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.
"My pregnancy proceeded normally, and the ultrasound showed no abnormalities. A healthy baby was expected. But on January 23, 2022, baby Olha was born and it turned out that some vertebrae in the lower part of her spine were not closed. On the same day, she was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit with a diagnosis of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. She immediately had surgery to close the opening in her spine.
Now Olha needs treatment with expensive IV drugs, an urgent MRI and surgery to place a shunt to drain the fluid from her brain.
There is also an older sibling in the family, and only the father can work (under a contract in the Ukrainian army).
Can you help baby Olha?
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.