Pauline
Derevitch

Polina is from Volgodonsk (Russia, Rostov region). As early as 6 years old, the girl was engaged in dancing, liked to swim, draw and sculpt. She was an active, cheerful and sociable girl, but at the end of 2021 Polina had her first stroke, and then within 2 years - 3 more. All to blame for the terrible disease moyamoya. 

Under the New Year 2022 Polina dreamed of presents from Santa Claus and was preparing for a matinee in kindergarten, but just a few days before it the girl became ill. She had a stroke. She spent the holiday in a children's hospital. After a month of recovery she was discharged home. But some time later the little girl had a second stroke, because of which she lost her speech and chewing ability, and her right arm completely failed.

The doctors have diagnosed moyamoya disease. It is a rare chronic progressive disease of the blood vessels of the brain in which strokes can occur frequently and unpredictably.

Polina has already had 4 strokes, because of them the girl has stopped speaking and at the moment cannot serve herself. She has impaired motor skills in both hands. But that's not the worst of it. Polina's anterior cerebral vessels are closing. This means that strokes can happen at any moment and will continue as long as the girl's heart beats.

In Russia we could not help Polina, but thanks to your kind hearts, in November 2023 the girl underwent an examination at the Children's Hospital Zurich, Moyamoya Center. It was successful. The girl was scheduled for a very complicated surgery.