Nikolai’s Leukemia Fund

I just got the word that my friend’s son Nikolai had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic B-cell Leukemia. This type of cancer has pretty high survival rates (in the 90%), but if left untreated could kill in a few short months. Nikolai is currently undergoing two months of chemotherapy, to be followed by a bone marrow transplant as soon as a suitable donor is found.

Nikolai is a 25 year old guy from Dnipro (formerly Dnipropetrovsk), Ukraine, who managed to put himself through college while working odd jobs. The life was tough but manageable; Nikolai recently started a new job and everything was “normal” up to the point when he got sick. Nikolai started getting strong pains in his legs – to the point of needing a walking cane, high fever and weakness. This is when Nikolai was sent to the hospital for blood work and testing which revealed the diagnosis - Acute Lymphoblastic B-cell Leukemia. This was a huge blow to him and his family. His only support is a single mother who is on disability and elderly grandparents (late 80’s) with health issues of their own. There are no siblings, no rich uncle and no trust fund. There is little-to-nothing in terms of social and Health Care services available in dysfunctional and war ravaged Ukraine. And the only hope Nikolai has is a handful of friends and family scrambling to help in any way we can. The bone marrow transplant procedure is only available in Kyiv and estimated to cost $50K, not counting additional expenses of hospital stay, food, etc. This sum is a huge fortune for most anyone living in USA, and for most living in Ukraine, a country where average annual wage is under $4K, it’s simply impossible to attain.

This is my plea for a donation to Nikolai’s Leukemia Fund. There is still time to save Nikolai’s life. There is still time to save his mother’s heart from braking forever. I realize that everyone have problems of their own, and perhaps other very deserving and compelling causes to support, but we all would be extremely grateful for any help you choose to extend. But even if you can’t donate, please do say a little prayer for Nikolai, and count the blessings in your own life…

Thank you.