Free Accommodation for Kids with Cancer in Ukraine

Dear friends,

this November Dacha will celebrate its 10^th anniversary. More than 1000 kids were hosted here over this period. Thank you for your generous contributions that make it possible for families to be together during cancer treatment.

Today I would like to tell you Ania’s story which is a typical Dacha story. Five days before her birthday, the girl was diagnosed with a tumor. Ania’s family lived in Horlivka, occupied territory, and they thought that there was nothing worse than the war but the doctors’ verdict shocked them more than an explosion. Ania’s mom Maryna would never forget her feelings the day when she was looking at her daughter’s back when she was going to the operating room. The following two hours and a half were the longest in Maryna’s life but a day after in the intensive care she whispered to her daughter: "Everything will be fine." And Ania answered: "I know, mom." The family never hid the truth about her diagnosis as the psychologists always recommended, that’s why the girl didn’t worry knowing what to expect. 

When the family came to the hospital in Kyiv, at first they didn’t know about our Dacha center. They imagined it to be like a hospital, instead they saw a big beautiful family house where there were people with whom they could understand each other without words. As Maryna tells: "I will never forget our first day at the Dacha. We gathered with all the families in the kitchen, cooked dinner and ate it together, laughed and told our stories. Like at home. After dinner, we went to our room and I fell asleep with Ania in a bed cuddling. At the hospital it was impossible. For the first time in many months, I felt happy." Ania’s father Serhii was with them too and her older brother could visit them from time to time.

When the good news about Ania’s last exam arrived, everybody celebrated. Because here at the Dacha we cry and we celebrate together. Thank you for being with us!

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