This illness struck us all of a sudden a year and a half ago, but still we have not managed to cope with the acute stage. We live in the town of Angarsk, Irkutsk region. We spent a year at the regional hospital, and now doctors in Moscow have been trying to improve Nikita's condition for six months. However, very expensive medicines are required. At present, a course of Mabtera is vitally important for my child. But I have no money to pay for it.

Nikita is my only child, the best joy and the little shining sun of our family.
We have longed for this child for a very long time. I had to go through several operations myself before my son could be born. Up to three years old, before he fell ill, Nikita had been a very active and inquisitive child, restless and brave. It is so terrible when a disease makes a merry boy behave and look like a tiny old man.

Nikita is a smart boy. He already knows the whole ABC and likes to play with a computer. But the disease does not allow him to go to the kindergarten or to communicate with other children. He is deprived of chilhood. Constant pains, hospital beds and infusions! During the last year he had to bear things that not every grown-up person can endure. And we have already spent so much money and energy that it is now impossible to buy more expensive drugs. I had to quit my job for the time being, because the child's condition requires constant care. Nikita's grandmother and grandfather have only their old-age pensions. So I am asking everybody who can help us in buying Mabtera for Nikita to respond to this letter.

Thank you very much.

Nikita Chalenko's mother,
Elena Gennadievna