Vladislav Brushko

Vlad Brushko from Ukraine has severe genetic disease - cystic fibrosis. Vlad in Chernigov region of Ukraine with his mother Nelly and little sister Polina. His father had to move to Kiev to be a breadwinner for the family. This year Vlad turned six, he started school. Unfortunately, there are no cystic fibrosis specialists in Chernigov region. Vlad has to go to Moscow, Russia, annually to manage his condition, get check-ups and recommendations from Moscow specialists. He needs financial support for medications required to treat cystic fibrosis at home. Help Journal has been supporting Vlad for two years.

Vlad's mother Nelly tells their story:
"We live in Korop, a small town in Chernihiv region in Ukraine. It's a beautiful place to live but unfortunately there are almost no jobs here, and the ones that are available pay so little that it's impossible to support a family. This is why Vlad's Dad left to find work in Kiev, and we rarely see him. I can't work because I have to take care of Vlad and his little sister Polina, who was luckily born healthy. My mother died, and my Mother-in-law has her own health problems and can't watch Vlad who is a very active and rambunctious. She can't help us financially, either, her pension is too small.

Vlad is adapting to school gradually. He studies well, has a good memory, likes to read, but doesn't rely like to write. He enjoys taking his baby sister for a walk, loves her to bits. He kisses her hands and feet, pushes her in a pram, and helps me a lot."

The only medication that Vlad gets through the government funding is ferment Creon. Vlad has to take Creon every day before each meal. He also needs many other medications: fluimucil®, lazolvan®, pulmozyme®, berodual®, ursosan®, motilium®, gaviscon®, vitamins A, D, E, K and polyvitamins. Last fall, cystic fibrosis specialists in Moscow prescribed all those medications to Vlad in order to keep his symptoms under control and prevent pulmonary, liver and digestive tract complications.”

Nelya writes: "We buy ursosan and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, K. Unfortunately, specialized vitamins Aquadeks are not available in Ukraine. Inhaled antibiotic fluimucin helps to loosen the mucus in the lungs but it's very expensive and we often can't buy it. We also can't afford specialized nutrition. Doctors highly recommend it as Vlad hasn't gained any weight this year. He looks so thin we have to use suspenders to keep his pants from falling."

Here is what Vlad can tell about his treatment: "I use my inhaler every day while I am watching cartoons. When I get sick, I have to use it many times a day. Every night I have to take two pills of Urosan, I do it myself. I already know, that I have to take Creon before each meal, I need to take two pills - one big one and one little one."

Moreover, Vlad has developed problems with vision and hearing. He wears glasses but likely will need eye surgery after he turns six. He developed hearing loss after the treatment with strong antibiotics. Help Journal donors raised funds to pay for the consult in specialized ENT hospital in Saint Petersburg where Vlad was fitted with hearing aids.

We are continuously raising funds to help Vlad with the cost of medical treatment and necessary medications. .

Vlad's family would be very grateful if anyone could arrange purchase and delivery of specialized nutrition and vitamins that are not available in Ukraine. Please, contact us on info@helpjournal.org if you are able to facilitate in this matter, we will tell you, how you can help!

News

February 10, 2014. At the end of 2013 Vlad Brushko received $900 from Help Journal to cover expenses for medications for the current year and purchase of a new pair of glasses.
Vlad had his eyes checked recently. Luckily, his eye-sight has not worsened, but his glasses were corrected.
Vlad's mother Nelya sent us a letter:
"We are doing ok at the moment, we had worse times, but I can't say that things are great. Vlad is constantly sick and passing infections to his baby sister (Paulina was born in July 2013). He attended New Year party at school, enjoyed it a lot, sang Christmas carols in the church. He went to his classmate birthday party recently - that had blown him away, lots of positive emotions, can't even describe it with words! He spent couple of days at his Auntie's on school holidays. Lots of adventures and desires, but I have to make him to follow his treatment plan with inhalers and treatments. He does everything I tell him to do - he wants to get better and do what he has planned to do!
We bought 3-months worth of medications and will keep buying as necessary. Unfortunately, Vlad just got sick now so he has to be admitted to the hospital for intravenous therapy."

Vlad still needs donors to purchase and deliver to Ukraine vitamins Aquadecks and high-calorie nutrition. If you would like to help Vlad, contact us.

