Hello friends. Jake and I have been hosting a Ukrainian family for the last 2 months. They are in the Bay Area to receive treatment for their almost two-year-old son Nazar (or Nazarchik) for a rare disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). He can't stand or walk. You can read his mom, Nataliia's original request below. He has now received the gene therapy and is currently undergoing regular blood tests to monitor his liver function and will be starting physical therapy soon. They plan to return home at the end of the year, if all goes well. They have a 12-year-old son who is in Poland with family. Since joining our household, we have learned that Nazar likes blueberries, pizza, planes, and giraffes. We sometimes have meals together (now distanced, due to him being immunocompromised) and he is the source of entertainment for all of us. He makes sure we sit in the same seats each night and likes to tell his dad where to put the dishes after dinner. He is adorable!

Nazar has a long road ahead of him. While insurance has covered Nazar's main injection for SMA, we would love to raise some funds for him and his family for these next 3 months, including renting a car so they can get around and have some independence. Please donate if you are inclined and share this with your friends and family. -Sandy and Jake

From Nataliia:

I am a mother of two sons. I love children very much, so I connected my life with their upbringing (I work as a teacher). 09/14/2020 my little son NAZARCHIK was born. He grew up and delighted everyone with the warmth of his smiles. But then we began to notice that our son was poorly socializing and began to look for the reasons for the delay in physical development. We went through a lot of examinations and everything is fine, but...

Nobody was able to determine a specific diagnosis. After 4 months of tests, my son's blood was sent for analysis to Kiev. Then the test results came - type II SMA, spinal muscular atrophy, a rare genetic disease. Currently, spinal muscular atrophy is not treated in Ukraine, and NAZARCHIK needs urgent treatment and rehabilitation.

However, treatment exists in other countries as well. The disease can be overcome with drugs that are too expensive for the average family. The medicine must be administered before the child reaches 2 YEARS. Funds need to be collected as soon as possible (by September 14, 2022), because the disease is progressing.

Please don't be indifferent!

Even a small amount will bring Nazarchik closer to the possibility of recovery! Support my son, give him a chance to live!

Please share this post on your pages.

Thanks for your support and help.