Sergei and Maria Schramovich live in Rivne, a region in northwestern Ukraine. The large family has 10 children – two of whom are seriously ill. Ivan is 18 years old and has suffered from a severe form of diabetes since he was four.
He is regularly admitted to the intensive care unit for extended periods. A further deterioration of his condition could have serious consequences and become life-threatening. At the age of 10, little Vanya (a diminutive of Ivan) was diagnosed with pleurisy (inflammation of the connective tissue lining the inside of the chest cavity) in addition to his diabetes. The necessary surgeries and the overall course of his illness eventually led to adrenal gland failure, and he fell into a coma. In critical condition, Vanya was transferred to a specialized clinic, where doctors fought for his life for a long time. He survived but has required constant medical treatment ever since.
All these hardships took their toll on Maria. She constantly had to travel with Wanja from clinic to clinic, from one treatment to the next. On top of that, she was deeply worried about her son. At the same time, Maria was pregnant with her daughter Victoria. Victoria was born with serious health problems. Later, the devastating diagnosis was made: Victoria suffered from a complex endocrine disorder.
In this autoimmune disease, the body is almost completely unable to absorb the vital mineral calcium. The child had to be given various injections of supportive medications to help her body absorb calcium. At the age of six, Victoria's body failed, and she fell into a coma. Due to the rarity of the disease, doctors were not immediately able to make the correct diagnosis, and the girl initially received the wrong medication. As a result, her hair fell out, and to this day she has neither head hair, eyebrows, nor eyelashes.
Today Victoria is 14 years old. She constantly needs hospital treatment, but such long-term treatments and hospital stays are very expensive. With the added burden of caring for two sick children, the family sometimes doesn't even have enough money for the bare necessities. If anyone feels like helping the Schramovich family in their time of need, they can do so by making a donation.
CDH-Stephanus
Andreas Stebner