiest bits in a secret place. Everybody was just shocked. After all, the kids were not undernourished. Both looked all right and were not fretful. But probably it was the first time in their lives that they felt personal care, that they learned of the existence of tasty food, not just food. And the toddler somehow understood that this is not forever and it would be good to save some tasty bits in order to eat them later. Of course, we all hope that the kid is mistaken and he will yet have everything.

21.07.2006 A girl from the Department of Medical Genetics needs your help. Kristina Gaidareva has a grave form of cystic fibrosis, and an oxygen concentrator is vitally necessary for her. We have already got about one-half of the required sum: this is the money left after purchase of such concentrators for Ira Bodyleva and Denis Khokhlov.

* * *

We thank Veniamin, who has bought an exercise bike for Dima Lopatkin from the Department of Oncohematology-16. This help is very important for the boy now. Two years ago, Dima received treatment at the RCCH and went through marrow transplantation. The doctors have conquered the main oncohematological disease, but the transplantation resulted in some complications, which still affect the boy's life. The strong medicines that had to be used during his recovery after the transplantation evoked serious aftereffects. Dima had to lie in bed for a long time, then he learned to walk again... Now the doctors recommend that the boy should exercise his muscles on an exercise bike, but Dima's family has no money to buy it. Presently Dima also receives treatment for a fungal infection, which is in the acute stage.

* * *

Recently Alexei Shorokhov came for a check. He has become completely adapted to the prosthesis. He even runs about with it, which is not surprising: the boy is so active and agile! He is quite optimistic and wants to go to school again in autumn.

20.07.2006 News about little Vanya V-ov. The results of the examination showed the reason for his troubles: there was a congenital pathology that prevented normal functioning of the boy's kidney. The surgery took place on July 18. Doctor Fuat Abdullaev, a wonderful surgeon, who heads of the Department of Urology, performed it. The operation was successful, and presently Vanya is feeling fine. The doctor says that this intervention was performed in time and now Vanya is not to expect any complications. The doctors and the entire staff of the Department of Urology love Vanya and feel deeply concerned about his destiny. But, of course, the kid needs good care at home and a loving family.

18.07.2006 Two orphan children from the Kolomna town orphanage have arrived at the RCCH. They are Kolya B. (3 years old) and Sasha Ch. (1.8 years old). Both have Apert syndrome, which consists in a grave congenital defect of the facial skeleton and extremities. The doctors can help these children. But reconstruction of the facial skeleton requires special distractors, and a set of such distractors costs 8 to 9 thousand USD. Their purchase is not financed by the budget, and so treatment of these children is impossible without private sponsorship.
Two new kids from the city of Ivanovo have been admitted to the Department of Clinical Immunology. They are Denis K. (5 months old) and Valera B. (a year and a half old). Both little boys are active and sociable, smile and move a lot.
Gena B. (8 y.o.) from the town of Emmaus (Tver region) has been admitted for follow-up treatment at the Department of Coloproctology.
Elvira has at last been allowed to walk out of her department after the surgery. She immediately went to the hospital library to take new books.
Serezha S-n is feeling better, and the doctors are planning to transfer him back to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery.

17.07.2006 Roman has bought two packs of Vifend worth 60,000 roubles ($2222) for Dima Lopatkin from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Alena and Sasha have bought an oxygen concentrator for Denis Khokhlov.
We whole-heartedly thank them for this help.

13.07.2006 Some news about the orphan children. A charming new kid named Vanya V-ov, aged 2 years 3 months, has arrived. Come to visit him and become his friends!
Ilya K. had his surgery yesterday. He has already returned to his ward. Now he will have to wear plaster for three weeks and to walk with his arm up. But he says that it's OK, the main thing is that he will recover soon and mom (as he is still sure) will take him home.
Little Serezha S-n has a running nose again, and the surgery had to be postponed. The boy was transferred to the Diagnostic Department to receive some treatment for his cold.
Elvira has had her surgery. She is feeling more or less all right.
We thank Olga, Alexander, and anonymous contributors who have helped in buying a wheelchair for Milena L.. This wheelchair has been ordered and paid for. We also thank Natasha and her husband, who drove the girl and her nurse to the company that produces the required wheelchairs in order to choose the exact necessary size.

10.07.2006 Purchased from June 17 to July 3, 2006:
Diapers (37 packs) worth 11,599.87 roubles ($430) for orphan children.
Vepesid 100 mg (N 40), Uromitexane 400 mg (7 packs), Holoxan 2 g (12 vials), Holoxan 500 mg (40 vials) worth 87,849.37 roubles ($3254) for the Department of Oncology.
Surgical instruments worth 291,873 roubles ($10,810) for the Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery: nozzles (N 5) and drills (N 55).
Test strips (2 packs) worth 1480 roubles ($55) for Ulyana Vinogradova from the Department of Abdominal Surgery.
Epigen 60 ml (N 2), Cycloferon amp. (4 packs), and sulfur ointment (5 packs) worth 2166 roubles ($80) for Roma P. from the Department of Dermatology and Allergology.
Ondansetron Lance 0.2% 2 ml (N 50) worth 2800 roubles ($104) for the Department of Oncology.
Biseptol-480 (5 packs), Orungal 100 mg (2 packs) worth 5015 roubles ($186) for Denis Matyushkin from the Department of Medical Genetics.
Neoton 1 g + solvent (N 10) worth 6726.5 roubles ($249) for Dima Pozdnyakov from the Center of Kidney Transplantation.
Medical aspirator B-40 worth 12,300 roubles ($456) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Cymeven (N 19) worth 34,860.25 roubles ($1291) for the Center of Kidney Transplantation.
Ampholip 50 g (10 vials) worth 50,875 roubles ($1884) for Vitalik Sotnikov from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Embolization coil 400x5 (N 5), embolization coil 100x10 (N 3), and embolization catheter (N 1) worth 72,576.64 roubles ($2688) for the Department of Microsurgery.
Reusable sensor, buffer solution pH 1 250 ml (N 1), buffer solution pH 7 250 ml (N 1) worth 10,516.16 roubles ($389) for the Department of Thoracic Surgery.
Treadmill (N 1) worth 13,500 roubles ($500) for children of the Ivanovo orphanage.
Vepesid (N 50), Contrical N 10 (3 packs) worth 28,486.1 roubles ($1055) for the Department of Oncology.

Paid for:
Refurnishing of the cottage for children receiving out-patient treatment worth 400,000 roubles ($14,815).

6.07.2006 Here is some news about orphans at our hospital. Two more children have been admitted: Alesha K., 13 y.o., is from Komsomolsk (Ivanovo region), and Roza K.., 16 y.o., is from Kazan.
Ilya K. will soon have his surgery. He often looks out of the window and says that his mother lives in "that tall building" (a large apartment block in front of the hospital) and will take him home soon...
We cannot forget little Vika I., who, to our great regret, has recently returned to her orphanage. The members of the orphanage staff who came to take Vika home told us that the girl will soon be transferred to an asylum for disabled persons, where, alas, she can hardly expect any good development of her life. It was very painful for us to hear this. Vika's nurse Svetlana, who is presently taking care of another small kid at our hospital, was especially sad. She loves Vika and feels deeply concerned about her destiny. Svetlana has brought us a touching short letter and asked us to place it on our Web site in hope that it may help the girl find a family:
"Vika I. is a little girl of three. So fragile and curious, waiting for warmth and kindness. She has a great potential, which helps her cope with her illnesses and other troubles. If she receives proper upbringing and treatment, she will develop like any normal kid in a family. But she will perish without love and care.
Please, if you have a kind heart, don't leave this child to die in the ocean of indifference and neglect! You will receive so much love from this small heart as a reward for your kindness!"
After all the necessary medical examinations, the doctors are now preparing for Milena's surgery. They have confirmed that her leg will be amputated. And then... lots of problems arise.
Milena's illness requires constant control and regular qualified medical interventions. However, everything that could be done in Yakutia for Milena has already been done. (And note that the doctors at Milena's orphanage in Yakutia are good and attentive; during all these years, they kept close watch on her condition and sent her to hospitals whenever necessary.)
Also, Milena may not stay at a pre-school orphanage for an indefinite time. Officially, such institutions in Russia host only children under three, and Milena is already 5.5 years old... The only thing that awaits her afterwards is an asylum for disabled persons. The administration of Milena's orphanage has tried to keep her at this orphanage as long as possible, understanding that such an asylum can give Milena neither good care (which is vitally necessary for her) nor education. But Milena is a very smart and quick-witted girl. It is a pleasure to teach her. And, at the same time, she has very sweet temper: sociable, kind, and sympathetic.
The orphanage nurse who has come to Moscow with Milena must soon go back to Yakutsk. But the girl needs long treatment, and so she just may not go home now.
We remind you once more: Milena will need a wheelchair after the surgery. Subsequently, she will need an expensive prosthesis. Your help is necessary!

* * *

We thank Denis I., who has donated 30,000 roubles ($1111) to buy immunoglobulin for Andrei Sedov from the Department of Psychoneurology No. 1. The boy is suffering from encephalitis.

* * *

Larisa N.Shelikhova, a physician from the Department of Oncohematology-16, tells about the condition of Vitalik Sotnikov and about the problems of this department:
"Vitalik Sotnikov, who is receiving treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia and fungal lesion of soft facial tissues at our department, is presently feeling more or less fine. He is active and has good appetite. He receives therapy with Ampholip every day, and his fever is over now. He also receives specific therapy for his main disease.
The boy should still receive antifungal therapy for a fairly long time, and so Ampholip is constantly necessary. Also, the boy has problems with the masticatory muscles and cannot normally take food through the mouth, and so we mostly feed him through a gastrostoma, i.e., a special tube leading right to the stomach. So, Vitalik receives part of his daily ration in the form of a special solution, which contains all the necessary amino acids, fats, proteins, hydrocarbons and other nutrients required for normal life.
However, Vitalik is in good mood and goes out every day, even in rainy weather. He is an active, lively, and merry boy. He doesn't like staying in his ward, and, fortunately, his present condition enables him to go out and play with other children.

On the whole, the Department of Oncohematology-16 faces problems with the supply of some medications, just as usual. Now only expensive antibiotics (Meronem, Maxipime) and antifungal drugs (Cancidas, Ampholip) are in shortage but even the simplest and always necessary drugs, like Lasix or Analgin, are sometimes lacking. Without help that we receive from our sponsors, normal work of our department would be impossible. We thank you for your constant support and hope for further cooperation."

Dr. Natalia V. Myakova, Acting Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27, tells about Kolya Semenov's treatment:
"Kolya Semenov, a boy of 13, is a patient of our department. His diagnosis is Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple recurrences. Presently, thanks to your help, he receives radiation therapy on the affected areas and feels quite all right. Further, after the completion of the radiation therapy, we are planning marrow autotransplantation for him. The latter procedure will require serious expenses, because many drugs required for it are lacking at the hospital and should be purchased."

Now about the needs of our department as a whole. Presently we have many gravely ill patients, and they need antiemetics to support them during the intensive chemotherapy. Also, there is a shortage of antibiotics."

30.06.2006 Two new orphan kids have recently been admitted to our hospital: Ilya (5 years old, Department of Microsurgery) and Elvira (13 years old, Department of Urology). Alena has been discharged in fine condition; she liked our hospital very much.

29.06.2006 Yesterday we received the tragic news from the Hadassa hospital in Jerusalem: Eugene Chernyshov died of generalized viral infection, which had developed very fast in his condition of immune suppression. The doctors could not do anything in this situation.

28.06.2006 We thank Ilya, who has sent 40,000 roubles ($1480) to buy antibiotics for the Department of Oncohematology-16.

26.06.2006 For Vitalik Sotnikov, ten more vials of Ampholip worth 50,875 roubles ($1885) have been bought. Vitalik's condition is comparatively fine. He is active, has good appetite, watches animated films on TV, and even goes out when it is not too hot. Vitalik's mother is also "coming to her senses" and learning to smile again together with her son. She has written a short letter of gratitude to readers of our Web site:
"I, the mother of Vitalik Sotnikov, just want to thank all of you for helping us! We are so grateful to everybody who is concerned about Vitalik's health and life. I can't say that he is healthy now, but still some steps forward have been made. He can smile, play, and even, little by little, walk on his own legs again. To put it short, now he wants to live. We would not succeed without your help; this is clear.
Thank you very much again for your help!"

Little Anya Fedotova has received full course of Cytotect treatment (3 vials). She has also been provided with the necessary nutritive solutions for the entire postsurgical period. Thank you for your response! Now we remove the girl's photograph from the first page of our Web site.

23.06.2006 The cottage for our patients receiving out-patient treatment has been repaired. The money for this purpose was received from Russian sponsors. Dear friends, thank you for this invaluable help!
On the top floor of the house, heating was installed and walls between rooms were erected. Also, some small work was performed at other storeys. Now the house has 15 bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining-room, and a large living-room, which serves as a playroom.
Soon we will receive the furniture, which was ordered and bought by our Italian friends from the Aiutateci a salvare i bambini association. This furniture is not only cosy and comfortable but also can be very easily washed and cleaned.

20.06.2006 Some news about the orphan children:
Milena needs a good wheelchair. Her orphanage in Yakutsk cannot provide her with it! We hope that you will help her!
Ira R. is away for summer rest, but after it we expect her to come to Moscow again. Inna has been discharged, as well as little Vika. After treatment, Vika was discharged in fine condition. Unfortunately, she had to go back to her orphanage. Roma P. is at the hospital for the third time.

18.06.2006 After the completion of his treatment, Vadik Markunin has returned from Germany. He is feeling and looking fine, happy and friendly. He made funny faces at the photo camera. His mother Veta is radiant with happiness: the doctors are satisfied with Vadik's condition and allow him to go home at last. Five years have passed since the beginning of his treatment...

