Ilya SARAFANOV Wilms' tumor, RELAPSE Born December 31, 1999 Dead autumn 2004

Tatiana Sarafanova, Ilya's mother:
 

God gave me this child right on the eve of New Year. It was the best present for our family. So marvellous, hairy, and so robust. This is why we called him Ilya, like a Russian folk hero of enormous size and strength: at birth, he weighed 4.5 kg and was 60 cm tall! He made his first steps at eight months and went to the kindergarten at a year and a half... Needless to say that we were a happy family.

But last year, in May (Ilya was 3.5 years old at the time), we suddently learned Ilya's diagnosis: Wilms' tumor. It was a terrible shock. Hard times began.

We got into a hospital. Ilya had an operation, which lasted for five hours: the affected kidney was removed. Then there were chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Our son went through it all, and it seemed that the treatment was going on as it should. But suddenly the tumor began to grow again. One might think that the end has come. But we don't want to give up.

Now we have been directed from Simferopol to Kiev. But, to receive treatment there, we need money. And we decided to ask for your help!
 

Please help our little hero! This enemy is too strong for him, and it is impossible to win all alone... Thank you very much!