Help 3-Year-Old Dasha Piskunova: A Chance to Breathe and Live
Help 3-Year-Old Dasha Piskunova: A Chance to Breathe and Live
Dasha Piskunova, a 3-year-old girl from the village of Krasnoe in the Molodechno district, needs your help. Dasha has a tumor in her throat that is growing and preventing her from breathing, speaking, and living a normal life. The Chance Foundation is raising funds for a six-month course of the drug “Koselugo” for Dasha, which costs 32,935 euros and can help her.
Dasha’s Story
Dasha Piskunova will soon turn 4 years old. She is an incredibly charming and intelligent child who brings joy to everyone around her. However, Dasha has a difficult life ahead of her. She has been diagnosed with type 1 neurofibromatosis with an inoperable plexiform neurofibroma, which is a tumor in her throat that is growing and making it difficult for her to breathe, speak, and live a normal life.
When Dasha was just a month old, she started having breathing problems. Gradually, she began to snore heavily in her sleep, and the snoring eventually became constant. Local doctors were unable to diagnose the problem, and it was only when Dasha’s great-grandmother took her to a private medical center in Minsk that the tumor was discovered. Dasha has since had a tracheostomy and has been living with a tube in her throat since April 6, 2022.
The Need for Treatment
After extensive clinical examinations, Dasha was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor. She has been taking the anti-tumor drug “Kotellik” for a year, which has prevented the tumor from growing. However, this is not a permanent solution.
Doctors have decided to switch Dasha to a new drug called “Koselugo” (“Selumetinib”), which is specifically designed to treat plexiform neurofibromas. This innovative drug has shown high effectiveness in clinical trials and can significantly reduce the size of the tumor.
“Selumetinib” not only reduces the size of tumors in children but also alleviates pain and improves their quality of life. However, the drug is expensive and not available in Belarus. The Chance Foundation is raising funds for a six-month course of “Koselugo” for Dasha, which costs 32,935 euros.
How You Can Help
Dasha is a very active and sociable child, but due to her tracheostomy, she cannot speak and is not accepted into kindergarten. Dasha and her mother travel to Molodechno for speech therapy classes to learn how to communicate with other children. Dasha’s mother hopes that the new drug will reduce the tumor and that Dasha will eventually be able to live without the tube in her throat.
Dasha needs your help to live a happy and healthy life. You can donate to the Chance Foundation’s charitable account to help Dasha:
- Through the ERIP system: Charity, Public Associations → Help for Children, Adults → Chance Foundation → Donation to Dasha Piskunova
- By making a USSD request from your mobile phone to the number 2228#
- Through the Chance Foundation’s website: https://www.chance.by/help/individuals/?id_child=22603
For more information, please call: +375 (17) 215-00-66, +375 (44) 711-11-17. Your help can make a lasting difference!