17.06.2006 Purchased from June 1 to 16, 2006, for a total of 589,566.1 roubles ($21.835):
Aminosteril KU (N 20), Vepesid (N 15), Leucovorin Teva (N 74), Maxipime (84 vials), Oliclinomel (N 20), Sulperazon (N 100), Fortazim (N 100), Fortum (N 100), Cytosar (N 25) worth 211,299.43 roubles ($7825) for the Departments of Oncohematology-27 and Oncohematology-16.
Losec (N 10), Puri-Netol (N 30), Fortum (N 30) worth 55,728.7 roubles ($2064) for Vitalik Sotnikov and other patients from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Ampholip (N 8) worth 40,700 roubles ($1507) for Vitalik Sotnikov from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Nimotop (N 5), Adalate (N 5) worth 9650 roubles ($357) for Sasha Inshev from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Adalate solution(N 5), Enap (2 packs) worth 6165 roubles ($228) for Andrei Lyapin from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Vincristine Teva (N 100) worth 14,212 roubles ($526) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Ommaya reservoir and blood test at the Burdenko Institute of Neurosurgery worth 10,600 roubles ($393) for V. Gerasimova.
Prograph in capsules (5 packs) worth 38,898.75 roubles ($1441) for Vanya Kal'noi from the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Prograph in capsules (6 packs) worth 46,678.5 roubles ($1729) for Sergei Shcherbatyi from the Department of General Hematology.
Vepesid (40 vials), Uromitexan (7 packs N 15), Holoxan (44 g) worth 87,849.37 roubles ($3254) for the Department of Oncology.
The Discovery tool for implantation of shoulder joint endoprosthesis worth 71,350 roubles ($2643) for Sveta Koshkina from the Department of Oncology.
CellCept (2 packs) worth 19,077.3 roubles ($707) for Elita Gabieva from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Trichopol IV solution (N 30) worth 2912.4 roubles ($108) for Misha Salmin and Niyaz Minakov from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Metal-reinforced polymer corset (produced at the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics) worth 13,640 roubles ($505) for Raya Avetisova from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Bepanten cream (N 1), Locoid ointment (N 1), Baclophen tab. (1 pack), Convulex drops (N 1) worth 588 roubles ($22) for Dasha S. from the Department of Psychoneurology No. 2.
Bepanten cream (N 1), Advantan ointment 15 g (N 1) worth 391 roubles ($14.5) for Vika I. from the Department of Psychoneurology No. 2.
Also paid for:
Determination of microbial composition of biological fluids worth 41,400 roubles ($1533) for patients from the Department of Medical Genetics (Cystic Fibrosis).
Tests at the Sklifosovski Institute worth 4075 roubles ($151) for April 2006.
Repeated determination of blood cells at the Center of Molecular Genetics for patients after marrow transplantation:
- the Khadiev family: for 1100 roubles ($41).
- the Aksenov family: for 1100 roubles ($41).

* * *

16.06.2006 Roman bought an oxygen concentrator, and the doctors decided to hand it to Ira Bodyleva, because she needs it most urgently. Yesterday this device was transported to the Voronezh region, where the Bodylev family live. Ira and her mother thank Roman very much. They had always hoped for your help but had never expected it to be so quick!

* * *

Five packs of Prograph have been bought for Vanya Kal'noi. We thank everybody who has helped the boy and so far remove his photograph from the first page of our site because he does not need urgent financial aid now.

* * *

Vika Sotneva died on June 14. Her mother Svetlana thanks everybody who supported her family. Vera, Tamara, and other friends from the hospital church helped the Sotnevs with renting an apartment in Moscow and providing the necessary things for their life; so, the girl could receive help from the doctors of our hospital up to her last days, and this help alleviated her suffering. Svetlana's new friends helped her take care of Vika and now saw them home, to the Tver region...

11.06.06 Within the You Are Not Alone program for providing medical help to children from orphanages, doctors of the RCCH made their first journey to provincial orphanages from June 7 to 9, 2006, with support and paricipation of the Help Group of the RCCH and our charitable foundation. This event was aimed at performing medical examinations to children and revealing those who need in-hospital treatment at the RCCH. Also, consultations were given to local doctors.
This time, the objects of our attention were orphanages of the Ivanovo region. The medical team that paid a visit to Ivanovo was headed by Dr. Nelli Ignatieva, Deputy Head Physician of the RCCH, and Lina Saltykova, president of the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children. Leading doctors of our hospital also participated in this journey: Dr. Alexander S. Kuzin, Head of the Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics; Dr. Irina V. Kondratenko, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology; Dr. Elena S. Ilyina, Head of the Department of Psychoneurology No. 2; doctors from the Department of Urology, Craniomaxillofacial and Microvascular Surgery. Other participants from our Help Group were Yuri Khalangot from our charity foundation and Kostya Sedov, Doctor Clown, who often helps the doctors in establishing contact with gravely ill children and generally makes the kids happier and more optimistic.
The administration of the Ivanovo region, as well as doctors and directors of orphanages, met our initiative with understanding and gratitude. The doctors have examined and consulted about 190 children, made recommendations and prescribed treatment, gave advice and promised to be always in contact with their local colleagues. 25 children with the most serious disorders will be taken to the RCCH for in-hospital treatment. Since this autumn, such visits to orphanages are to become regular.
On June 13, the Vremechko TV program will show this visit.

9.06.2006 Three orphan children were admitted to our hospital during the last week: Milena, Inna, and Nastya. Milena's condition is especially grave. This five-year-old girl is from Yakutia. She will have to undergo a serious operation, most likely involving leg amputation. Milena needs a child wheelchair, which is lacking at her orphanage. Please help the girl.

8.06.2006 Ira Bodyleva from the Department of Medical Genetics (Cystic Fibrosis), who was admitted to the hospital with grave respiratory insufficiency, is presently feeling better. Her condition has stabilized, and the doctors have allowed her to go home. But this improvement will not last long: the problem of respiratory insufficiency cannot be resolved while Ira has no oxygen concentrator at home.
Dear friends, Ira needs your help and support very much! Remember the doctor's words: Ira needs this concentrator for constant use at home; the duration and quality of the girl's life depend on it!

* * *

Dima Volkov was discharged from hospital. He had no page of his own on our Web site: you could see his photograph only among a large group of patients from the Department of Oncohematology-27, when medications were lacking in the entire hospital and we had to ask for your help in buying them. Nevertheless, we think that we should tell about Dima himself and his story (let us hope that the worst is already over!) on this site. Continued...
As a farewell present to us, Dima brought several drawings and a touching letter.

7.06.2006 Purchased from May 22 to 29, 2006:
Leucovorin Lance 50 mg+solvent (20 packs) worth 9630.8 roubles ($357) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Vasofix Certo catheters (N 200) worth 8750 roubles ($324) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Nonsterile gloves (12 packs) worth 1476 roubles ($55) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Extenders 100 cm (N 100) worth 2450 roubles ($91) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.

6.06.2006 On June 1, the International Children's Day, little patients of our hospital received various presents. Festivies lasted the whole day. Those children who could not come to the conference hall later saw the actors and singers in the wards.
But festive events are rare. Ordinary hospital life is sometimes very sad and boring for the children. Our main aim is to make this life useful and interesting, full of creative work. And now two new playrooms have been opened for the children's art work, for their rest and games. These rooms have been reconstructed and equipped at the Departments of Oncology and Kidney Transplantation thanks to our sponsors. Both playrooms were wonderful presents to the children for the International Children's Day of 2006. Continued...

* * *

Ruslan Fidarov has returned from Germany. We barely recognized this boy, formerly bald and thin, and now black-haired and strong, with beautiful eyebrows. The German doctors are completely satisfied with the results of the treatment. They have allowed Ruslan to go home, to Vladikavkaz, right now. They have also provided him with all the necessary drugs for the forthcoming months, and there is no need for him to stay in Moscow any more. We are glad for Ruslan and wish him to recover completely and to return to normal life, school, and friends as soon as possible.

* * *

After the next stage of treatment, Sasha Karmanov went home in good condition. He is to return to hospital for further treatment in autumn. Unfortunately, his treatment at the child hospital will no longer be performed free of charge, because Sasha has turned eighteen.

31.05.2006 Today, at 6 p.m., Nadya Popova died of the consequences of a major stroke. She spent over two weeks at the resuscitation ward in the state of coma. Please pray for Nadya's soul and for her father Alexander. He has recently also lost his wife: she died when Alexander was in the Moscow hospital with their daughter. The girl's condition was so grave that he could not leave her and attend her mother's funeral. And now Nadya is also dead. She has not even learned of her mother's death...

29.05.2006 The sum transferred for Sergei Shcherbatyi by the PrompodshipnikImport company is sufficient to buy Prograf for three months. So we remove Sergei's photograph from the first page of our site for the time being. Thank you, friends!

27.05.2006 The condition of Sergei Shcherbatyi has improved. The donor marrow is functioning, and the blood counts are comparatively high. Sergei has even been allowed to leave his isolated sterile ward.
The doctors asked us to help in buying Prograf for Sergei. This medicine is fairly expensive: one pack costs 10,800 roubles ($400), and the course of treatment should last a long time. Presently the boy needs four packs. So we resume the fundraising for Sergei.
Also, Vanya Kal'noi will need Prograph for a year. It is completely impossible for his parents to raise such money by themselves.
We hope that you will help both of these wonderful boys!

* * *

Alexei Shorokhov came to the hospital for a check. He has recently received his prosthesis and learned to use it. And presently he can already walk all by himself. This courageous boy is very pleased now. His mother asked us to thank everybody who had helped Alexei!

26.05.2006 Doctor Vladimir I. Kovalev, Head of the Department of Oncology, asks for our help in purchasing special instruments for endoprosthetic operations on patients with bone tumors. Buying contemporary surgical instruments will enable the doctors to use advanced types of endoprostheses in the children's treatment and thus to achieve the best possible level in this kind of child surgery. The operated patients will have much higher quality of life. Continued...
The total cost of the instruments is 780,000 roubles (about $29,000).

22.05.2006 From May 10 to 19, 2006, a total of 731,559.92 roubles ($27.095) was paid.

Purchased:
Albumin Baxter (N 30), Vinblastine Lance (N 10), Cardioxane (N 3), Trichopol IV solution (N 100), Hartman's solution (N 3) worth 70,732.32 roubles ($2620) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Albumin Baxter (N 20) worth 36,000 roubles ($1330) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Ampholip (N 10) worth 51,800 roubles ($1920) for Vitalik Sotnikov (Department of Oncohematology-16).
Roaccutane (N 30) worth 75,000 roubles ($2780) for Korentsova, Kuzmin, and Dronova (Department of Oncohematology-16).
Insulin pump (N 1) and consumables worth 209,653.4 roubles ($7765) for Alexander Mikurov (Department of Diabetology).
Insulin pump (N 1) and consumables worth 209,653.4 roubles ($7765) for Olesya Kravtsova (Department of Diabetology).
Elma cream (N 3) worth 21,000 roubles ($780) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Vincristine worth 13,900 roubles ($515) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Ondansterone Lance (100 packs) worth 7696 roubles ($285) for the Department of Oncology.
Bleomycin (1 pack) worth 5471.2 roubles ($203) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Aminosteril KU (N 10) worth 3293.6 roubles ($122) for Olya Karataeva (Department of Gynecology).

Paid for:
Tests at the Sklifosovski Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (February 2006) worth 1160 roubles ($43).
Hospital care for 12 days and surgery of Zoya Petrova (Department of Microsurgery) worth a total of 21,000 roubles ($780).
Medical services at the Blokhin Oncological Center (April 2006) worth 5200 roubles ($193).

22.05.2006 Prof. Andrei V. Lopatin, Head of the Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, informed us that this department needs urgent help in purchasing some surgical instruments. A new set of nozzles and drills for the Servotronic electric saw (which was bought earlier thanks to your help, dear friends!) is necessary. It costs about 5600 euro. Your help is very important for patients of this department! Continued...

21.05.2006 About some little miracles. Vika I., a three-year old girl from an orphanage in the town of Pskov, was admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery with serious symptoms: total muscular hypotonicity, apathy, motionlessness. The doctors performed all the necessary examinations and found no abnormalities. But, actually, all Vika's symptoms disappeared during her stay at the hospital: the kid turned out to be charming and smart, she walks and eats by herself, talks to adults and other children at the department, plays and shows interest in everything. To put a long story short, she is behaving as a normal and healthy child, and only her nurse's care and kind attitude have made it possible.
We and the doctors congratulate Svetlana Alexeevna, who created this miracle! When we jokingly said, "It would be right to give you a government award!" she just responded, "Well, an extra pack of disposable diapers for Vika would be better."
But, of course, nobody knows what awaits this child in future...

20.05.2006 An anonymous contributor paid the entire remaining sum for activation of an unrelated donor for Sergei Shcherbatyi. The second transplantation has already taken place.

17.05.2006 Vitalik Sotnikov has gained 5 kg (over 10 lb) during the treatment. His condition is presently stable; the infection is under control, and the wounds are healing. The boy can even go out for a short walk. Today the surgeons have discussed the prospects of plastic surgery. Dr. Dmitri Litvinov, who heads the Department of Oncohematology-16, told us about Vitalik's condition and treatment. Continued...

16.05.2006 We thank the teachers and pupils of the school working at the German Embassy in Moscow: they bought Zovirax 150 mg (20 packs) and Maxipime (43 vials) for a total of 55,077 roubles (over $2000) and delivered the drugs to the Department of Oncohematology-27. We are more than grateful for this help!

* * *

There is a new patient at the Department of Neurosurgery. Vika, a girl of three, is from the Pskov orphanage. She was operated in Pskov for congenital hydrocephaly, a bypass was installed, and afterwards her development was normal. But suddenly, for no clear reason, her condition quickly deteriorated: Vika just stopped moving and developed evident muscular hypotonicity. The little girl was sent to the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital for an examination.
A highly professional nurse is taking care of Vika at the hospital. And, after only three days together with her, Vika began eating by herself and then started walking again. She turned out to be very quiet and affectionate, understanding and sociable. Her intellectual development is just as should be at her age. Her eyes are squinting, but the ophthalmologist says that this phenomenon is due only to muscular reasons and can be easily surgically corrected after the girl turns five. Part of cerebral examinations are already over, and others will be performed in a few days. But even now it is clear that Vika's condition is rapidly improving just because she is receiving good care. Let us hope that the doctors' conclusion will be favorable and a loving adoptive mother will find Vika.

11.05.2006 For Slava Gvozdarkov, two pairs of orthopedic boots and a joint immobilizer have been produced and purchased.
Thank you for your help!

11.05.2006 Purchased from April 24 to May 5, 2006, for a total of 469,164.26 roubles ($17,060):
Bought:
Albumin Baxter (N 20), Latranum 5 (N 25), Oliclinomel (N 20), Ondansterone Lance 1 (N 5), Trichopol (100 packs), Cernevit (N 5), Cerucal (100 packs), and Ciprinol (N 40) worth 94,840.48 roubles ($3450) for Vitali Sotnikov (Department of Oncohematology-16).
Sterifix cannula+filter (N 10) and Ampholip 5 (N 10) worth 52,725 roubles ($1917) for Vitali Sotnikov (Department of Oncohematology-16).
Ondansterone Lance (N 57) worth 7125 roubles ($260) for Vitali Sotnikov (Department of Oncohematology-16).
Vepesid (N 50), Daunorubicin Lance (N 100), and Puri-Netol (N 30) worth 64,210 roubles ($2335) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Leucovorin Lance (N 20) worth 9630 roubles ($350) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Ondansterone Lance (N 100) worth 7696 roubles ($280) for the Department of Oncology.
Aminosteril (N 10) and Glucosteril (N 20) worth 5535 roubles ($200) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Granocyte 33,6 MU (N 2), Holoxan (N 8), and Holoxan (N 28) worth 92,499.5 roubles ($3364) for the Department of Oncology.
Vitalipid (N 1), Contrical (2 packs), Lipofundin (N 10), and Neoton (N 4) worth 8310,64 roubles ($302) for Legkikh, Pirozhkova, and Pyzhova (Department of Clinical Immunology).
Methotrexate (N 2), Puri-Netol (N 3), and Vepesid in caps. (1 pack) worth 8860 roubles ($322) for Dima Volkov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Aminosteril KU 1 (N 30) worth 10,020 roubles ($364) for Vanya Kal'noi (Department of Marrow Transplantation).
Gemsar lyoph. inj. 1 g (N 2) worth 17,900 roubles ($651) for Kolya Semenov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Whole-leg joint immobilizers (N 2) worth 17,620 roubles ($641) for Diana Melekhina (Department of Traumatology and Orthopedics).
Extender 140 cm (N 100) worth 2081 roubles ($76) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Collost membrane (N 2) worth 3828 roubles ($139) for K. Mayeva (Department of Oncology).
Detralex (2 packs), Aescusan (N 2), Traumel C (N 2), tocopherol acetate (N 4), and Ursosan (N 2) worth 2856 roubles ($104) for A. Balalayeva (Department of Abdominal Surgery).
Elma cream (N 3) worth 2100 roubles ($77) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Puri-Netol 50 mg N 25 (3 packs) worth 2850 roubles ($104) for Dima Volkov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Aminosteril KU (N 15) worth 5070 roubles ($184) for Nikita Pyzhov (Department of Clinical Immunology).
Diapers (42 packs) worth 11,453.82 roubles ($417) for orphan children.

