In Ukraine, parents of children with special needs are encouraged to hand their children over to state care. They are told their children are a burden on society. Children are sent to institutions where they are subjected to abuse and neglect. There is minimal support available to parents who fight to keep their children with them. Maya's Hope wants to help relieve some of the burden on these amazing parents and assist in keeping children with their families, where they belong.
"Sasha was born 2/4/7 points on the Apgar scale. The condition after birth was assessed as serious, and resuscitation measures were taken. She was intubated, given adrenaline, could not breathe on her own, and was connected to a ventilator. The first days were like a nightmare for me and my family, because the doctors did not give any hope that Sasha would stay alive. On the 7th day for further treatment, the daughter was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Regional Children's Hospital in Donetsk. The department was diagnosed with perinatal hypoxic-traumatic lesion of the central nervous system, diffuse cortical-subcortical atrophy of the cerebral hemispheres. As the doctors later explained to us, all Sasha's diagnoses are a consequence of deep hypoxia, which she experienced during birth. In addition, Sasha had a hematoma of the left parietal bone, posthypoxic cardiopathy, and bilateral pneumonia.
My child did not suck or swallow on her own, and there were no straightening reflexes. Sasha started having epileptic seizures. We managed to stop them with anticonvulsants, which we are taking to this day. Thank God, the doctors managed to get Sasha out of a serious condition, and after 10 days Sasha was transferred to the neonatal pathology department, where she stayed for almost two months.
At present, due to the war, we have lost the opportunity to rehabilitate ourselves in our area. We go for treatment to a private rehabilitation center in Kharkiv region, where a course of 10 days costs us about 25 thousand hryvnia. Now my daughter can sit for a short time (1-2 minutes) in the "round back" position, makes a weak emphasis on her legs, but cannot walk, can hold objects in her hands, her body muscles are tense, sees poorly due to visual atrophy, does not speak.
My husband, Sasha's stepfather, graduated from the Kiev Theological Seminary and serves in the monastery. I can not work because Sasha needs constant care. Our family's income is very modest. We need your help!"
Can you help us purchase essentials like diapers for Sasha for the next three months?
Maya’s Hope helps disadvantaged children living in poverty and helps provide hope by instilling value and purpose in each child. We are celebrating 10 years of bringing hope to children around the world.