Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center is saving children's hearts

Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center continues to help children with heart problems. 13 children with heart diseases have already been operated as part of "Healthy Heart" project. All the surgeries are performed by endovascular technique that not only solves a child's heart problem and helps to get rid of the diagnosis, but also ensures quick recovery after the surgery, so that the kid could begin to live a full life.

Five-year-old Ania from Mariupol was determined a scary diagnosis – an open arterial duct. Till the very last moment parents were hoping that the hole will grow together on its own.

"We often had bronchitis and pneumonia, – Iryna Shumeiko, the girl's mother, shares. – Last fall we were made a diagnosis – an open arterial duct. Doctors said that it might grow together on its own, we just had to wait a little. But in April cardiosurgeons said that it wouldn't happen and the duct has to be closed.

The family had a difficult financial situation, because the mom had to quit her job to look after the child. They had only one breadwinner left – the girl's father, that's why there was no money for expensive surgery. Parents started to raise the required amount among their relatives and friends and also look for charitable organizations that could help them.

"We addressed the Rinat Akhmetov Humanitarian Center and explained that we can partially raise some funds on our own. And later we got a call from the Humanitarian Center's employees, who said that we would get help in full. And the money we already had we could spend on the child's rehabilitation, – the girl's mom shares. – The operation lasted for four hours. Through the catheter, the doctors inserted an occluder - a special implant, which permanently closes the heart defect. The only restriction after the surgery was not to walk for one day. The next day we already removed the bandage. On the third day we were discharged. In August our daughter can get back to her dancing.

Now Ania Shumeiko can live a full life and not worry about her heart. Within the "Healthy Heart" project, which is part of the Center's "Targeted Assistance" program, heart surgeries for children are conducted using a mild endovascular technique, which almost does not traumatize a child.

"We cooperate with the leading doctors of Ukraine. Because they are all real professionals. Over the entire period of the Humanitarian Center's existence, more than 3,500 children got help with medical treatment and rehabilitation. "Healthy Heart" project is aimed at providing assistance to children under 18 with heart defect", – Ihor Khadzhynov, the Head of "Targeted Assistance" program, comments.

About 50,000 people were provided with targeted assistance. 2,948 sets of medications were issued due to "Medications for Children" project. As part of "Individual Applications" direction, 1,588 people were provided with urgent treatment and surgeries, 68 injured Donbas children went through rehabilitation course.

Thanks to "Healthy Heart" project, assistance from the Humanitarian Center can be received by children from 0 to 18 years old living in Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhia regions. More details about the project are available on the official website akhmetovfoundation.org, and you can leave your application by calling on the Center's hotline 0-800-509-001.