Paid for:
MRI examination worth 10,000 roubles ($363) for Katya Gorbunova (Department of General Hematology).
Seven days at hospital (+surgery) worth 10,500 roubles ($382) for Zoya Petrova (Department of Microsurgery).
Transportation services worth 10,000 roubles ($363) for M. Fedotov.

10.05.2006 New information in the Not Only illnesses part of our Web site: volunteers and art therapists tell about their work with patients of Kidney Transplantation Center, RCCH.

9.05.2006
Dr. Dmitri V. Litvinov, who head the Department of Oncohematology-16, commented on the treatment of Vitalik Sotnikov
"While the child was in Voronezh, he went through only the first stage in the therapy of his main disease: induction of remission. Although remission has been attained, the protocol has only been started. The treatment should be continued to the end. Otherwise, a relapse is inevitable. But high-dose chemotherapy in Vitalik's case is presently impossible because of extremely grave bacterial and fungal complications. So, he is receiving reduced-dose chemotherapy accompanied by powerful antifungal and antibacterial therapy. The most important problem now is to suppress the infection and at the same time to prevent appearance of leukemic cells in the blood. If we manage to do this, complete therapy of the main disease will be possible, but it is still impossible to say when the basic chemotherapy may be resumed.

During the entire treatment, which will last several months, the child will need expensive medications: Cancidas (one 50-mg vial worth $600 for two days) and Ampholip (instead of Ambisome, which is lacking in Russia now - 1.5 vials worth $200 daily), as well as solutions for parenteral feeding (about $1000 per months) and consumables. Thus, the daily expenses for Vitalik's treatment are about $650.
The date of reconstructive surgery is not yet being discussed: at first, the infection should be fully suppressed.
We thank the charitable foundation of the Help Group of our hospital, which immediately provided the necessary help to us and enabled us to start the child's treatment without delay. We hope for your further support, because it will be impossible to help the boy without due sponsorship."

8.05.2006 The "You Are Not Alone" program for helping orphan children has been functioning at the RCCH for half a year. Lina Saltykova, coordinator of the Help Group, is telling:
"I want to address our friends and collaborators with words of gratitude for your help and understanding. Starting the campaign for helping orphan children, we understood that it was necessary but were somehow afraid that we wouldn't cope, because such actions are quite new for us. Indeed, there have been a lot of problems and disappointments. But we are sure that this work is more than important and brings a lot of moral satisfaction. And all participants of this program, including the staff of the RCCH and our volunteers and sponsors, share this opinion.
At first we had problems with providing local offices and authorities with information about this program. But now information is spreading more and more, and we receive applications from all Russian regions: Moscow, Yaroslavl, Kaluga, Belgorod, Voronezh regions in the central part of Russia, Karelia and Khanty-Mansiisk in the North, Krasnodar in the South, Tuva in the Siberia, Chukotka and Primorye in the Far East.
During these six months, over 50 orphan children have received treatment or consultations at the RCCH, and the number of applications is still increasing. Five children have been adopted, and potential adoptive families are interested in several more kids.
During the work of the program, we saw that the children depend not only on timely medical help but also on our interest in their destinies, on our attention. And it is terrible to think about the thousands of fully abandoned children who do not receive this attention.
For many children, medical examinations showed that they were quite all right, although some of them were regarded as mentally deficient by local doctors. Some showed signs of serious neurological and somatic disorders although their condition was actually due to psychological problems and lack of due attention. And the worst thing was to see children who were brought for treatment too late, while their grave congenital disorders might have been completely eliminated during the first months of their lives. It is just that some doctors and the staff of local orphanages are often poorly informed about the potential of contemporary medicine and do not even try to cure one or another child by sending him or her to a hospital with qualified specialists.
This situation requires active work. The administration and staff of the RCCH, with support of the Help Group and our charitable foundation, decided to create "visiting groups" of doctors for screening of babies from local orphanages and selecting those who need immediate medical help. Each of such groups should include a pediatrician, a psychoneurologist, a surgeon, and possibly other specialists if necessary. The first journey is scheduled for May 2006. It will be a visit to Ivanovo and Shuya [towns in a poor region in central Russia].
The doctors and the entire staff of hospital department show wonderful attitude to orphan children. Sometimes the doctors and nurses even bring food and clothing for the orphans themselves. Actually, it was the doctors' compassion and responsibility that inspired the development of our special program for helping orphans and abandoned children.
We again thank all our friends, visitors of this Web site, for support of the children, for giving them friendship and help.
Thank you, dear friends!
And I again remind you that small orphan children need (a) disposable diapers and (b) paid nurses (and sponsors who could help in paying for their work).
 

6.05.2006 New children from orphanages have been admitted to the hospital. Alenka B. is a patient of the Department of Endocrinology; Sasha Z., of the Abdominal Surgery. Little Yulia Yu. has been transferred from the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery to the Diagnostic Department. Lena S. has been discharged from hospital after an examination.
Ira R., everybody's favorite, has again been admitted to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery for a check and for the next stage of her treatment. We are very happy to see this wonderful kid once more.

5.05.2006 A few words about the children who are having their treatment abroad now. Ruslan Fidarov's radiation therapy has almost ended. He is enduring his treatment quite well. Now he can already walk, because his leg pains have ceased. The doctors are satisfied with the results of the treatment, which, as we all hope, will soon be over.

Vadik Markunin's condition has become much better, and now there are no signs of skin GVHD. Administration of hormonal drugs is being gradually cancelled. The dose has become almost 50% lower, and the boy is feeling fine. But the doctors are not yet sure about the time when the treatment may be completed.

30.04.2006 One of our old acquaitances, orphan boy Igor V., has been discharged from hospital. He will be back in Moscow in a month, although this time he will be at an eye clinic rather than at our hospital.
Doctors of the Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery have achieved amazing results in Igor's treatment. At the final stage, they set apparata for orthodontic correction of the occlusion. Speech therapy has already brought its results, and the doctors hope that Igor will be able to speak normally as soon as the orthodontic treatment is over.
During the time spent in Moscow, Igor has not only improved his health but also learned a lot. He studied hard according to the school curriculum, and now he is planning to get enrolled in an institute and to receive higher education. Thanks to volunteers, Igor visited many concerts and theater performances, including those at the Bolshoi theater. He walked about Moscow, photographed a great deal, and took lots of his photographs with him as souvenirs. Igor has found many friends here, and they have promised to write to each other.
Igor's story is wonderful proof of the fact that miraculous things can happen to children, even most gravely ill ones, if they receive adequate medical help and, which is even more important, friendly support. Igor's diagnosis is Goldenhar's syndrome. It is a grave genetic disorder, which affects not only the child's face but also the vocal organs and the musculoskeletal system. Such children look strange. They are clumsy and far from good-looking; they can speak only with great effort. Usually they are automatically regarded as mentally retarded and made patients of special asylums. Can it be that our Igor is just a rare exception? Yes, unfortunately, it seems that he is. But the reason for his exceptional destiny is not Nature's kindness, which somehow spared his intellect in spite of the diagnosis. The real reason is that Igor has received optimum medical help of various kinds, support from his teachers and friends. Alas, such things are still rare indeed. And nobody knows how many such "ugly" children with inarticulate speech are considered mentally deficient only because nobody tries to understand them and to help them...
Just think that Igor received due treatment only when he was fifteen. And even this was not too late!

28.04.2006 Pop singer Dmitri Malikov came to our patients before Easter. It is not his first visit to the hospital. This time he visited children who receive treatment at the Departments of Oncology, Oncohematology-27, and Kidney Transplantation. We hope that other popular singers and actors will soon also appear here, because such visits are always a great joy for the kids and their parents.

SOS!!!
27.04.2006 The head and staff of the Department of Oncohematology-16 ask for help in the treatment of a five-year-old boy from Voronezh. The story of this boy is so tragic that it is unique even for our hospital. Little Vitali Sotnikov has responded to treatment of his oncohematological illness in Voronezh, but the terrible complications of this treatment have literally put him between life and death. Doctors of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital will try to help the boy, although they have never encoutered anything of the sort. Please help them and pray for them.
Continued...

Purchased from April 10 to 21, 2006:
CellCept (2 packs) worth 19,900 roubles ($725) for Sonya Zabolotskaya from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Primalan (N 20), Flixonase (N 5), and CellCept (2 packs) worth 23,500 roubles ($855) for Nastya Kochetkova and Ibragim Zannadiev from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Ribavirin Vero (6 packs), Intron A (syringe pen with needles and wipes, N 12), Naphtaderm ointment (N 6), and Zyrtex in tablets (5 packs) worth 105,860 roubles ($3850) for Sasha Ch. from the Department of Otolaryngology.
Discofix three-way stopcock (N 600), extender 140 cm (N 200), infusion pump (N 30), perfusion syringe 20 ml (N 200) worth 21,355 roubles ($775) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Discofix three-way stopcock (N 600), extender 140 cm (N 300), infusion pump (N 40), perfusion syringe 20 ml (N 200) worth 24,405 roubles ($887) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Albumin Baxter (N 30) worth 41,467.5 roubles ($1508) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Extender 140 cm+screw nozzles (N 100) worth 2081 roubles ($75) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Cardioxane (N 2) and Hartman's solution (N 2) worth 12,742.16 roubles ($463) for Rakhman Dadaev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Decarbayne Laxema (5 packs) worth 795 roubles ($29) for Ilya Prusakov from the Department of Oncology.
Diflucan (N 5) worth 2534.05 roubles ($92) for Oleg Levchenko from the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Acyclovir (50 packs) and colostomy bags (N 10) worth 4430 roubles ($160) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Mannite solution for injections (N 100) worth 4800 roubles ($175) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Preductal (7 packs), Plaquenil (2 packs), Aerius (10 packs), Berodual (N 2), and Elcar (5 vials) worth a total of 8173.5 roubles ($297) for Semenov, Anokhin, Pochetkov, and Pirozhkov from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Cardioxane (N 2) and Hartman's solution (N 2) worth 12,742.16 roubles ($463) for Rakhman Dadaev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Mycomax (N 20) worth 6100 roubles ($222) for Semenov, Anokhin, Pochetkov, and Pirozhkov from the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Diflucan (N 10) worth 5068.1 roubles ($184) for Oleg Levchenko from the Department of Marrow Transplantation.

Paid for medical services:
14 days of in-hospital treatment and surgery worth 21,000 roubles ($764) for Zoya Petrova from the Department of Microsurgery.
 

26.04.2006 We want to thank
- the parish of the church at the Pyatnitskoe cemetery, who raised $1000 for Easter presents to our patients. This money was used to buy illustrated children's Bibles, books, jigsaw puzzles, Easter eggs, etc.
- Alexei, who bought seven folding beds for the children's parents and brought them to the residential premises of the hospital.
- Dmitri, who brought a notebook computer for the children's studies.
- Irina and her friends, who donated $1000 to buy Taxoter for Maxim Evdokimov from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
- Dmitri, Irina, and Vladimir, who brought wonderful books from the Narnia publishing house as presents for our children; we also thank this publishing house for the large discount in selling these books.

21.04.2004 We regret to inform you about the death of Sasha Emelkin. The boy died of pulmonary bleeding as a result of acute and rapidly developed graft vs. host disease. He spent his last days at the intensive care unit with his mother and hospital clown Kostya. While Sasha was still conscious, Kostya tried to support him in every way possible. We really hoped that Sasha would cope with all the difficulties, because it seemed that the main thing was over: the transplanted bone marrow started functioning. But the doctors failed to suppress the acute GVHD in spite of all their efforts. Unfortunately, we can only remind that marrow transplantation is a very dangerous procedure in itself and may be performed only if the patient's chances for survival without it are zero. Given the present state of medicine, it is still impossible to foresee and prevent all complications that may emerge after the transplantation...

19.04.2006 We received news about Eugene Chernyshov from Israel. The examinations are over, and the boy will be transferred to his ward at the Marrow Transplantation Department on Monday, April 24. The transplantation itself is planned for May 10. Please pray for the boy.

18.04.2006 We resume the fundraising for the benefit of Sergei Shcherbatyi. The boy has had unrelated marrow transplantation, but, unfortunately, engraftment of donor cells has not taken place. Besides, the German donor felt unwell after the donation and refused to give his hemopoetic stem cells once more. There is also another fully compatible donor for Sergei in the German register, but this means that payment for activation of the new donor is required again. The repeated activation procedure costs 10,000 euro.

* * *

We thank our friends:
OOO Ampik for purchasing Diflucan, Maxipime, and Ondansteron Lance worth a total of 88,356 roubles ($3213) for the oncohematological departments.
The managers of an anonymous company, which provided financial help to Sasha Inshev from the Department of Oncohematology-16 and, in particular, purchased three vials of Cancidas for him.
The Boomerang charity foundation, which paid for radiation treatment of some patients and purchase of expensive drugs worth 287,000 roubles ($10,437) in January and February of 2006 and 223,944 roubles ($8143) in March 2006.

17.04.2006 Dr. N. Myakova, acting head of the Department of Oncohematology-27, tells about the treatment of patient Kolya Semenov:
"The child is suffering from Hodgkin's disease. The clinical course of the disease is unusual, both owing to complications of the earlier therapy and owing to resistance of the tumor to standard treatment schemes. Two weeks ago, Kolya received the so-called second-line course of chemotherapy, which consisted of medications not previously used in his treatment: Gemzar and Vinorelbine. Today we can say that the treatment was efficient: the mass lesion has decreased. Considering the result and the entire earlier anamnesis, it would be highly desirable to repeat the same course of chemotherapy. For this purpose, Kolya needs two more 100-mg vials of Gemzar. Please help in buying this drug for Kolya."

