Help Cancer Patients Find Bone Marrow Donors!

Alina is a young woman from a village in Samara region.  Since childhood she has been very active and great at sports. Many times she took first prizes in competitions.  After she graduated from school she studied to become a chef.  But in 2014 while she was in her second year of college, she was constantly sick with what seemed like flu - fevers, fatigue, nose and gum bleeds, and fainting spells.  Alina was hospitalized in the regional hospital for two months, but she did not get any better.  Then she was transferred to Hematology unit of regional University hospital and that's where she was diagnosed with acquired idiopathic aplastic anemia - a type of blood disorder in which bone marrow stops producing enough blood cells. 

Alina began relying on blood transfusions and immunosuppressive therapy, but two years later her condition worsened once again.  She developed paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria - a blood disease in which red blood cells are destroyed.  In addition, frequent blood transfusion led to iron overload in her blood.  Alina's condition continued to deteriorate over time and in late 2019 she was referred to St. Peterburg for bone marrow transplant - the only potential cure in her situation.

It took a long time - over a year - to find a matching donor for Alina. Finally, in February 2021 a donor was found in Israel.  Alina was scheduled for pre-transplant therapy to be followed by transplantation.  Unfortunately, her father passed away, and her family is unable to afford the full cost of bone marrow donor search.  Thanks to your support, we will be able to make a deposit of 5000 euros to help Alina access the lifesaving treatment as soon as possible.

We are very grateful for your support despite the pandemic and all the challenges it has brought on!   Thank you for being with us and stay safe!