Hello, good people!

My name is Elena and I am a mother of six-year-old Anastasia. She is a smiling, smart and inquisitive child. This year she will be a schoolgirl. Unfortunately, a few years ago, at the age of three months, during a routine checkup with the pediatrician, a heart murmur was detected. So we were referred for a consultation with a pediatric cardiologist. On examination it was found that she had a heart problem and the diagnosis was Large Interatrial Defect. We were referred to see a paediatric cardiologist at the National Cardiology Hospital, Sofia for a thorough examination and possible treatment. There also the diagnosis was confirmed and we were told that the defect could only be closed surgically. From that moment on it was necessary to follow Anastasia once a year at the "NKH Sofia" and every 6 months at a pediatric cardiologist in Plovdiv. We were assured that with this diagnosis the appropriate age for surgery is when she becomes 4-5 years old. After she became those years old we were postponed again, with the argument that we could still wait, as this waiting could be until the age of seven at the latest. Last year Anastasia turned 6 and once again we were postponed another year to wait, after which they gave no chance if we would ever get to surgery. After so many years of hoping, waiting, worrying and fretting, we had no choice to leave our child in the hands of fate. We had to see to it that our child found a way to heal and become a complete person.

So we started looking for an alternative treatment abroad. We didn't want to let Anastasia suffer, fight for her life and only then be scheduled for surgery which would make the risk of her survival much greater. We found a consular company of very good and kind-hearted people and through them we made a consultation with Koç University Hospital in Istanbul. The doctors there were very kind and explained to us in detail about the surgery itself and subsequent recovery. Their recommendation was that it should be done between March and June this year. The offer received at the moment from Koç University Hospital is for 16,200 Euros, which may not be the final cost.

I ask anyone who would like to help Anastasia's heart to heal and for her to have a better future to please support us. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for every gesture !