16.04.2006 Eric, our old friend from France, recently visited patients of the Kidney Transplantation Center. Eric comes to Moscow each year, always prepares for these voyages and brings something interesting and unusual for the kids. He is sure that boredom is that best friend of all illnesses and so the main thing in the treatment is to fight boredom. Preparing for this visit, Eric learned to make various souvenirs of colored feathers. He brought a lot of materials required for making such things and, for several hours, taught the children to make flowers, figures, and decorations of feathers. The children were pleased to work under Eric's guidance and learned a lot; so, now they will be able to do such things by themselves.

15.04.2006 An orphan girl named Lena S. has been admitted to our hospital. This charming, friendly, and very kind girl is under treatment at the Center of Microvascular Surgery. She is seven years old.

The managers of the Kaluga orphanage have sent us a letter of gratitude for the help that Sasha A. had received at the RCCH. The staff of the orphanage say that the child's condition has improved after the surgery; he is gaining weight. Presently another little child from the same orphanage, Nastya S., is receiving treatment at the RCCH. This girl of 3.5 years is to have a surgery correcting a congenital disorder of the esophagus. She can ingest only fluid or mashed food. The girl is very weak and cannot walk and eat by herself.

12.04.2006 The whole cost of antiviral therapy for Dasha Mizgunova and plastic material for Denis Plyusnin's surgery has been raised. Dear friends, thank you for your response and help!
The rest of the sum left after purchasing Cytotect for Dasha will be used to buy the same medication for Hava Ibragimova. So we stop the fundraising for Hava and again thank you for helping this girl.

11.04.2006 Purchased from April 1 to 7, 2006:
Granocyte + solvent (N 10) worth 255,062 roubles ($9110) for the Department of Oncology.
Holoxan-Baxter (75 vials) worth 86,250 roubles ($3080) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Cancidas (4 vials) worth 59,568.56 roubles ($2130) for Sasha Emelkin from the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Collapan in granules (4 packs) worth 7000 roubles ($250) for Dima Avdyukhin from the Department of Traumatology.
Fixing corset produced at the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics worth 4305 roubles ($154) for Alexei Elagin from the Department of Immunulogy.

Paid for medical services:
Freezing of biomaterial at the Blokhin Oncological Research Center (February 2006) worth 8300 roubles ($297) for patients of the Departments of Oncohematology-27 and -16.
Determination of blood cells at the Center for Molecular Genetics:
for the Gagiev family: 2200 roubles ($80);
for the Gavrilov family: 2200 roubles ($80);
for the Gavrilov family: 1100 roubles ($40);
for the Yanaliev family: 1100 roubles ($40);
for the Khadiev family: 1100 roubles ($40);
for the Lopatkin family: 1100 roubles ($40).
The total sum paid by the Foundation from April 1 to 7, 2006, is 429,289 roubles (approx. $15,335).

10.04.2006 Four girls from an orphanage near Moscow, in the Peredelkino settlement, were admitted to the RCCH: Kristina, Katya, Vera, and Nastya. Two of them are already 17 years old. Soon they will have to leave the orphanage and start their adult life, for which they are totally unprepared. They need support and friendship.

2.04.2006 Purchased from March 28 to 31, 2006:
Alkeran 50 mg (5 vials), Fludara 50 mg (4 vials) worth 227,535.43 roubles ($8126) for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Zovirax 250 mg (40 vials) worth 70,473.6 roubles ($2517) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Maxipime (N 100) worth 46,142 roubles ($1648) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Aminosteril KE (N 20), Glucosteril (N 30), Kytril (2 N), Ondansteron Lance (N 50), Cytosar (N 20) worth 28,458.1 roubles ($1016) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Vincristine (10 vials) worth 14,535 roubles ($519) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Vincarelbine (10 vials) worth 23,000 roubles ($821) for Kolya Semenov from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Puri-netol (N 30) worth 28,500 roubles ($1018) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Actovegin Forte 200 mg (N 3) worth 4575 roubles ($163) for Erna Balabaeva from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Granocyte + solvent (2 vials) worth 45,600 roubles ($1629) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Mycomax (N 100) worth 30,730 roubles ($1098) for Semenov, Balkoev, and Tripoltsev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Aminosteril KE (N 20), Kytril (N 2), Ondansteron Lance (N 50) worth 20,744.1 roubles ($741) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Maxipime (N 87) worth 40,143.54 roubles ($1434) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Aminosteril KE (N 10), Lipofundin (N 10) worth 6793.1 roubles ($243) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Holoxan (25 vials) worth 35,377.75 roubles ($1264) for the Department of Oncology.
Medel Pro inhalers (N 4) worth 15,120 roubles ($540) for the Department of Medical Genetics.

The total cost of the purchased drugs is
637,727.62 roubles ($22,776).

1.04.2006 Two orphan kids came to the RCCH for treatment: Slava M-v and Vera L. As to Zhenishbek, he has been discharged from hospital and will probably reappear there in the beginning of this summer.

Our volunteers have visited Sasha K. at his orphanage in the town of Syzran. It may seem strange but the boy misses... the hospital. He says that he has never been so happy as there. Imagine the terrible destiny of this child if the hospital life and surgical treatment are the best things he has ever seen...
Sasha's friend Ilya, a volunteer from the Help Group, is telling:
"Sasha is a very sensitive and kind boy. But he is sensitive to both good and evil, and he has got too little experience to choose the good and to reject the evil. But he is attentive and smart, and he listens to advice and explanations. He was very unlucky in life, and he needs help. He will be a fine person if somebody teaches him the right attitude to life and the right behavior.
Sasha want to become a driver when he grows up. I told him that I had also wanted to become a driver as a child. When I said that I had wanted to drive cars for government members and other "big fish," Sasha asked me, "Where would you carry the fish: to the sea or from the sea?" He doesn't yet know what government is.
Sasha is very sensitive and shy with other people. He has suffered much from human evil (his own mother splashed acid on his face!), but he understands kindness.
When Sasha was ready for discharge from hospital, representatives of his orphanage could not take him there for some time. I spoke to him, and he said, "It's wonderful that they are not coming after me. It is better at the hospital." I only hope that some time Sasha will see a better life and be happy at last."
Before our departure, Sasha allowed us to take his photograph and to place it on this Web site. This is a real victory for him. Now Sasha believes that people can love him as he is.

26.03.06 At last we can tell the good news: a country house has been bought for our patients who receive out-patient treatment at hospital! Now they have a suitable place to live during the treatment. It is extremely important, because there is very little room in the official residential premises of the hospital and it is increasingle difficult to rent apartments in Moscow for our patients from other regions. The house costs 9,110,747.63 (about $325,000). We hope that the children will be able to live there from the beginning of this summer.
The house is located 30 km from Moscow, in a picturesque place with lots of fresh air. The journey from there to the hospital takes no more than 30 min.
We thank everybody who has helped:
Aiutateci a salvare i bambini, the Italian association that often helps our hospital; the MIEL real estate agency and its managers, the FORA bank, and also Alexander M. and Natalia V.
We hope that several months of comfortable life in the fresh air will not only allow the children to complete the treatment successfully but also give them some joy and rest after all the pain and suffering. Continued...

25.03.06 We have received good news from Petrozavodsk: Lera, our tiny Thumbelina, has been adopted!

* * *

Purchased from March 17 to March 23, 2006:
Uromitexan 400 mg 10 packs worth 8378.3 roubles ($300) for the Department of Oncology.
Uromitexan 400 mg 15 packs worth 12,567.45 roubles ($450) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Uromitexan 400 mg 5 packs worth 4189.15 roubles ($150) for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Prednisolone 5 mg 8 packs worth 229.68 roubles ($8.5) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Discofix three-way stopcock (500), perfusion pump stand. extender 150 cm worth 18,611 roubles ($665) for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Roaccutane 7 packs worth 18,200 roubles ($650) for Lyuba Dronova and Polina Korentsova from the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Gemsar 1 g 2 vials worth 19,618.96 roubles ($700) for Kolya Semenov from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Amikacin sulfate 0.5 g 30 vials, Glucosteril 50% 500 ml 40 vials worth 5196.2 roubles ($185) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Granocyte 33.6 ME N 5 + solvent worth 51,012.4 roubles ($1820) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Aminosteril 500 ml N 7, Vitalipid H 10 ml 10 vials worth 2882.17 roubles ($103) for Nikita Pyzhov from the Department of Immunology.
Mycomax 50 vials worth 16,550 roubles ($590) for Vanya Prokofyev from the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Carnitine chloride sol. inf. 100 vials worth 1560 roubles ($56) for the Department of Oncology.
The total cost of the medications and consumables is 158,995.31 roubles ($5678).

22.03.2006 Denis bought Vifend in tablets worth 33,000 roubles ($1180) for the Department of Oncohematology-16. We thank him very much!

21.03.2006 Alya Fadeeva from Beslan arrived at hospital again. After the tragedy at her school, she was taken to Moscow for treatment together with other hostages. She was admitted to the Department of Abdominal Surgery, RCCH, in a critical condition. She had multiple shrapnel wounds of the lumbar area, arms and legs... Continued...

Little David Gubaidullin arrived at the hospital for a routine check. The boy lives in Bashkiria (Volga region), town of Salavat. Two years ago, on April 1, 2004, the boy had unrelated marrow transplantation. A very serious graft vs. host disease (GVHD) subsequently developed. But the doctors managed to do the impossible: the child has recovered, and it is a real miracle. Now his condition is satisfactory. He lives at home and comes to hospital only for control examinations. Let us wish him good luck!

19.03.2006 Purchased from March 10 to March 17, 2006:
Carnitine chloride solution (N 3) worth 468 roubles ($17) for Maria Ukhanova (Department of Oncology).
Linex 6 packs, Bactisubtil 3 packs, Duspatalin Retard 200 mg (N 6) worth a total of 3276 roubles ($117) for Abashev (Abdominal Department).
Ondansteron-Lance N 200 worth 8768 roubles ($313) for the Department of Oncology.
Vepesid 100 mg N 30 worth 16,916 roubles ($604) for the Department of Oncology.
Uromitexan 4 packs worth 2346 roubles ($84) for the Department of Oncology.
Allopurinol-Egis 100 mg 20 packs, Biseptol tab. 480 mg 30 packs worth 2405 roubles ($86) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Uromitexan 5 packs worth 2933 roubles ($105) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Uromitexan 400 mg 2 packs, Navoban N 5 worth a total of 4680 roubles ($167) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Diflucan N 20 worth 10,314 roubles ($368) for Dima Ventserov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Maxipime 500 mg N 60 worth 15,329 roubles ($547) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Mycomax 50 vials worth 16,650 roubles ($595) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Maxipime 500 mg N 110 worth 28,103 roubles ($1004) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Aminosteril N 60, Glucosteril N 200 worth a total of 42,595 roubles ($1520) for Vanya Kal'noi (Department of Marrow Transplantation).
Holoxan 500 mg N 80 worth 45,307 roubles ($1618) for the Department of Oncology.
Diflucan 2 x 100, Leucovorin-Teva 10 mg N 25 worth a total of 64,402.5 roubles ($2300) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Heptral 400 x 15, Kytril 10 packs, Neoton N 2, Prednisolone 7 packs worth a total of 73,579 roubles ($2628) for Moiseev (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Set of instruments for the Center of Microvascular Surgery, a total of 18,200 roubles.

16.03.2006 About the situation with medications for the Department of Oncology and hematological departments:
Presently the medications for the therapeutic protocols are available at the hospital. Part of the necessary sum for the medications and consumables has been paid (360,000 roubles, or $12,850), and part has been received on credit (227,500 roubles, or $8125).
The patients receive the planned treatment. The situation is under control, and the lacking medications are to be purchased soon.
We thank the managers of Euroservice Co., who immediately provided some drugs to the hospital in spite of delayed payment.

Received and paid for the Department of Oncology:
Holoxan 0.5 g 80 vials, Uromitexan 4 packs, Ondansterone N 100.

Received and paid for the Department of Oncohematology-27:
Maxipime 0.5 g 110 vials, Neoton 8 vials, Diflucan 20 vials, Prednisolone 7 packs, Heptral 15 packs, Kytril 10 packs, Mycomax N 50, Allopurinol tab. 20 packs, Biseptol tab. 30 packs.

Received and paid for the Department of Oncohematology-16:
Leucovorin 25 packs, Uromitexan 7 packs, Diflucan 100 mg 100 vials, Mycomax 200 mg 50 vials, Maxipime 1 g N 110, Navoban N 5, Vifend 200 mg N 50.

Received and paid for the Department of Marrow Transplantation:
Zovirax 5 packs, Uromitexan 5 packs, Myleran 20 packs;
received on credit: Fludara 20 vials, Alkeran 5 vials.

12.03.2006 After two years at hospital, Andrei Osipov has at last been allowed to go home. The boy and his mother are glad but somewhat worried: they will have to get used to normal life again. Let us hope that the worst is over. Andrei has received a wonderful present: a real computer. An honestly earned present, by the way. The fact is, the boy became so tired at the end of his treatment that he had no appetite at all. He began to lose weight so fast that the doctors were afraid to discharge him from hospital. And so the boy was told, "If you gain enough weight, you will be allowed to take your computer home." This promise stimulated the boy better than all arguments and vitamins, the required 4 kilograms were gained, and Andrei was allowed to go home. Good luck!

14.03.2006 News from Germany: the doctors say that Ruslan Fidarov is recovering even faster than might be expected after such a serious surgery. The last drainage tubes were removed yesterday. He can eat mashed food himself. The doctors do not yet allow hiim to walk, but he can already sit for a long time. In general, he is optimistic and active. He says that he is feeling completely all right.

13.03.2006 The money to buy consumables for Ira Markina's surgery has been raised. We thank all who have responded!

11.03.2006 Little Kirill Vinter died at the intensive care ward yesterday. He had marrow transplantation several days ago. But it was too late. The child's organs were destroyed because of constant infections, which he had to endure since birth. The kid died of cardiopulmonary insufficiency when pulmonary edema developed.
God save this infant's soul. Let us hope that his parents will have enough strength and courage to bear this incomparable grief.

10.03.2006 Sergei Kornilov came to the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital for treatment many times. During his short life, he has had about a dozen surgeries.
This boy was born in the city of Yaroslavl in 1998. He had a grave cardiac disorder and pathology of the extremities. His parents were very young at the time, both students of vocational school. They understood that they would be unable to cure such a boy. Sergei was left in an orphanage.
In 2001, two women came to the Yaroslavl orphanage. Valentina and Tatiana, mother and daughter. Countinued...

8.03.2006 Lola Yakubova has again arrived at the RCCH. We got acquainted with her ten years ago. We have many children's destinies, but Lola's situation is unique. We need everybody's help. Now the most urgent problem is to help Lola with receiving all the necessary documents that will officially make her a Russian citizen and allow her to start adult life. Continued...

