Ivanna fell ill suddenly. One day, she complained of pain in her leg. The doctor prescribed ordinary anti-inflammatory medicine, and at first, it seemed everything was fine — she even went back to her dance and gymnastics classes. But a few days later, she started having stomach pain and turned pale. Alarming test results forced the family to cancel her planned birthday celebration and go to the hospital instead.

Chemotherapy makes Ivanna tired quickly, and she often feels nauseous. But when she feels a little better, she always asks to go to the playroom in the ward.

“She even has love here already, not just friendship. She always waits for one older boy who comes for chemotherapy — that’s when she asks me to put on a dress and do her makeup,” Ivanna’s mother, Oksana, shares with a smile.

For Ivanna, the hospital has become like a second kindergarten — or even a second home. Still, she misses her older brother very much and often says, “I want to go to my Mark.”

You can help children like Ivanna recover and return to their real home. Make your contribution to their victory over cancer.

Children should not have to live in hospitals.