Help Needed for 9-Year-Old Andrew: A Life Spent in Hospitals

For six years, nine-year-old Andrew Levkov from Chechnevo, Vitebsk region, has spent his life in hospital wards, enduring eight rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and six relapses. Andrew is bravely fighting a relentless battle against cancer. The Chance Foundation is raising funds for a crucial medication, Defitelio, to aid in his treatment.

Andrew’s Journey: A Life in Hospitals

Since the age of three, Andrew and his mother have practically lived in the hospital. In April 2018, Andrew was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, marking the beginning of his fight for life.

The Rollercoaster of Remission and Relapse

The insidious disease would retreat and return. After the first chemotherapy, Andrew went into remission, but a year and a half later, a CNS relapse was detected. Despite ongoing treatment, remissions and relapses followed each other in a vicious cycle.

“When we are discharged, even for a couple of days, we try to show our son the places he wants to visit. Upon returning to the hospital, he tells everyone where he has been, what he saw, and what he did. Andrew makes friends everywhere he goes. He can easily find common ground with everyone, not just his peers,” shares Andrew’s mother.

Andrew’s Dreams and Hopes

Andrew has a sincere smile and eyes like two aquamarines that sparkle when he talks about his hobbies and dreams. He loves drawing, mathematics, and English. Andrew dreams of growing up quickly to become a programmer. Despite his young age, he is full of positivity, endurance, patience, hopes, and plans. Only he knows what it’s like to spend most of his childhood fighting for his health, steadfastly overcoming all trials. Fortunately, he has a loving family by his side.

The Long Road to Recovery

“After the first relapse, we underwent eight rounds of high-dose chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, this did not help, and a year later, a second CNS relapse occurred. In our attempts to achieve remission, we have gone through a long journey during which Andrew has experienced six relapses. Because of this, we could not undergo a bone marrow transplant. The hematologist recommended a course of treatment with the drug ‘Bisponsa’ as a rescue therapy. We completed it, and in December, a bone marrow transplant is planned for Andrew,” says his mother.

The Crucial Need for Defitelio

Andrew’s mother will be the bone marrow donor. Given the high risk of developing VOD (veno-occlusive liver disease) during the transplant, Andrew needs to take the medication Defitelio (Defibrotide). Currently, this drug is not available in the children’s oncology center, and the parents have turned to the Chance Foundation for financial assistance in purchasing 80 vials of this medication.

The Cost and Urgency

The cost of Defitelio is $49,600. The funds need to be raised within two weeks to make an advance payment and deliver the drug to Belarus before the transplant begins.

Together, we can help Andrew overcome this severe illness and achieve a final victory over it! At the time of publishing this article, $26,037 still needs to be raised.

How You Can Help

You can help Andrew Levkov by making a donation to the Chance Foundation’s charitable account:

Through the ERIP system → Charity, public associations → Help for children, adults → Chance Foundation → Donation for Andrew Levkov
Make a USSD request from your mobile phone to the number 2228#
Call from a landline phone to the number 8-902-101-08-08 to donate 3 rubles
Through the Chance Foundation’s website

For additional information, you can contact: +375 (17) 215-00-66, +375 (44) 711-11-17.