The main gift was, however, that Misha's health improved. The therapy is continued in full, without any side effects. spleen shrinked, transaminases are normal, liver's functions are now also within the norm.

There are still money for his medicaments, the money collected all around the globe. If nothing unexpected happens, they will be enough for a long time.

Mikhail is continuing to study with a teacher who comes regularly to him to the department. And, to say the truth, Misha is studying with greater enthusiasm than in the beginning.

WE CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR PARENTS FOR MISHA WHO WOULD ADOPT HIM!

At last, Michael resumed his school studies! So far, only one teacher is visiting him in the hospital. Michael is well behind his schoolmates, and before the New Year he needs to finish the program of the third grade.

July 14, 2001. A call for help was heard! Money for Misha came in time.

First, Andrei Vustyanyuk, who is originally from Odessa and currently working in New-York, has transferred $ 600 for Michael. “We can’t just let the disease take life of a twelve-year old child!” – he wrote in his letter. This money has been spent on 15 bottles of Intron A and 3 packages of Zefix (28 pills each). After the purchase we’ve got 22 dollarsleft.

Shortly after Anna from Moscow, who constantly helps our children, handed on $1000 with the train conductor.

And Andrei Vustyanyuk has transferred money for the second time. He told about his friend Robert, who is a doctor, about Michael, and Robert decided to transfer $500 for Michael. Robert knows from a child, what it means to help somebody who’s in trouble. During the Second World War Robert, a Jewish boy, was hidden by a peasant family in the alpine village, they passed him off as one of their relatives. He learnt after the War, that the whole the village knew who he was, but nobody gave him away.

Andrei has added $100 to this amount and paid for remittance by means of WESTERN UNION.

On 6 July we’ve got 250 hryvnias (about 45$) on our new bank account from Oleg Pavlov from Brovara town for Michael Norenko.

Thus Michael will be able to receive treatment for Hepatitis for quite a long period.
After first Intron injections Michael’s condition has improved, his liver and spleen has got smaller. Intron is much better for Michael, than Laferon - after Intron injections his temperature doesn’t rise so much.

And, at Andrei’s request, he have arranged a small party for Michael! Michael was afforded an opportunity to invite his doctor and one of his friends from the department to the ice-cream cafe. No doubt he was glad!

June 10, 2001. AN URGENT REQUEST FOR HELP! Misha Norenko's hepatitis is growing progressively worse. There're signs of cirrhosis of the liver, the level of transaminases has grown up to 7 - which is a huge amount. The size of the spleen and liver is above normal (the spleen +5). Laferon bought in the end May on the money gathered by the readers of the magazine "Krymusha" gave few results; injections of the medicine cause abrupt temperature rises (up to 40 C). And still Misha doesn't want to stay in his ward: gathering all his strength he goes to the corridor, to the playing-room... he is doing his best not to fall into despair - which is more and more difficult for him...

HE URGENTLY NEEDS:

- ZEFFICS or LAMIVUDIN (pills from hepatitis B) - in large numbers! The cost of the medicine needed for one month of treatment makes $120;

- INTRONE-A (Interferone, produced in USA). The cost of the medicine for one course of treatment is $800.

PLEASE HELP MISHA IF YOU CAN!!! You can write us and Misha on the address: hemato@simfi.net

March 4, 2001. Misha finally feels better after having pneumonia, he even smiles now! With a feeling of doom he takes the visits of the numerous students-trainees: "Again they come to poke into my spleen…"

1 February 2001. From 9 to 15 January Michael was having an extremely heavy case of pneumonia. His condition was critical and almost hopeless. The doctors, who had very little hope, would not leave the boy - and as a result they won him! Valentin Pavlovich says that Michael has been born three times - two of which were on the doctors' hands.

By the way, Michael is already 12 years old! On his birthday on 25 November he received heaps of presents - from doctors, and from children, and from parents! The main gift was a giant soft animal, - a hair, apparently, - and a huge birthday cake, which was consumed by the youngest members of the department.

1 October 2000. Michael Norenko is still “a son of the department”. He has been through the entire major course of polio-chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Now he is undergoing maintenance therapy at the department and not at home, of course. Apart from that, he is also currently being treated for hepatitis.

500 Ukrainian Hryvnias (about $ 100) were put on Michael’s name into the Initiative’s account number. 300 Hryvnias were spent at a drug called Ropheron, vital for him. Another 200 Hryvnias were spent on additional food. More drugs still need to be found by doctors and other children’s parents.

20 July 2000. Michael’s father and brother had their parental rights removed in court. Now it is possible to adopt the boys who have been living at the orphanage since last year. If you would like to find out more, please write to us.

July 20, 2000. Attention! Michael's father was deprived the rights for his children (Michael and his brother). Now boys, that live almost a year in asylim, can be adopted. If you have intention to know more about that - write us a letter.

April 15, 2000. Michael's state stabilized. He can easily walk around the department, even tries to mess around (!!!). He had guests - a teacher from the asylim accompanied with Michael's friends. Some time ago Michael could meet with his brother. Michael was really happy!

March 2, 2000. 33rd day of the treatment which is considered to be crusial, showed: Michael entered the remission. But doctors consider his state to be still dangerous, though he can leave the bed now and walk around the ward.