"Hello! My name is Valentina, I am 25 years old. I live in the Yegoryevsky District of the Moscow region. I am being treated at the NMRC for Hematology. In 2012, I was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia. This is a disease of the hematopoietic system, expressed in the suppression or cessation of the growth of all three cell lines in the bone marrow, in other words, low hemoglobin, platelets and leukocytes. In addition to the main treatment, which consisted in conducting a course of Atgam (at this point in time, I have had two of these courses), in simple words, this is an infusion of animal protein, which should affect my bone marrow, and in taking cyclosporine to maintain a safe level of platelets and hemoglobin, I need constant transfusions (infusions) of platelet and erythrocyte mass, i.e. I need the components of donated blood.
I have the second blood type, Rh negative. This is far from the most common group, so there are problems with the presence of erythrocyte mass. And for rhesus platelets, it does not matter, but again, a difficult moment: I need an individual selection of platelets, because I have severe allergic reactions to platelets that are not personally selected for me. All this complicates the search for suitable donors. A particularly difficult period was when the Law on Free Donation came into force in early 2013, and the number of people willing to donate their blood sharply decreased.
But there were also those to whom I am infinitely grateful. These are people who came and donated their blood just like that, or directly to my name: B. Godunov, E. Davydov, E. Ovchinnikova, E. Uzhakina, A. Buzovich, A. Li, Voskresensky, Robaten, I. Ivanov, O. Elfimova, A. Bashkov, S. Adarchin, Komissarova, O. Nechaeva, M. Verbitsky, A. Bakulina, A. Patrikeeva, K. Goryacheva, E. Iovenko, S. Klevasheeva, I. Tenkovskaya, E. Kereeva, and many others. I apologize to those whose names I have not listed here. I simply do not have access to information about all of the people thanks to whose blood my condition was stabilized.
I am also grateful to all of those who did not remain indifferent and posted my request for help on their pages in social networks.
I would like to give a huge thank you to the Gift of Life Foundation and its coordinators. Thanks to their efforts, donors have been coming to the NMRC for Hematology weekly, in my name, for quite a long time.
I would also like to express my gratitude to all the employees of the donor station of the NMRC for Hematology, from whom I learned about targeted donation. This is a program according to which incoming donors with a suitable group, rhesus or platelet selection, with their consent, are attached to a specific patient who needs blood components. This greatly simplifies the search for donors, their examination, reduces the likelihood of infection with viral infections transmitted through the blood, and gives the patient an opportunity to count on timely help. I would like this system to develop and improve. Thank you for doing this! Thanks to this approach, the components of donated blood began to work better in my body. For the second month now, I don't need a transfusion and I feel good. Thanks to the donors who are ready to help.
I thank all of the doctors and medical staff who have been and continue to be engaged in my treatment for the humanity and professionalism!
Many thanks to my dearest people, my parents and brother, as well as close friends who were there! My colleagues and all acquaintances and strangers who helped with words or deeds, instilled confidence and did not let me lose heart.
Separately, I would like to thank A. Patrikeeva, A. Zakharova, O.V. Sergeychuk, T.V. Skvortsov, I. Yakovenko, E. Pastukhova, A. Sherstyuk Al. Sherstyuk, and many others for their participation.
Believe me, all of my gratitude to you cannot be expressed in words! But nevertheless, thanks to everyone!
With gratitude and respect,
Valentina Uzhakina"
