5-YEAR-OLD ANUSHIK’S CONDITION GETTING WORSE. NOT ENOUGH MONEY FOR SURGERY
epress.am
12.02.2011
To date $10,000 USD have been transferred to the bank account opened
two and a half months ago to help five-year-old Anushik who has been
diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Anushik’s father, Sergei
Hayrapetyan told Epress.am.
“The only possibility of saving the child today is an immediate bone
marrow transplant, for which we have not only insufficient funds but
also no hope that a businessman or wealthy philanthropist will be found
in Armenia who will help in securing treatment for my child abroad,”
he said.
The cancer that was found in Anushik’s body when she was just
three-and-a-half years old had been a surprise for her parents and
relatives.
“After getting treatment at the Haematology Center named after
Professor R. Yeolyan, the disease went into remission and we brought
the child home. In the fifth month of the [induction] phase, the
disease resurfaced and the only way to save her remained – a bone
marrow transplant. In Germany, the child has an 80% chance of survival,
but only if the operation is carried out now,” said Anushik’s father.
Hayrapetyan described how he sent open letters to Armenian President
Serzh Sargsyan, businessman and Prosperous Armenia party leader Gagik
Tsarukyan and several other wealthy individuals in the country;
however, there has been no response, while the child’s condition
worsens day by day, he said.
“The largest amounts were transferred to the account by Moscow
resident Gevorg Halabyan, about $1,000, and employees of HSBC bank,
684,000 [Armenian] drams [$1,800 USD]. The Armenian organization
‘Give Life’ has promised to transfer $10,000 USD to Anushik’s account,
a German organization will also transfer the same amount of money to
the account of the clinic where the operation will take place. Many
have given small amounts, but for treatment, we need large amounts,
which we don’t have today.
“There has not yet been any support from the state or the Ministry of
Health. It’s been a year and seven months that we’ve been in hospital –
the child has never received any free medical assistance. We pay for
all hospital services. The medication for treatment we’ve received
from Germany,” he said.
Photo and video by civic initiative group We Won’t be Silent.
From: A. Papazian