Purchased from February 22 to 28: Albumin Baxter 20% (50 vials), Uromitexan 400 mg (20 ampoules) worth a total of 51,608 roubles ($1845) for the Department of Oncohematology-27;
Endobulin (N 14) worth 120,582 roubles ($4305) for Alexander Chichich from the Department of Psychoneurology-1;
Reagent kit worth 79,995 roubles ($2850) for detection of viruses for the laboratory of the Research Institute of Child Hematology;
Keppra 500 mg N 30 (10 packs) worth 15,950 roubles ($570) for Roma Eirich (Department of Psychoneurology-1);
Three Medel Pro inhalers worth 11,340 roubles ($405) for Stepanova, Dulenko, and Pavlikov (Department of Medical Genetics);
Diapers (40 packs) worth a total of 10,640 roubles ($380);
Venofer amp. 100 mh (1 pack) worth 3500 roubles ($125) for Pavel Luzyanin (Abdominal Department);
Discofix three-way (N 30) worth 1174.5 roubles ($42) for the Department of Oncology.

Paid for:
Medical services provided by the Blokhin Oncological Scientific Center from December 2005 to January 2006, worth 23,400 roubles ($835). Total expenses from February 22 to 28: 318,189 roubles ($11,365).

7.03.06 Euroservice Co. supplied 20 vials of Vifend for hematological departments of our hospital free of charge.

Alexander donated $1500 to buy medications for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.
Sergei Ts. donated 1000 euro to buy medications for the Department of Marrow Transplantation.

Some medications for the Department of Marrow Transplantation were received on credit:
Alkeran (5 vials), Fludara (20 vials) for a total of 227,535.43 roubles ($8125);
Uromitexan (5 packs) for 2933.35 roubles ($105); Zovirax (5 packs) for 8395.80 roubles ($300).
 

6.03.2006 URGENT! Owing to problems with budgetary supply of key medications to the RCCH, patients of the Department of Marrow Transplantation are presently in a very difficult situation. The most important medications and consumables are presently lacking at the hospital. Dr. Skorobogatova, who heads this department, and Prof. A. Maschan, Deputy Head of the Research Institute of Child Hematology, ask you for urgent help in purchasing Alkeran, Fludara, Uromitexan, Zovirax, Myleran, and consumables for a total of about 300,000 roubles ($10,700). Patients of this department are in especially grave condition, and this help is now vitally important for them!

* * *

News from Germany: The doctors are pleased with Ruslan Fidarov's recovery after the surgery. On Friday, he was transferred from the intensive care unit to his ward. On Sunday, the doctors removed the catheters, and it is planned that Ruslan will soon be able to eat by himself.

* * *

Another "traveller" little Pavlik Slavkov, has returned from Germany after a course of radiation therapy at the Muenster city hospital. He is feeling all right. The main course of therapy has been completed, and the doctors say that it is possible now to let Pavlik go home. Now he will arrive for supporive therapy courses.

1.03.2006 Ruslan Fidarov had his surgery two days ago. The German doctors were delighted with the result: they managed to remove a huge tumor virtually without affecting the adjacent organs. They believe that the pancreas will also function normally.
Ruslan's mother is happy and simply afraid to believe in this success.
The boy will spent several more days at the intensive care unit. We hope that there will be no complications. Please pray for Ruslan!

* * *

Purchased from February 18 to 20, 2006:
Gliatilin 3 packs worth 2145 roubles ($75) for Radmila Abasheva (Abdominal Department).
Albumin-Baxter 4 packs worth 3190 roubles ($113) for Kolya Semenov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Neupogen 2 packs worth 12,647 roubles ($450) for Olya Samokovskaya (Department of Oncology).
Cardioxane 2 packs and Hartman's solution 2 packs worth 12,854.54 roubles ($460) for Dima Volkov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Cardioxane 2 packs and Hartman's solution 2 packs worth 12,854.54 roubles ($460) for Khetag Temirov (Department of Oncohematology-27).

28.02.2006 Doctors of the Department of Oncohematology-27 are pleased with the progress in the treatment in Rakhman Dadaev. After a month of antifungal therapy, the child does not need Cancidas any more. His condition is stable, the fungal infection of the gastrointestinal tract is under control, and now chemotherapy according to the required protocol may be continued.

Alas, we stop the fundraising for little Vika Sotneva. The girl has not responded to the course of anti-relapse chemotherapy, and no remission was attained. The doctors say:
"Vika Sotneva, a girl of 4, was admitted to the Department of Oncohematology-27 with very early isolated relapse of acute lymphocytic leukemia. Received specific therapy according to the protocol. Upon reaching a remission, marrow transplantation from an unrelated donor was planned. Unfortunately, the therapy had no effect. This implies that the tumor is resistant to treatment and transplantation is impossible. The child will receive palliative therapy."
Physician-in-charge Yu. Dyakonova; Head of Department Dr. N. Tyukalova

* * *

Unfortunately, the situation with providing the necessary medications to oncohematology departments is still far from normal. Dr. Natalia Tyukalova, who heads the Department of Oncohematology-27, has to ask for your help again. The department needs Valtrex, Cardioxane, Hartman's solution, Miacalcic, Heptral, Leucovorin, Albumin, and Uromitexan.

27.02.06 We have sad news again. Masha Karelina died at the Kidney Transplantation Department yesterday. She had donor kidney transplantation in December 2005, but her organism did not cope...

25.02.06 Igor Obolenski came to the hospital for a routine check on February 2006. Igor was one of the first patients of the RCCH who had an unrelated marrow transplantation at our hospital. Igor's transplantation took place in April 2004.
He was discharged from hospital almost 18 months later. His newborn brother Sasha was waiting for him at their home in Sevastopol... Continued...

23.02.06 Alexander Chichich has received a complete course of immunoglobulin therapy. Unfortunately, his condition has not improved. The boy has been discharged from hospital.

* * *

Irina and Alexander transferred the money to buy Keppra for Roma Eirich. The medication has already been bought.

22.02.06 Little Mantas died this night in his sleep. His heart just stopped beating.
You were so grown-up and strong for your age. You managed to do so much in the four years of your life. You meant a lot for everybody who knew you. Thank you, and forgive us!

21.02.06 Last night, Ruslan Fidarov left for Germany to have his surgery there. Please pray for the boy.
Although the boy has already left for Germany, the fundraising for his treatment is not yet over.

* * *

If you transferred any money to our account via the online credit card system after February 13.02.2006, please inform us about your donations by e-mail: deti@blago.ru

18.02.06 Two new orphan kids have been admitted to the hospital. Zhenishbek from the far-away region of Tuva (South Siberia) is 2 years 9 months old; he has chronic laryngitis and cicatricial stenosis of the larynx. Katya from Smolensk is almost the same age; she has a cleft upper lip and cleft hard and soft palate. Both kids are very smart and sociable; both are to undergo serious surgeries.
Valya and Milana have been discharged. Roma has been admitted to hospital again.

17.02.06 Some good news about Ruslan Fidarov.
The boy's treatment in Germany will cost less than expected: 20,000 euro. Presently 13,000 euro has already been transferred to the account of the German hospital. And its managers agreed to take Ruslan right now. They agreed to receive the rest of the required sum a little bit later.
We thank the staff of the German Embassy in Moscow, who made a visa for Ruslan and his mother in one day. The tickets to Germany have been bought for Monday, February 20.

* * *

Purchased from February 9 to February 17, 2006:
Ursofalk 250 mg N 50 2 packs worth 1533 roubles ($54) for Agunda Gagieva (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Valtrex worth 27,318 roubles ($975) for Gagieva, Osipov, Ventserov, and other patients (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Vepesid 100 mg/5 ml (N 50) and Holoxan 2 g N 1 (25 vials) worth a total of 70,204 roubles ($2505) for the Department of Oncology.
Albumin Baxter 20% 50 ml N 1 (30 packs) and Contrical 10000 U 2 ml N 10 (10 packs) worth 30,365 roubles ($1080) for the Department of Oncohematology-16.
Nimotope 30 mg N 30 (2 packs) worth 1590 roubles ($56) for Rakhman Dadaev from the Department of Oncohematolog-27.
Timentin 3000 mg/200 mg N 4 (4 packs) worth 6828 roubles ($240) for Shushbanov from the Abdominal Department.
Biseptol 480 amp. 5 ml N 10 (10 packs) worth 3900 roubles ($140) for the Department of Oncohematology-27.
Certofix Mono (N 20), perfusion pumps stand. (N 300), perfusion syringes 5 ml with needle (N 300) worth a total of 25,651 roubles ($915) for the Department of Oncology.
Oligonucleotides (N 390), probes for PCR-RW (N 3) worth 15,495 roubles ($550) for the Laboratory of Molecular Biology.

3.02.2006 And again some words about the results achieved in 2005. Head of the Department of Oncohematology-27 Dr. Natalia R. Tyukalova is speaking:
"All doctors of our department, including myself, are deeply grateful to everybody who helped us during the 2005. Your physical and moral support enabled us to provide due and timely help to children in serious, life-threatening situations.
For example, Dima Volkov had a cerebral stroke during the specific therapy. He was in a critical condition for a long time. And only your help made it possible to purchase the required medications in time. The boy's life was saved, specific therapy of his main disease was continued, and now you are still helping in his recovery and rehabilitation. You have also helped Dima Zemlyanski: only your help enabled Dima to complete anti-relapse therapy and then to have the required radiation therapy in Germany.
And there are many examples of this kind. Thank you for being with us! We rely on your help and often need it very much."

3.02.2006 For the Department of Oncohematology-16, Albumin, Zovirax, and Sulperasone for a total of 86,942 roubles (over $3000) were bought. The doctors thank Vyacheslav, whose help made it possible to continue the treatment, because these medications were needed urgently. However, the problem with Maxipime still remains open.

1.02.2006 Unfortunately, the situation with the supply of medications to the RCCH is not yet improving. Doctors from the Research Institute of Child Hematology and RCCH ask for your help in buying several vitally necessary medications for the Departments of Oncohematology-16 (Sulperasone, Albumin, Zovirax, and Maxipime for a total of $7100) and Oncohematology-27 (Albumin, Heptral, Maxipime, and Ursofalk, for a total of about $3300). The situation is critical indeed: the patients cannot receive the next course of chemotherapy in time.

* * *

Some news about the orphan kids. Sasha K. had a plastic surgery of the nasal bridge right after the New Year holidays. The bandages were removed yesterday. The doctors are satisfied with the result. A year layer, the boy will have the second surgery: restoration of the cartilageous tissue of the nose tip and wings. He is feeling fine, and soon he is to return to his orphanage.
Valya Ch. received all the treatment scheduled for this stay at hospital even before the New Year celebrations. However, the girl is still in Moscow, because representatives of her boarding school are still unable to take her home, to the far-away Siberian town of Dudinka.
Igor V. had plaster removed from his arm, and now he can move it normally. A speech therapist has been giving lessons to Igor for several months, and now the boy speaks much better. He also has classes in math. It is difficult for him, but he is trying hard. He has firmly decided to become a doctor.

31.01.2006 About the results achieved in 2005. Let us hear Prof. Andrei V. Lopatin, Head of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery of the RCCH:
"The last year was the best for our department over the last half-decade. New surgical instruments were purchased owing to the financial help from the charity foundation affiliated with the Help Group of the RCCH. These instruments include the Obwegeser set (a set of special surgical devices for correction of facial skeletal deformations) and the Servotronic saw. The saw costs about $7850; the Obwegeser set, above $9000.
These instrument enabled us to perform corrective facial surgeries in accordance with the most recent world standards; accordingly, the total number of reconstructive operations on the skull also increased from 43 in 2004 to 63 in 2005.
The sponsors' support made it possible to operate 14 children with the most grave disorders using kits of bidegradable fixing materials, thus avoiding repeated operations (removal of fixations). One kit costs $2000.
The department was reconstructed to some extent: now we have 30 beds instead of 25, and more children can receive help. Now we hope to repair the wards of our department during this year, because this problem is pressing indeed.
For further improvement of state-of-the-art medical help provided to children with congenital and acquired craniomaxillofacial defects, we would like to have a Harvest SmartPreP system (Osteomed, US, $3500). This system enables one to produce platelet concentrates for bone plastics of various regions of the facial and cerebral cranium.
We also need a Piezosurgery apparatus (Mectron, $7800) for piezosurgical manipulations on skull bones. This apparatus makes it possible to perform bone plastic surgeries without much injury and almost without bleeding."

28.01.2006 A treadmill has been installed at the hall of the Department of Oncology. Teenager patients and even their parents use it with pleasure. We thank Sergei for this present!

27.01.2006 Only a week ago, we said with relief that the Department of Oncohematology-27 had survived the difficult end of the financial year without serious problems thanks to your help. But, unfortunately, problems with supply of some medications have not disappeared, and Dr. Natalia R. Tyukalova, who heads this department, has to ask for your help again:
"Dear friends, our department needs Holoxan, which is lacking at the hospital now. Six patients of our department need this medication for therapy, which may not be interrupted!
One vial (1 mg) of Holoxan costs about 900 roubles ($32), and the department needs a total of 25 vials."

26.01.2006 Readers of the Sunday issue of the Rovereto (Italy) town newspaper raised the entire sum required for Pavlik Slavkow's treatment in Germany in three days! The boy's mother is grateful beyond all words. She hoped that compassionate people would help her, but nobody expected this help to come so soon. Many thanks from the kid's mother and from all of us!

25.01.2006 Within our program for helping orphan children, a new kid was admitted to the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery. Milana M. is aged three; she is from an orphanage in Kostroma. She has a large hemangioma on her face, and an operation is required to remove it. In addition to Milana, volunteers are presently taking care of four children: Dasha S., Sasha K., Igor V., and Valya Ch.

* * *

Orthopedic aids AN 8-41 worth 46,848 roubles ($1670) were bought for Dima Chushaev. Dima's mother thanks everybody who helped the boy. Now Dima is learning to walk.
Since the total sum donated for Dima was greater than the cost of the orthesis, the remaining 13,000 roubles ($465) will be added to the sum raised for Alexei Shorokhov's leg prosthesis.

24.01.2006 We thank the editors of the Vremechko TV show, which promptly responded to our plea for help concerning fundraising for unrelated marrow transplantation to Sasha Emelkin. In spite of the terrible frost, hundreds of Muscovites who had seen this TV program came and brought various sums of money in cash. The total sum thus raised is even larger than Sasha needs, and so the remaining money will be used to pay for further in-hospital treatment of Mantas Lavrenovas from the Department of Oncology.

* * *

On Sunday, January 22, our Italian friends from the Aiutateci a Salvare i Bambini Association published the story of little Pavlik Slavkov in the Rovereto (Trento rovince) town newspaper. During the very first day after the publication, the inhabitants of Rovereto transferred 2000 euro for Pavlik to the account of this association, and many other people phoned and said that they were also willing to donate money.

