Pauline
Bashkova

Very cheerful, kind, sympathetic and cheerful Polina dreams of becoming an artist or a veterinarian. But Polina is diagnosed with spina bifida and her dreams might not come true.....

Polina is the first and long-awaited child in the family. When she was born, her mother immediately noticed a scar-like mark on her lower back. Doctors in the maternity hospital did not say anything about it, and later at medical check-ups the mother's questions were answered that it was just a birthmark. The girl grew and developed normally until she was five years old.

Since then, the Bashkova family began a long and painful journey of searching for help. The parents visited many doctors who made incorrect diagnoses, gave useless recommendations and prescribed treatments that did not work.

Writes Irina, Paulina's mom:

«We couldn't find a doctor to help us at least with the diagnosis. In the end, we went and did an MRI of the lumbosacral spine ourselves. The conclusion said something we were not at all prepared for: Pauline has spina bifida. Now, in order to stop the deterioration and achieve improvement, it is necessary to perform a very complicated surgery, the cost of which is beyond our reach.
If Polina does not receive the necessary treatment soon, irreversible changes will occur, which may lead to disability and even deprive her of the ability to walk. Her left foot is already deformed and can hardly bend. Philanthropists, we really need your help!»

Thanks to your support, we managed to raise the necessary amount for Polina's surgical treatment at Assuta Clinic in Israel. On June 16, 2022, Professor Shimon Rohkind performed a brilliant operation: he removed a small lipoma, freed the spinal cord and roots from soldering, while preserving all motor functions. The first improvements in Polina's leg appeared immediately after the operation!