I often remember bringing Danil home from the maternity clinic, remember him observing the world around him, his eyes sparkling with excitement… I also remember him going to the first grade and his inspired teacher telling me what a wonderful son I have got. I remember Danil being beaten up for the first time and begging me to take him to a boxing section to become strong and independent, just as Vitali Klitschko. Children’s reasons always sound funny, yet there is nothing stronger than those reasons in the world. When the little Yeva was born, Danil approached his baby sister, took her hand and told her as a real grown-up: “I will always be with you and will never let you down”. My boy, he always sticks to his word. But the disease never asks what promises you made. For two months already, Danil does not hold his sister’s hand but fights for his life every second. A cruel disease, portal hypertension, does not allow my boy to live his child’s life.

As for Yeva, she remains in low spirits for those two months. Nothing makes her happy. It is if she knew that her brother is feeling bad. She is sitting at the window as a little kitten, waiting for him. “Mom, when will Danil come home? Is he angry with me?”, she asks me. “No, my darling. He has a contest. When he wins his medal, he is going to come home!”

But unfortunately my boy has low chances of coming back home… Even though my husband has three jobs and works round the clock, we are not able to save 364,760 Russian rubles (4, 636 US dollars) to have a surgery in Moscow, and the treatment offered in the Zaporizhzhia Regional Clinical Hospital - does not help our son.

Danil goes through all his medical procedures bravely and if you look at him, he seems to be winning. But in reality… One of these days, he told me: “Mommy, if I die… Please tell Yeva that I went to the Land of Oz and became a good magician…”

I ask all people who care, please become good magicians for my boy. Help me raise the funds and cure my son. I will pray for you as long as I live. Please do not leave us alone with our pain.