You can never get used to a child's death...

20.05.2024 06:16

Dina Makarenko: "Our task is to help families with seriously ill children at any cost!

When a child falls ill with a deadly disease, the entire family needs support. By providing treatment for children, we alleviate parents' feelings of guilt and hopelessness and restore their faith. Unfortunately, some of the children we help do not survive due to reasons such as delayed treatment and complications. Although not all children can be saved, it is crucial to continue the fight. Dina Makarenko, the director of the Sun of Hope Foundation, shares how we cope with such heartbreaking losses.

-The loss of a child is something we can never get used to. Through fundraising, even a small contribution can make us feel connected to their story. We experience sympathy and empathy for the parents, and we share in their joys and worries. Even when the situation seems bleak, we hold onto hope for a miracle until the very end.  

The passing of children always evokes intense emotions. I have great respect for the work of doctors. Even though we may not have personal contact with the children, every loss is deeply shocking for us. Doctors are in constant contact with the children, and despite the challenges, they persist and continue to fight.

The first child to leave was Sherzod Muratzhanov. We had a small fundraiser for an expensive analysis. We only saw the boy and his cheerful mom a couple of times in the hospital. I was amazed at the strength of this fragile woman who continued to smile despite everything. I wanted things to turn out well for them. However, he passed away almost immediately after the test results came back. It hasn't gotten any easier over time, but there are many other stories where we were able to help. Those stories help you to move on. 

Illness and death don't choose who they come to. Not everything is in our hands. Being the director of a public foundation, I have to face pain and loss. At the same time, I also witness so much hope, faith, and light in our work through the stories of healing children. The stories of losses, victories, and healings of our beneficiaries teach me to appreciate life, every day and every minute!

Dina Makarenko, Director of the Sun of Hope Foundation

 

It might be interesting

26 Sep 07:17

The clinic is already requesting payment! We are running out of time to save Zhanna!

According to Zhanna's doctor, the little girl has 4 chemotherapy sessions left, and the preparation for the bone marrow transplant (BMT) will begin preliminarily next week. Everyone is anxious and nervous about everything going well. However, the most important question of payment for the transplant remains open. The clinic is requesting 60% of the amount to be paid, but the parents do not have enough money.

Read more ...
25 Sep 12:14

Zhanna dies with a rare blood type without help. Help!

On this day, 206 years ago, physician James Blundell, one of the founders of haemo transfusion and paediatric intensive care medicine, performed the world's first human-to-human blood transfusion. Blood is a mobile internal medium of the body and fulfils crucial functions for the normal functioning of the human body.

Read more ...
24 Sep 10:28

Little Myrza is waiting for further treatment! We can't delay!

Myrza's family is living in anticipation. The boy has already received part of the treatment, which consists of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and radiation. The main block of chemotherapy is ahead of him, so Myrza will have to return to the hospital very soon. However, the parents are extremely anxious due to the lack of funds to cover their son's further treatment.

Read more ...
13 Sep 15:04

The lung nodules continue to trouble Ayazhan

The results of her latest examination have just come back. Ayazhan's mum and dad are deeply worried about the uncertainty, but they are trying to keep the frightening thoughts at bay.

Read more ...

Help children have a future

Our wards look at the world with their eyes wide open, regardless of illness. They believe that adults will help.

Sign up for monthly donations