Emergency Fundraising: Artem May Not Survive Until Summer—Please Help!

 

Artem was ready to go home after enduring the most difficult treatment in Turkey, along with months of intensive care and fear. He dreamed of playing with his little sister again, building Lego dinosaurs, and enjoying his grandmother's okroshka. However, the results of his latest lumbar puncture shattered all hopes. The cancer hadn't disappeared; it had become more aggressive.

 

Only days remain. Artem needs new chemotherapy and the only possible bone marrow transplant. There will be no other opportunity; with his diagnosis, a transplant is only available once.

 

Life before and after

Artem Ensh was born on November 1, 2018, in Kazakhstan. He was the first child and grandchild, deeply desired and loved by his family. As he grew up, Artem was an active and vibrant child who loved music, dancing, cars, Lego, and swimming. He adored his little sister, Sofia, who is now 1.7 years old. At six years old, Artem and Sofia are inseparable; she eagerly awaits his return from daycare each day, greeting him with hugs, kisses, and a sharing of toys.

Artem had a loyal friend—a cocker spaniel named Persik. They grew up together, and Persik could sense Artem's emotions, often lying beside him when he felt sad. However, when Artem was taken to the hospital, Persik waited by the door for his return. Tragically, he died of loneliness. Artem has not yet been informed about this.
 

On June 8, 2024, Artem's mother noticed a strange rash on his neck. A paediatrician diagnosed it as Enterovirus. However, each day, Artem's condition worsened, and he became increasingly weaker. On June 10, he was admitted to an infectious disease hospital with a suspected zoonotic infection. Despite undergoing tests, the cause of his illness remained unclear, and a general blood test was never ordered.

On June 13, when Artem's condition became critical, another infectious disease specialist suspected thrombocytopenia and called for an ambulance. He was taken to the 2nd Children's Hospital in Almaty, where he underwent medical examinations. The haematologist quickly contacted his parents to inform them that he had been diagnosed with acute T-cell leukaemia, the most aggressive form of leukaemia in children.

 

The fight for life began.

Initially, Artem received treatment in the haematology department in Almaty. He was given supportive therapy, including antibiotics, plasma, platelets, and underwent punctures, ultrasounds, and CT scans. His lungs filled with fluid and were drained, but his condition remained serious.

 

On June 17, just four days after the diagnosis, the boy was urgently transferred to the National Centre of Paediatrics. During the night, the doctors recognised that his condition was critical. The parents realised they needed to seek treatment at a clinic abroad, so they left immediately for Turkey, specifically the Medipol Mega Clinic.

 

During this time, Artem experienced a challenging battle for his health:

- He was admitted to intensive care five times.

- There was one instance where he had to be resuscitated due to cardiac arrest.

- He spent several days on respiratory support.

- He underwent heavy chemotherapy along with a complex set of treatments.

 

Despite enduring immense suffering, he persevered and even began to show signs of recovery. The doctors were preparing him for supportive care and started discussing his potential discharge home. However, the last control puncture revealed that blast cells were again growing in his body.

 

Turkish doctors admitted that they lacked the necessary medication and felt apprehensive about proceeding with a transplant due to the complexity of the disease. They believed the risks were too high and their experience was insufficient. As a result, the family urgently began searching for a clinic willing to provide treatment for Artem.

 

Hope has emerged in Israel at the Hadassah clinic. They conducted a remote consultation and found a 100% match for the donor. The team is ready to start chemotherapy and prepare for the transplant in the next few weeks.

 

However, the family cannot manage this on their own.

The cost of treatment is enormous. They have sold everything: Mum's business, appliances, and jewellery. Dad works remotely to stay close by. Mum is at her son's bedside daily, and Sofia waits for Artem to come home.

 

“Artem is only six years old, and every day he spends not in games and laughter, but within the walls of a hospital, surrounded by IV drips and injections. He bravely endures the pain, the chemotherapy, and the endless tests. He doesn't complain. He perseveres. He fights. 

Artem has already faced challenges that many adults could not bear: five stays in intensive care, and he has even been resuscitated once. I didn't know if he would survive, but he did. He wants to live. He is waiting to hug his little sister again and to pet his beloved cat, Persik. We still can't bring ourselves to tell him that Persik is gone. 

We have been through hell. We sold everything we had. We have no savings left. All that's left is hope. And you. The cancer is returning, and we can only perform a transplant once.

Please, from the bottom of a mother's heart, I’m begging you, help save my boy,” Elizaveta, Artem’s mother, appeals to everyone.