* * *

We asked several leading doctors of the RCCH about the results achieved in 2005.
Deputy Director of the Institute of Child Hematology, Prof. Alexei A. Maschan, M.D.:
- Dear friends, this year, just as any other year, was not easy for the Departments of General Hematology and Oncohematology. But still, a great deal was achieved in improving the quality of the children's treatment [...].
All my young and not-so-young colleages, including myself, are whole-heartedly grateful to you for your help. At first this help was necessary just for our and our patients' survival, and now we can think of real progress and of a decisive technological breakthrough.
Continued...

Head of Department of Clinical Immunology, RCCH, Prof. Irina V. Kondratenko:
- The Department of Clinical Immunology has been existing at our hospital for 13 years. It is the only specialized department in our country where children with primary immunodeficiencies and with grave autoimmune or allergic conditions can receive help. All these groups of patients need intense therapy, including not only expensive medications but also means for their administration: intravenous catheters, inhalers, etc. Although the financing of the hospital has become better during recent years and patients are provided with most of the medications by the hospital, but still it regularly happens that certain drugs, instruments, or consumables are lacking.
In all such cases, we always get help from the charity foundation working with the Help Group of the hospital. Sponsors have been supporting our department for many years. And this help enables us to work in the normal regime. [...] Thank you very much for your help and support!
Continued...

Head of Department of Oncohematology and Chemotherapy (Oncohematology-16) Dr. Dmitri V. Litvinov:
- I want to thank everybody who was together with us during the last year, everybody whose financial and moral support was always with us. [...] Since the general situation with budgetary financing has become better and the most important medications are mostly available now, we can use the help of off-budget sources to purchase exclusive and expensive medications for those rare children who do not properly respond to treatment according to standard protocols. Earlier, it was just impossible [...].
Thank you for being with us! We hope that you will help us in the coming year, because our work would be very difficult without your support.
Continued...

Head of Center of Microvascular Surgery Dr. Alexander V. Bystrov:
- I believe that our cooperation with the charity foundation and the Help Group takes place in the optimum form. The foundation provides personal help to any patient who needs it for one or another special treatment purpose [...].
There is also a very promising direction that we started to develop during the last year with support of the charity foundation: bioengineering cell technologies in combination with Collost. This universal medication creates a matrix for cultivation of stem cells introduced into the patient's tissues for skin healing, reconstruction of nerve stems, etc. Collost is a new Russian preparation, expensive for us but fairly cheap in comparison with foreign analogs. Owing to the sponsors' help, we have always get it in necessary amounts [...]
I want to thank the charity foundation and the Help Group again for their constant and trustworthy support of our clinical and scientific work.
Continued...

23.01.2006 Zhenya Privalov arrived at hospital again. After a medical examination and assessment of the results of previous surgery, the doctors will try to enable Zhenya to stand and then walk, just as in the case of Sasha Karmanov. And again, they are going to use the orthopedic system designed by Alexei Nalogin. Zhenya has already seen Sasha. He is enraptured and full of hopes.

21.01.2006 Ten days after Sasha Karmanov tried his new ortheses, he tells:
"At first I felt dizzy when standing up after so many years in a wheelchair. But now it is all right. At first I learned to stand, and now I can even walk for a fairly long time. But I must train my arms, which bear much of the load. Now I can hope again. I believe that I'll walk all by myself some time and even play football."
A comment by Dr. Alexander Bystrov, Head of the Center of Microvascular Surgery:
"Among our patients, there are children with spinal injuries. We try to cure their neurotrophic ulcers and at the same time search for the ways that would enable them to stand up and walk. This is very important both for adaptation/rehabilitation and for purely medical purposes, because verticalization and constant movements improve the blood circulation and promote the healing of neurotrophic ulcers. Of course, the children must learn to stand and walk very slowly and gradually. But the example of Sasha Karmanov, who is now able to walk after 3.5 years in a wheelchair, is very stimulating.
It is also important to mention the role of the orthopedic system designed by Alexei Nalogin. It includes mechanisms for fixation of the lower extremities and a corset. This system is very simple, reliable, and much cheaper than foreign analogs. It allows the patients not only to stand and walk but also to sit in the right position."

20.01.2006 Denis Karkhalava died today at the intensive care ward. The doctors struggled for his life for two months and planned liver transplantation, but it was already too late. The boy died of acute polyorgan insufficiency: his liver, lungs, and pancreas just ceased to function...

18.01.2006 Purchased from December 28, 2005, to January 16, 2006: Nephroureteroscope with frontal and side view optics worth 337,600 roubles ($11,850) for the Department of Urology.
Cosmegen (70 packs), Neupogen (10 packs), Tavegyl (50 packs) worth a total of 338,970 roubles ($11,895) for the Department of Oncology.
Hycamtin (Topotecan) worth 72,187.98 roubles ($2530) for Mantas Lavrenovas (Department of Oncology).
A set of orthopedic devices worth 85,450 roubles ($3000) for Sasha Karmanov (Department of Microsurgery).
Bleocin worth 12,242 roubles ($430) for Katya Sharonova (Department of Oncology).
Albumin Baxter worth 8112.5 roubles ($280) for Raya Avetisova (Department of Immunology).
Neoton worth 2886.28 roubles ($102) for Zhenya Varakina (Department of Medical Genetics).

Repeated determination of blood cells for the following families:
the Yanaliev family: 3300 roubles ($ 116),
the Kalnoi family: 2200 roubles ($75),
the Golubkov family: 1100 roubles ($38),
the Khadiev family: 2200 roubles ($75),
the Rogachev family: 1100 roubles ($38),
the Lopatkin family: 1100 roubles ($38),
the Magomedov family: 1100 roubles ($38).

16.01.2006 Sasha A., an orphan boy from Kaluga, was discharged from hospital after recovering from the surgery. The good care and nutrition have improved his condition greatly. The surgery has restored the functioning of his gastrointestinal tract, and now the child has a chance for at least partial rehabilitation. Now he will be able to eat normally. His digestion and the state of his skin have also become better.
Unfortunately, our neurosurgeons say that now it is too late to make an operation on his brain and so it is impossible to improve the child's neurological status.
It is always painful to learn such things. If the kid had normal parents or at least good doctors at the orphanage, they would have asked for medical help in tiime, and full rehabilitation would have been possible...
One of the main aims of our program "You Are Not Alone" is to assist in timely revelation of babies with congenital cerebral pathologies and maxillofacial disorders who need urgent surgical treatment. After early and adequate help, these kids have good chance to become healthy and to lead a normal life. Alas, local doctors sometimes haven't the necessary information about the treatment methods available at present. Our aim is to provide this information to directors of all regional child orphanages.
And a few words for those who want to adopt a child. You participate in a great cause. Please don't ignore weak and ill children! Believe us: a loving mother can do a miracle! We know several families who adopted children with serious genetic disorders or with deep mental retardation (in the opinion of doctors from their orphanages). And, then, several years later, even doctors from our hospital sometimes could not recognize their former patients who now lived in good families. Some of these kids became smart and lively pupils of advanced schools, and some were even college students.
It is unlikely that somebody will risk helping Sasha A. It is too late indeed. But there are still many kids under one year of age who have curable birth traumas or other congenital cerebral damages. Many of them can actually recover and lead a normal life, but so far they are just lying in identical beds and looking at the white ceilings of their wards with unseeing eyes, day after day.

14.01.2006  Right after the New Year and Christmas celebrations, Sasha Karmanov visited the Central Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (we must thank Maya, who regularly helps with Sasha's transportation) to try his ortheses on. They were perfect, just his size. Two days later, Sasha received the walkers and started learning to walk all by himself. As you can see, he succeeded.
We congratulate Sasha and hope that this event must significantly improve his life. And we also thank Alexei Nalogin (the designer and administrator of this Web site), who actually invented this original system of ortheses and thus gave hope and future to Sasha and many other children with spinal injuries. We hope to write about this in more detail some time.

12.01.2006 Dr. Natalia R. Tyukalova, who heads the Department of Oncohematology-27, tells about the treatment of Rakhman Dadaev:
"Patient Rakhman Dadaev, three years old. His diagnosis is acute lymphocytic leukemia complicated by bacterial and fungal sepsis. Upon admission to our department on December 6, 2005, his condition was extremely grave owing to the fungal infection, which affected his intestines and the mucous membrane of the mouth. The boy had serious intestinal bleedings and necrosis of mouth tissues. Urgent treatment with Cancidas, a very expensive and efficient drug, was performed. After it, the child's condition improved greatly. The bleeding has stopped, and we can now go on with treatment of leukemia. Presently the boy's condition is stable with positive dynamics. He is still receiving Cancidas along with the specific therapy. So, further antifungal treatment is still necessary."

7.01.2006 See an article about the exhibition of drawings and paintings by patients of the RCCH in today's issue of New York Times.

Happy New Year!

Dear friends!
New Year provides good reason to recall all the good things that happened during the last year. We have got something to recall thanks to your compassion and generosity! Many good deeds became possible owing to your support and participation.
There were dozens of extremely urgent situations when we had to ask for your assistance, and not a single child was left without timely help. You were always near, and lots of children received the required treatment in time.
Dozens and hundreds of people will remember you with warmth and immense gratitude, although most of them have never seen you.
Our pleasant duty in these festive days is to bring some of this warmth to you.
Thank you for being together with us!
Good luck, and God bless you!

5.01.2006 Dr. Yulia Averyanova, who is doctor-in-charge of Denis Karchalava, informed us of the progress in the boy's treatment and told us that there are sponsors who are ready to pay full cost of this treatment:
"My patient's prospects in his current condition are not good. This concerns not only his health but even his survival. The boy needs liver transplantation, and Prof. Gotier is ready to take him. But, since the boy is not a Russian citizen, his stay at the Russian Scientific Surgery Center and the transplantation itself will cost a lot of money, about the sum required for treatment in the West. Luckily, the boy receives help from the Pomogi.org organization, which has found sponsors ready to pay for the child's treatment.
Yours respectfully, Yulia Averyanova."
Since the circumstances have thus changed, we stop the fundraising for Denis' treatment. We also thank everybody who responded and helped in the boy in a critical situation, when it was urgently necessary to start treatment at the Moscow hospital. We are grateful to our colleagues from the Pomogi.org charity foundation, who helped the boy greatly (including payment for 17 days of Denis' in-hospital treatment and part of the necessary medications) and found sponsors for his further treatment, including liver transplantation.

1.01.2006 Dima Zemlyanskii recently visited the hospital for a routine check. The resutls of his tests are all right, and he is in good spirits. He has resumed his studies at the institute and will soon pass his winter exams. He celebrated New Year at home, in Saratov. Yesterday we received a letter from him [published with minor abridgments]:

"Now, on the eve of New Year, I am writing this letter to share my deepest feelings with you. Last year was difficult, and many situations presented a real danger for me and my relatives. But we survived, together with you and thanks to your help!
I am infinitely grateful to all people who supported us in the most difficult situations. And now a miracle has happened: we, my mother and I, can meet this New Year together with you!
It could be much worse, and we must thank the Help Group of the RCCH and personally its leader Lina Saltykova for their energy and love, for their help to ill children.
This New Year is indeed the beginning of a new life for us. All the familiar joys now seem new and fresh.
I wish all of you good health, happiness, and hope in this New Year. Because, as Stefan Zweig wrote, no doctors knows a better remedy than hope for a tired body and an exhausted soul".

31.12.2005 There will be no detailed photographic report today. But today we just thank everybody whose efforts allowed the New Year festivities to enter each ward of our hospital. We thank all the Santa Clauses, who left the hospital after 8 p.m. We thank the trainers of cats, dogs, and monkey Cheeta, and their charming and patient animals. There were enough presents for everybody. Wonderful presents! And we also personally thank our friend Maxim, who brought fireworks for the kids. Patients of all hospital departments could see the fireworks spectacle. Even the doctors looked at it through the windows. And one of the fireworks was launched right under the windows of the Marrow Transplantation Department, to the patients' joy. Such a thing was done for the first time!
Dear friends, we thank all of you!
We hope to see you in this new year. Let us wish all our children a lot of happiness in it!

29.12.2005 During the last few days, many children were discharged from hospital and went home. Among others, four orphan kids left the hospital: Dilya will receive treatment at a local hospital but have an operation in summer; Slava G. had a successful one-stage surgery and will not need to appear at the RCCH for treatment any more; Eva left on December 27 in good condition; and Roma was discharged on December 28 and will return for further treatment in several months.

28.12.2005 From December 13 to 27, 2005, a total of 1,570,398.65 roubles ($54,715) was paid
Purchased:
For the Department of Oncohematology-16:
Medications: Albumin Baxter 20% (N 20), Analgin 50% 2 ml (N 50), Dopamin Solvay 200 mg/10 ml (N 10), Lasix 20 mg/2 ml (N 50), Neupogen 0.3 mg 1 ml (N 23), Vepesid 100 ml/5 ml (N 20), Methotrexate Laxema 50 mg/5 ml (N 10), Puri-Nethol 50 mg (N 20), Tavegyl 0.1% 2 ml (N 100).
Consumables: infusion pump extender 250 cm (N 500), perfusion syringe 50 ml (N 400), perfusion syringe 20 ml (N 1000) for a total of 885,768.61 roubles ($30,863).
For the Department of Oncology: Analgin 50% 2 ml (N 30), Ascorbic acid 5% (N 30), Vepesid 100 mg/5 ml (N 50), Ondansetron Lance 4 mg 2 ml (N 200), Ryboxinum 2% 5 ml (N 50), Holoxan 1 g (N 80) for a total of 131,359.6 roubles ($4577).
Pulsoxometry sensor for the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation worth 82,341.88 roubles ($2870).
Cancidas: for the Departent of Clinical Immunology: 10 vials, 50 mg each;
for Lyuba Dronova (Department of Oncohematology-16): 5 more vials, 50 mg each;
for Rakhman Dadaev (Department of Oncohematology-27): 3 vials, 50 mg each;
Total: 18 vials for a total of 349,200 roubles ($12,170).
Consumables for the Department of Psychoneurology and Epilepsy (Department of Psychoneurology-2) for a total of 79,558.56 roubles ($2770).
Introcan 19 mm (N 50) worth 1350 roubles ($47) for the Department of Oncology.
Certofix Mono 220 (N 6), Certofix Mono 320 (N 10) worth a total of 6873.6 roubles ($240) for the Department of Clinical Immunology.
Valtrex 500 mg (N 10) worth 9263 roubles ($323) for Agunda Gagieva (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Gliatilin amp. 1 g N 3 (5 packs) worth 2325 roubles ($81) for Dima Volkov (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Depakine in vials 150 ml (N 1) worth 249 roubles ($9) for Sasha A. (Thoracic Department).

Paid for:
Medical services provided to Zoya Petrova (Department of Microvascular Surgery) for 5010 roubles ($175);
Medical services provided to Denis Karkhalava (Department of Abdominal Surgery) for 17,100 roubles ($596).

