Parents struggled to sleep for several days after learning that their cheerful and brave daughter had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, a type of blood cancer.

Chemotherapy began, but on the very first round, the girl's body reacted with organ failure and septicemia. Despite the doctors' grim predictions, the little girl managed to pull through, likely bolstered by the unwavering support of her parents, who slept on a bench near the intensive care unit to ensure their daughter could feel their presence. Before her illness, Elina's father had been a blood donor, and now his contributions were needed more than ever. The little girl frequently required platelet transfusions, so her father gathered a construction team right in Bishkek, close to the hospital where his daughter was fighting for her life. As time passed, however, an unfortunate test result revealed the growth of blasts (the cancerous blood cells).

‘Early relapse on the background of maintenance chemotherapy, acute need for a bone marrow transplant, which is not done in Kyrgyzstan,‘ was the doctors’ verdict.

During this period, Elina's mum learned about her new pregnancy.

‘Good afternoon, I am Elina Nurlanova's mum. Elina is 1,7 months old. In August 2024 we learnt terrible news. Our daughter was diagnosed with Cancer of the blood and it was a big blow for our family. At the same time with the news of our little girl's illness, I learnt about my pregnancy. 

Until that day we had been receiving chemotherapy, but unfortunately, we were found to have an early relapse. And our attending doctor suggested to do a bone marrow transplant in Turkey, for this, I need to give birth in Turkey and the doctors will take blood from the umbilical cord and do the transplant. But the cost of this operation is unaffordable for our family and we have to ask for help. 

We have never asked anyone for anything, but for the sake of a child, parents are ready to do anything! We ask for help from people who are not indifferent.’ Elina's mum.