November 1, 2013. Vlad commenced first grade of school successfully.
His mother Nelly wrote us a letter: “Vlad is adapting to the new school routine, he is waking up in the morning easily, he used to cry that he wanted to sleep before. He needs extra time in the morning to do all the necessary treatments - inhaler, respiratory therapy to clear lung secretions. Thus he has to wake up earlier.
He studies well, has a good memory, likes to read, he doesn’t really like to write. We are managing this dislike as good as we can.
His health is not great. Oxygen saturation drops at times, we cannot figure the reason yet. We have to decide something about his vision problems - due to increased work with school, his vision dropped. We made an appointment in a private clinic to check his eyes (government clinics do not have proper equipment here).
Vlad likes to take Polina for a walk, he loves her to bits. He kisses her hands, feet, pushes her in a stroller and helps me a lot.

Out of all needed medications we were provided with Creon only. Local budget does not have any funds to pay for the rest. We can’t do anything about that, this is the country we live in - it owes us necessary medications by law, but will not provide as there are no money. We are running out of medications that we had purchased last year, now we need to stock for the upcoming year. We are being treated as outpatients. I purchase medications for the year using the prescription from specialists in Moscow.

For the next year Vlad needs:
• Kudesan, 4 packs - $30
• Elkar 100 ml, 4 packs - $60
• Ursofalk - $250
• Hofitol, 3 packs - $63
• Hepabene, 3 packs - $23
• Flamin, 3 packs - $9
• Karsil, 3 packs - $13
• Hologogum, 3 packs - not available in Ukraine
• Polideksa, 2 packs - $14
• Zinnat, 3 packs - $17
• Supracs, 2 packs

Total cost - $715

July 7, 2013. We have good news to report about Vlad Brushko. Vlad traveled to St. Petersburg for tests, and there he was fitted for a hearing aid. Now Vlad can start school in September! As he said himself: "Mom, can you imagine, they put this device in my ear, and I could hear everything doctor said! Can you imagine?"

According to MRI, Vlad has no changes in his brain, so the hearing loss is just a reaction to the antibiotics. He also has chronic sinusitis. Thanks to the volunteers in Moscow, Ukraine and the US, Vlad now has a new nebulizer which is helping him breeze better. Vlad's Mom thanks everyone who helped pay for his hearing aid.

March 27, 2013.

Once again, we need to urgently raise money for Vlad Brushko. As a side effect of one of the antibiotics Vlad was taking for his lung infection, he has almost lost his hearing. He needs a hearing aid, and his family wants to take him to St. Petersburg, Russia to get tested and fitted for a hearing aid. Officially, Vlad should get free tests and treatment in Kiev as a Ukrainian citizen. Unofficially, though, hospital in Kiev is underfunded, and family was asked to pay a significant sum of money for even basic tests, which the hospital can claim as a donation. Also, while the hearing aids are available in Kiev, they are cost more there compared to St. Petersburg as well. Therefore, we agree with Vlad's family that it would be preferable to send the boy to Russia for tests and fitting for a hearing aid. Vlad is starting school this year, and it is critical that he gets a hearing aid as soon as possible. We need approximately $7,000, of them $6,000 for the device itself, $600 for the necessary tests and fitting, and $400 for airfare, as Vlad's health is too fragile now for a travel by train. Please, help Vlad hear again so he can learn!

January 5, 2013 Vlad's Mom contacted us while Vladik was at the Moscow hospital. This hospital admission turned out very difficult for the family, and not only due to sudden and unexpected increase in costs. t turned out, Vlad has serious problems with his hearing, which is likely a side-effect of the antibiotics he took last year. He has significant hearing loss on both sides, and doctors say he will not be able to attend school without a hearing aid. Now Vlad's Mom is looking for a suitable hearing aid in Kiev, and we are not sure yet how much it will cost. In Moscow, hearing aids for children cost around 20,000 Rubles (almost $700). In any case, Brushko family will likely need our help paying for the hearing aid. To make matters worse, Vlad has bronchitis now, and has to take antibiotics. Vlad's Mom is very grateful to all who are helping their family in this difficult time.

November 6, 2012. We urgently need to raise $4000 to pay for a hospital stay in a specialized clinic at the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences for Vlad. Brushko's family arrives in Moscow on November 19th. They will also likely need our help in purchasing medications to take home with them, as many drugs might not be available in Ukraine.

December 12, 2011. We would like to thank all of you for helping us raise enough money to pay for Vlad's treatment in Moscow. We were even able to purchase a new nebulizer for him, as it needs to be replaced every year, and a supply of medications that should last Vlad for a year. Doctors were also able to successfully treat Vlad's persistent sinus infection. Vlad and his Mom Nelya thank all of you!