Dancers from the well-known Beriozka dancing ensemble arranged a beautiful concert for the patients and doctors of the hospital. After its end, the members of the ensemble handed us many toys as New Year presents for the little patients of the hospital.
Dr. Vaganov, the Head Physician of the hospital, thanked the dancers. In turn, they promised to arrive at hospital regularly with new concerts.

23.12.2005 The staff of the Vremechko TV show made a wonderful present for patients of the Kidney Transplantation Department: all patients who were allowed to go out were invited to the Fantasy Park recreation center. This is the largest family recreation center in Russia, and its first floor is all intended for kids: playgrounds, trampoline, bowling, 3D cinema, shooting gallery, game machines, cafe for children. For our hospital children, who don't have fun too often, it was an outstanding day.
We thank the staff of the Vremechko TV show and personally Maria Drovnenkova for their continual attention to the children's problems and for the real help that the kids receive from them.
Thank you, dear friends! We wish you good luch and success in your kind deeds!

23.12.2005 Cancidas was bought
for the Department of Clinical Immunology: 10 vials x 50 mg;
for Lyuba Dronova (Department of Oncohematology-16): 5 more vials x 50 mg;
for Rakhman Dadaev (Department of Oncohematology-27): 3 vials x 50 mg.
Thank you for your help!

22.12.2005 The annual exhibition of the children's drawings was opened at the Russkoe Zarubezhye Foundation Library.
The gravely ill patients of the RCCH, who have to spend months and sometimes even years between four walls, sometimes certainly feel depressed. But their drawings and paintings are distinguished not only by deepness and originality but also by wonderful optimism.
The chance to participate in an exhibition is very stimulating for the young painters. The children are grateful for your attention to their creative work, to their personalities. This is why the exhibition was entitled My Reflection.
This year we are showing not only the drawings created during the last year but also earlier works.

Let the photographs speak for themselves.

Two orphan kids were admitted to the hospital yesterday. For Roma P., it is his first visit to the hospital, and charming little Eva has arrived for a control examination after the operation. And Maxim M. left the hospital today.

17.12.2005 On Saturday, December 17, the Cinderella Ball took place at the State Kremlin Palace. The festivities were organized, of course, by Walt Disney Co.
It was a real ball. In a special dancing room. With a real orchestra and musicians in wigs. Adolescent girls look so beautiful in long ball-dresses! It is hard to believe that the same girls usually wear jeans, colored synthetic jackets, and knapsacks. Young boys in tuxedoes also looked fine. Of course, some of the invited guests had problems with dancing, but then the music entrapped them, and, intuitively feeling the necessary movements, they all joined the magic stream of dance.
Cinderella, the hostess of the ball, was played by Tina Kandelaki, a popular TV star. Favorite characters from Disney's films greeted the children, and the films themselves were shown at the lobby.
In the United States, Walt Disney Co. pays much attention to social programs for children. Now Russian children are also included into their program. Representatives of Walt Disney Co. learned about our hospital and the Help Group from this Web site.
When these guests arrived at the hospital and saw everything themselves, they understood that a lot of work is needed indeed. They rightly think that a child whose life is interesting and happy recovers faster. Apathy and melancholy hinder the recovery. We suggested that the company may start from repairing the playroom of the Oncology Department. The experts were shocked to see the "object": a large room with huge windows, lopsided window-frames, which are stuffed with several layers of paper to cope with the draughts... But they were even more shocked to see tiny wards without ventilation, never repaired since the hospital was built, each ward hosting two or even three gravely ill children together with their parents.
Within a short time, Lina Saltykova, who heads the Help Group, received an invitation to the Cinderela ball. And, of course, Lina wanted to take a little Cinderella with her. Masha Karelina from the Kidney Transplantation Department was chosen. The girl started preparing for the ball; her mother bought her a dress and golden shoes... but suddenly a donor kidney arrived for Masha. After more than a year of waiting.
In this situation, Masha tried to object, of course. She told the doctors that there would be no operation, that she was going to the ball. But the merciless anesthesiologist made an injection... The operation was successful, and Masha is already back at her department. She has already calmed down a little. Well, she is sure that this ball is not the last one in her life!
And so the girl to go to the ball was Ilona Klimuk from the Kaliningrad region. This beautiful girl with golden locks was interested in ballroom dancing since early childhood. She was preparing to become a dancer and a model. But her kidney ceased to function when she was nine. The wonderful childhood was over.
Since then, the girl has stayed at hospital, waiting for a donor kidney. She is twelve now. Children with chronic renal insufficiency don't grow tall. Ilona is still looking as if she were nine. The same wonderful little fairy. But living on dialysis.
Everybody admitted that Ilona was a real princess of this ball.
And then Lina Saltykova told the guests about little Masha, who did not get to the wonderful ball, and about all our children, who need more joy and happiness. And, at this moment, a huge check (the size of a billboard!) was carried out and installed on the stage. The sum written on this check was 10,000 euro. This iks just the sum that was donated by Walt Disney Co. for repair and equipment of the playroom at the RCCH Department of Oncology. The same company will also be responsible for the design of the new playroom: all the rearrangements will be supervised by American specialists. Unfortunately, the check was too large to take it as a souvenir, but the equivalent sum of money has already been transferred to the account of the Regional Public Charity Foundation affiliated with the Help Group of the RCCH.
On behalf of all the little patients of the Oncology Department, we thank Walt Disney Co. for this unexpected and wonderful New Year gift!

17.12.2005 Dr. Fuat Kimalovich Abdullaev, who heads the Department of Urology at the RCCH, asked for your help in purchasing medical equipment:
"Specialists of our department perform many endoscopic operations on the upper and lower urinary tracts. A novel, recently developed technique now makes it possible to remove kidney stones according to an advanced method. Our department possesses an endoscopic nephroscope, which allows us to reveal the presence of stones and other disorders in the pelvis and ureter. However, many children need removal of these stones by low-invasive endoscopic methods as well. For this purpose, we must buy a special small (child-size) nephroureteroscope. Also, we need a special lamp as the source of light for visualization of all objects in the kidney and bladder. All this equipment will enable the children to receive due treatment without large cuts, lengthy operations, to extract the stones without much injury and with little invasion, sometimes to remove capillary tumors and other neoplasms of the pelvis and ureter.
The estimated cost of the nephroureteroscope is 10,000 euro."

Dear friends, your donations during the last few days and Natalya's contribution of 60,000 roubles (about $2100) received yesterday are now more than sufficient to buy the remaining 2 vials of Cancidas for Lyuba Dronova. We finish the fundraising for Lyuba's benefit and thank everybody who was not indifferent to her destiny. After all accounts are settled, the remaining money will be used to buy Cancidas for little Rakhman Dadaev.

The Russian office of Procter & Gamble (town of Novomoskovsk) again provided help to our hospital. In departments where sterility is required, the detergents and cleansers produced by this company are not only helpful for everyday life but also really necessary for successful treatment.
We thank E. Marakhovsky, who provided delivery of 200 kg of detergent to the hospital.

16.12.2005 Dima Zemlyanskii and his mother are at last back home from Muenster.
Dima left for Germany in June 2005, and the treatment was to end at the end of August. But, after a number of unexpected situations, they were able to go home only now.
The radiation treatment on a unique apparatus (the reason why Dima was directed to Muenster) was successful. Then, the doctors decided that Dima must also remain for rehabilitation. But Dima felt progressively worse, and a PET scan showed some strange lesion in his lungs. The doctors suspected a relapse, although Prof. Schellong, the leading specialist in Hodgkin's disease, said that a relapse in this situation was almost impossible.
And suddenly another trouble struck: it turned out that Dima's mother Lena had a tumor. And, although it was benign, the doctors decided to remove it immediately, because its size and localization appeared dangerous. The money remaining on Dima's account, by agreement with us, was used to pay for Lena's surgery.
But the trouble did not end. The tumor was removed, but the surgeons managed to injure the nearby organs. Lena became a seriously disabled woman in one day. At first the doctors did not want to recognize their error. They performed part of the reconstructive treatment (now Lena will have another part of the long treatment at her home, in Saratov) but demanded that she must pay an enormous sum for it (although not immediately). Now the medical arbitration court in Germany is analyzing her complaint. If it admits that the surgeons who operated Lena made a real mistake (and this outcome seems quite likely), Lena will not have to pay.
You can imagine Dima's state of mind. At that moment, he completely forgot about himself and only repeated in his letters, "I'll die all the same, but I must save my mother." Since Dima speaks German fluently and has gained good knowledge of medicine during his disease, he fought for his mother's rights. And achieved much.
At the same time, Dima's doctors fought for his life. The University Clinic of Muenster agreed to provide further treatment to him free of charge.
Just as Prof. Schellong had predicted, there was no relapse. The frightening symptoms were due to toxic lesion of the lungs, which is a rare side effect of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Now Dima's condition is satisfactory. While taking care of his mother, he did not think of his own health too much and somehow coped with the serious complication. The German doctors allowed Dima to go home only when they became sure that the worst was over.
After his return to Saratov, Dima instantly ran to his institute...and caught the flu. Now he has fever. Of course, it is not too good in his condition, because the organism is still weak.

Another "traveller", Vadik Markunin, yesterday left for the Freiburg clinic in Germany. We want to thank the staff of the German Embassy in Moscow, who efficiently prepare the documents of our children leaving for Germany. The Markunins' visa was ready in one day! Now Vadim will be able to begin his treatment before the long Christmas holidays, and it is very important, because the more time is lost, the worse for the boy.

15.12.2005 Two more orphan kids appeared at the hospital: Zhanna S., aged 3 (Department of Endocrinology), and Sasha A., aged 3.5 years (Department of Thoracic Surgery).

14.12.2005 Svetlana and Leonid Krasavins wrote a message in the guestbook of our Web site. Some time ago, their children Dasha and Stas were saved from mucopolysaccharidosis, a lethal congenital disease, owing to timely marrow transplantation from unrelated donors. We are glad to reproduce the good news from Yekaterinburg on this page:
"Dasha and Stas, our little kids, were patients of the Marrow Transplantation Department of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. Their lives were saved by unrelated marrow transplantations.
Our family lived at the RCCH from July 2004 to March 2005. If you know what unrelated marrow transplantation means, you can understand how hard this time was for us. God helped our children go through this ordeal, and here, in this world, our guardian angels were our doctors and members of the Help Group and Foundation. When it seemed to us that the world was going to collapse, they supported us spiritually. When we needed money, they supported us financially.
Now Dasha's and Stas' lives are safe. The last chimerism tests showed 100% donor origin of blood cells. We are happy.
But we'll never forget who gave us this happiness. Our warmest words of gratitude to the doctors, the Foundation and the whole Help Group.
Svetlana and Leonid Krasavins"

For Milana Gaisanova, 73,400 roubles ($2560) was paid. Earlier, Temodal was bought for this girl for borrowed money, but now the whole sum has been raised.
The girl has had a complete course of chemotherapy using this medication, and also radiation therapy. The effect was very good. Presently Milana is receiving standard chemotherapy as out-patient treatment; a total of 6 courses will be needed.
Milana's mother asked us to thank everybody who responded and helped the girl.

Andrei Osipov is satisfactorily recovering after the transplantation. The bone marrow is functioning. The boy goes out to the passage of his department and visits his neighbors in other wards. He is still seriously interested in chess.
To confirm the efficiency of the treatment, the boy must have a control diagnostic examination by the method of positron emission tomography (PET). Nadezhda Petrovna, who often helps our children, donated the required sum: 14,500 roubles, or $505.
Since the most expensive stage of Andrei's treatment is over, we finish the fundraising for his benefit. Let us wish fast and full recovery to Andrei and also wish patience and optimism to his mother.

13.12.2005 More than two weeks are left before the New Year. But people with New Year presents for the children constantly come to our hospital church. Thank you for giving this joy to the children!

Total sum paid from December 1 to December 12, 2005: 364,414.87 roubles ($12,700).
Purchased:
Hearing aid SUMO XP (Otofon center) worth 33,000 roubles ($1150) for Angelina Ladyko (Department of Otolaryngology).
ATG Fresenius C 100 mg (10 vials) for patients of the Kidney Transplantation Department worth 144,200.8 roubles ($5025). We are whole-heartedly grateful to Victoria, whose donation (130,000 roubles, or $4530) made it possible to buy this medication.
Miacalcic 200 ME/dose 2 ml 14 doses (10 packs) worth 22,219.4 roubles ($775) for Yulia Kurakina and Kristina Kvon (Department of Oncology).
Vepesid 100 mg/5 ml N 1 100 mg (N 50) worth 27,405 roubles ($955) for the Department of Oncology. This medication was bought for the money donated by Sergei for patients of this department. Thank you, Sergei!
Vinblastine 5 mg N 10 vials + solvent (4 packs), Holoxan 2 g N 1 vial (N 10), Holoxan 500 mg 1 vial (N 40) worth a total of 47,997.74 roubles ($1670) for the Department of Oncology.
Consumables for the Department of Immunology:
Venofix A 0.8x20 mm G21 (N 200), Venofix A 0.8x20 mm G21 (N 200), Venofix A 0.65x20 mm G23 (N 200), Discofix three-way stopcock (N 200), Introcan W-G L 19 mm (N 200), Spinocan (spinal needle) G 19-40 (N 100) worth a total of 15,588 roubles ($540).
Zeffix 100 mg N 28 tablets (2 packs) worth 5115.9 roubles ($178) for Egor Kindeev (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Ursofalk 250 mg N 50 (1 pack) worth 816.51 roubles ($28.5) for Egor Kindeev (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Gliatilin caps. 400 mg N 14 (2 packs) and Trental 2% 5 ml N 5 amp. (20 packs) worth 3297.52 roubles ($115) for Sasha Perevozchikov and Dima Kartsev (Department of Immunology).
Plaquenil tablets 200 mg N 60 (1 pack) worth 700 roubles ($25) for Vadim Markunin (Department of General Hematology).
Plaquenil tablets 200 mg N 60 (1 pack) worth 700 roubles ($25) for David Gubaidulin (Department of General Hematology).
Biseptol tablets 480 mg N 20 (20 packs) worth 800 roubles ($28) for Misha Yakush (Department of Oncohematology-27).
Contractubex 50 g (N 2), Lidase 64 units N 10 (1 pack), Elocom 0.1% cream (N 1), Naphtaderm linim. 10% 35 g (N 1) worth 1392 roubles ($48.5) for Yaroslav Kozlov (Department of Dermatology).
Motilium tablets 10 mg N 30, Linex caps. N 16 (2 packs), Elcar IV sol. 20% vial 50 ml (2 packs), Ursofalk 250 mg N 50 caps. (2 packs) worth a total of 2936 roubles ($102) for Denis Karkhalava (Department of Abdominal Surgery).
Carniten 1 g 5 ml N 5 (1 pack), Magnerot tab. 500 mg N 50 (1 pack), Contrical 10000 units with solvent N 10 (4 packs), Wobenzym tab. N 200 (1 pack), Cocarbixylase amp. 0.05 g 2 ml with solvent N 5 (4 packs), ascorbic acid amp. 5% 1 ml N 10 (2 packs), Vitamin E 30 caps. (1 pack) worth a total of 4410 roubles ($150) for Denis Karkhalava (Department of Abdominal Surgery).

