WINNIPEG – Koyla Yevtushenko calls Winnipeg home after relocating from Ukraine six years ago. But he worries every day for his niece Dasha Mazor who still lives in Kiev. She was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis during the country’s political unrest.
“When she got diagnosed, the doctors told my sister to move away,” said Yevtushenko. “Go to Europe, France, Germany, there’s no hope here basically.”
The conflict in Ukraine impacts almost every resident, medical funding has taken a significant hit. Coverage barely scratches the surfaces of Dasha’s weekly medication costs, and good quality medication is nearly impossible to find. There is no cure for the disease, but Koyla and his wife Tara hope to help their niece enjoy her childhood as much as possible.
“On her 7th birthday she makes toasts to the whole party, and she’ll toast to everyone else’s health and everyone else’s happiness,” said Tara Yevtushenko.”She’s got such an old soul.”
The couple started a Go Fund Me page that has already raised over $8000. The goal is to raise enough money to get Dasha a vest that helps to clear her lungs, and increases her chance of living longer.
“I never even realized there was such a big Ukrainian community here and they’re willing to help, it’s amazing,” said Koyla.
Cystic Fibrosis Canada currently estimates that the life expectancy of someone diagnosed here is about 50 years old. Medical experts in Ukraine told the family most kids who are diagnosed there don’t make it past the age of 18. But despite these numbers, the Yevtushenkos plan to continue fighting for Dasha.
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