Money is paid for:
In-hospital treatment (14 days) worth 21,000 roubles ($730) for Zoya Petrova (Department of Plastic Microsurgery).
Positron emission tomography worth 14,500 roubles ($505) for Olya Karpacheva (Department of Oncohematology-16). This money was donated by Dmitri, our regular sponsor.
Determination of activity of lysosomal enzymes worth 5428 roubles ($190) for the Krasavin family (condition after marrow transplantation).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Yanaliev family: 2200 roubles ($75).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Aksenov family: 2200 roubles ($75).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Gudimov family: 1100 roubles ($38).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Kalnoi family: 2200 roubles ($75).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Magomedov family: 2200 roubles ($75).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Shcherbakov family: 1100 roubles ($38).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Gagiev family: 1100 roubles ($38).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Lopatkin family: 1100 roubles ($38).
Repeated determination of blood cells for the Rogachev family: 1100 roubles ($38).

Transportation services (the orphan children's visit to the Durov trained animals center): 2065 roubles ($72).

9.12.2005 Dear sponsors who transfer money to our accounts in European currency: our bank AKB FORA-bank informs its clients of changes in the corresponding accounts in euros, British pounds, and Swiss francs. See section Banking details for the new account numbers.

For Ksyusha Zhukova, Leucovorin Teva 10 mg/ml (N 100) for a total of 52,215 roubles ($1820) was bought.
We thank Artem, who donated 60,000 roubles ($2100) for all the children. Part of this sum was used to buy the medication for Ksyusha, in addition to the money transferred for her by visitors of our Web site. We thank everybody who has responded! Let us wish Ksyusha successful completion of her therapy and a happy return to her home.

8.12.2005 For any of us, meeting a famous person is always an important and memorable event. This is even more true for a gravely ill child, who sees only hospital walls and the same faces for a long, long time...
A famous person arriving at a hospital ward is a miracle for a child, a dream come true. This visit can help this child to summon courage and strength, can make his or her even more resolute to conquer the disease and to return to the wonderful world outside...
We announce our new program: VIPs are going to the hospital. See the Not Only illnesses part of our Web site.

30.11.2005 Yesterday Lyuba Dronova was transferred to a sterile ward to have marrow autotransplantation. On the eve of that day, Lyuba and her mother came to our hospital church and selected a lot of books: Lyuba is a great fan of reading. Even when she was in a very poor condition, she did not part with her favorite characters, and now she hopes that the books will help her during her long isolation in a ward.
The books were sterilized at high temperature in a special furnace. Now all things that Lyuba will receive "from outside" will undergo such treatment. However, no sterilization can save her from a fungal infection, which can threaten her in the state of aplasia: the girl is already infected with these dangerous cells.
The only thing that can help her is Cancidas. We remind you that Lyuba needs 7 vials of this medication. But the money raised by now is sufficient to buy only two vials.

29.11.2005 We resume the fundraising for the treatment of Sasha Karmanov and Zoya Petrova. They have returned to the hospital, and now they need your help to go through the next stage of their treatment. Please respond if you are concerned about Sasha's or Zoya's destiny.

28.11.2005 Purchased from November 21 to November 25:
Venofer 100 mg 5 ml (N 5 amp, 4 packs) worth 12,000 roubles ($420) for Sergei Kulichkov (Abdominal Department)
Cyclosporin mono-reagent (N 2), Cyclosporin mono-calibrator (N 1), and Cyclosporin mono-control (N 1) worth 57,420 roubles ($2000) for the Department of Kidney Transplantation
Purinethol 50 mg N 25 (2 packs) worth 1758 roubles ($60) for Alexei Yamshchikov (Department of Oncohematology-16)
Cardioxane 500 mg (N 4) and Hartman's solution 500 ml (N 4) worth 26,152.36 roubles ($910) for Anastasia Meleshko (Department of Oncohematology-27)
Valtrex 500 mg (N 6) worth 5557 roubles ($195) for Andrei Osipov (Department of Oncohematology-27)
Purinethol 50 mg N 20 (20 packs) and Sterican needles 0.8 x 40 mm N 100 (2 packs) worth 17,800 roubles ($620) for the Department of Oncology
Vero-Vancomycin 0.5 N 1 (70 vials) worth 12,112 roubles ($420) for the Department of Oncology
Valtrex 500 mg N 10 (10 packs) worth 9263 roubles ($320) for Agunda Gagieva (Department of Oncohematology-27)
Mykomax 100 mg N 7 (15 packs) worth 6655 roubles ($230) for Mikhail Yakush (Department of Oncohematology-27)
Contrical 10000 units 2 ml N 10 (2 amp.), Neoton 1 g N 1 vial with solvent (N 10) worth 8526 roubles ($300) for Denis Karkhalava (Abdominal Department)
Ursofalk susp. 250 ml N 1 (1 packs), Contrical amp. 10000 units with solvent N 10 (1 pack) worth 1665 roubles ($58) for the Abdominal Department
Miacalcic 200 units/dose 2 ml N 14 worth 22,219 roubles ($775) for Yulia Kurakina and Kristina Kvon (Department of Oncology)
Paid for:
Treatment of Denis Karkhalava (Abdominal Department), 16 days, including surgery and intensive care, for a total of 51,500 roubles ($1795).

27.11.2005 A group of painters from Moscow held a charity exhibition for the benefit of Nastya Zhigalik.

25.11.2005 Today is the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the Russian Children's Clinical Hospital. Presently it is the largest medical center for children in Russia. Over 16,000 children receive treatment here each year. The hospital includes 32 specialized departments (a total of 1025 beds) in all fields of pediatry except for cardiology, cardiosurgery, and neonatology. Over these 20 years, 192,5 thousand children have received treatment at the RCCH.
The celebration of the anniversary included a conference, a festive meeting, and a concert. Almost all employees were present at the conference hall. Representatives of power bodies also visited the jubilee. Among those who congratulated the doctors, there were ministers, musicians, and even one cosmonaut. But the most touching congratulation was received from children, who sang funny and lovely songs.
A special medal was made for this jubilee. Among those awarded, there were Prof. Yu. Isakov (Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences) and Mikhail Gorbachev, whose help was of immeasurable importance in the beginning of the development of contemporary child hematology and oncohematology in Russia. President of the Regional Public Charity Foundation for Seriously ill and Abandoned Children Lina Saltykova also received an award in recognition of the participation of our Help Group in providing care and attention to young patients. This award concerns all of you, our dear friends and sponsors. The life of the hospital would be just unthinkable without you.
We wish best luck and success to all doctors and patients of the hospital!

23.11.2005 The Moscow representative office of the Ebewe pharmaceutical company (Austria) provided to us two medications needed by patients of the Department of Oncohematology-16: Methotrexate (100 vials) and Vepesid (100 vials). These medications were lacking at the hospital. In general, the situation with medications at the end of the year is often difficult.

Today Sasha Karmanov had an operation on his hip joint. This surgery was successful. When he recovers, it will be possible for him to try standing up.
Sasha's friend Andrei Timoshenko, who is just as keen on computers as Sasha, was also admitted to our hospital today again. If the doctors manage to perform all the planned operations, they will try to make Andrei stand on his own legs, too, for the first time in his 16 years. Let's wish good luck to these talented and optimistic boys.

21.11.2005 Purchased from November 14 to November 18, 2005:
Klabax in tablets 500 mg (N 10) worth 2635 roubles ($92) for Vasili Prik from the Department of Clinical Immunology
Rovamycin 3 ml N 10 (5 packs) and Trental 2% 5 ml (20 amp) worth 3407 roubles ($120) for patients Shramko and Anokhin (Department of Clinical Immunology)
Heptral in tablets 400 mg (3 packs) and Betadine 10% solution (N 1) worth 3695 roubles ($130) for Alexei Yamshchikov (Department of Oncohematology-16)
Collost membrane 20 x 30 (N 1), Collost membrane 60 x 50 (N 1), Collost gel 7% (N 2), and Collost gel 15% (N 1) worth a total of 17,688 roubles ($615) for Sasha Karmanov from the Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Microsurgery
Collost membrane 20 x 30 (N 1), Collost membrane 60 x 50 (N 1), Collost gel 7% (N 12), Collost gel 15% (N 1), and Collost membrane 100 x 60 (N 1) worth a total of 34,500 roubles ($1200) for Natasha Ustinova from the Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Microsurgery
Medications worth a total of 62,317.50 roubles ($2170) for the Department of Clinical Immunology
Contrical 10000 units 2 ml (N 10) worth 6552 roubles ($230) for Ruslan Fidarov (Department of Oncology)
Cardioxane 500 mg (N 2), Hartman's solution 500 ml (N 2) worth 13,076.80 roubles ($455) for Ira Beloglazova (Department of Oncology).
Vepesid 100 mg/5 ml (N 15) and Holoxan 1 g (N 40) worth 53,061.65 roubles ($1850) for the Department of Oncology.

Paid for:
Treatment of Zoya Petrova, Department of Reconstructive and Plastic Microsurgery, in October 2005 (30 days): a total of 45,000 roubles ($1565).
 

18.11.2005 Chief Physician of the Center of Microvascular Surgery Prof. Alexander V. Bystrov tells about his patients:
"Grisha Rodionov will soon be admitted to hospital. He has already had neuroplastic surgery of the shoulder plexus according to contemporary technologies using autotransplantation of cultivated neuroblast cells. Presently, after this combined surgery, he needs rehabilitation and an additional examination, electromyography, which will enable us to evaluate the results of the surgery with respect to restoration of the arm innervation. At the end of November, he will have serious reconstructive microsurgery to restore mobility in the shoulder and elbow joints.
Sasha Karmanov was admitted to hospital again in October. This patient has post-traumatic spinal injury and, consequently, large trophic ulcers. Now he is to have a corrective surgery: removal of hip joint contracture. Then ortheses will be installed to set the correct position of the joint. Afterwards, we will go on with the treatment of trophic ulcers and try to enable him to stand and walk (instead of sitting in a wheelchair) using an original construction.
Slava Miftakhov is also at hospital now, undergoing the next stage of his treatment. The trophic ulcer has almost healed. The problem is that more than one-half of his calcaneum is absent, and now the position of his foot is totally incorrect. At this stage, we should order ortheses so that he could stand on full foot. Now he steps only on his heel, and therefore he has sores and a trophic ulcer on this heel. At the next stage, he will need plastic surgery of his Achilles' tendon to remove the foot bending. But Slava is already 17. We don't know what will happen to him when our "adult" medicine becomes responsible for his destiny. It would be wonderful if we could help Slava and the other boys as much as possible while they are still at the RCCH.
Andrei Timoshenko has not yet arrived at hospital.

17.11.2005 Little Masha Gudimova died after unrelated marrow transplantation nine days ago. It is so impossible, so painful and terrible, that no one of us was able to write about this for several days.
Everything happened all of a sudden. The kid was recovering after the transplantation more or less well. The donor marrow was functioning. There was some fever and signs of graft vs. host disease, but all within normal limits. The girl was receiving all due treatment...
And suddenly her kidney refused to function. Acute renal insufficiency developed so quickly that it was impossible to save the girl.
Masha was a carrier of the Epstein-Barr virus. It is harmless for most healthy people but proved to be fatal for a child without immunity.
Masha lived at our hospital all her life. The Gudimov family spent three years at the RCCH. For three years, they fought for their girl's survival together with the doctors. For three years, the essence of their life was only hope. They were raising their little beauty and supporting all mothers at the department. Masha was a fair angel for all of us.
Now there is one more angel in heaven.

14.11.2005 Bought from November 8 to 12, 2005:
A pH Day-2 set for intragastric round-the-clock acidity monitoring for the Department of Thoracic Surgery, worth 192,525 roubles ($6750).
Movalis 15 mg (N 10), Trental 5 ml (N 20) for patients Shramko and Prik (Department of Clinical Immunology), worth 6949.4 roubles ($245).
Cosmegen 0.5 mg (N 2) for Sasha Serikovak (Department of Oncohematology-27), worth 664.94 roubles ($23).
Venofer (inh.) 56 ml (N 2) for Sergei Kulichkov (Department of Abdominal Surgery), worth 5860 roubles ($205).
Syringe with neurostimulating gel (3 packs) for the Center of Microvascular Surgery, worth 44,565 roubles ($1560).
Anti-bedsore mattress for Martin Kodzakov (Department of Allergology and Dermatology), worth 3790 roubles ($130).

Tests for repeated determination of blood cells at the Center for Molecular Genetics:
for the Rogachev family (Department of General Hematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Aksenov family (Department of General Hematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Gudimov family (Department of Oncohematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Melnikov family (Department of Oncohematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Gagiev family (Department of Oncohematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Pigenko family (Department of General Hematology): 1100 roubles ($38).
for the Lopatkin family (Department of General Hematology): 1100 roubles ($38).

12.11.2005 Doctors of the Department of Oncohematology-27 say that the department needs urgent help in purchasing chemotherapy drugs that are currently lacking at the hospital.

10.11.2005 Olya and Anya provided 11,000 roubles ($385) to buy inhalers for three more patients of the Department of Medical Genetics. Thank you!

9.11.2005 Dear friends!
We are glad to inform you that the entire sum for the treatment of Vadim Markunin at the Freiburg University Clinic (Germany) has been raised thanks to Alexander, the Vremechko TV show, and visitors of our Web site. Now the family has enough money for the entire treatment, journey, board and lodging. They are preparing the documents for going abroad.

8.11.2005 In the "Not only illnesses" part of our Web site, you can see photographs made by our "Dr. Clown" Kostya Sedov."

Bought from November 1 to November 7, 2005:
Cardioxane 500 mg (2 vials), Hartman's solution 500 ml (1 vial) worth 13,038.42 roubles ($455) for Dima Volkov (Department of Oncohematology-27);
Cardioxane 500 mg (2 vials), Hartman's solution 500 ml (1 vials) worth 13,038.42 roubles ($455) for Ira Beloglazova (Department of Oncology);
Cosmegen 0.5 mg (30 vials), Holoxan 1 g (30 vials) for a total of 43,604 roubles ($1530) for the Department of Oncology;
Cardioxane 500 mg (1 vial), Farmorubicin 10 mg (12 packs), Hartman's solution (1 vial) for a total of 12,899 roubles ($450) for Ira Beloglazova (Department of Oncology);
Puri-Netol 50 mg (40 packs) worth 35,164 roubles ($1235) for the Department of Oncohematology;
Two endoexpanders worth 2400 roubles ($85) for Sasha Karakhonchev (Department of Maxillofacial Surgery).