NOTE: Donations are in Swedish Krona SEK (1 USD = 9,90 SEK). The goal is to raise at least $10 000 USD to cover for the first 6-7 months. But the special care Sasha needs can take up to 2-3 years.

Conversion for international givers:
10 USD = 99 kr
50 USD = 495 kr
100 USD = 990 kr
500 USD = 4,950 kr

My name is Peter, and I live in Sweden. I have had the privilege to befriend a close friend of mine, Yana, and her wonderful family from Ukraine. Yana has toured and visited me in Sweden. I also had the chance to visit and get to know her family in Ukraine. Yana's daughter Sasha was born with a head injury, a broken collarbone and other issues. She is now three years old. Sasha needs money for special therapies to learn to speak. 

Sasha has a Sensory-Motor Alaila . Sensory-Motor Alalia is a speech disorder. It develops in brain-damaged children who have otherwise normal hearing and intelligence. There are three types of Alalia: motor, sensory, and mixed. Children with motor Alalia have many language disorders. Children with sensory Alalia can hear, but they don't always understand. So, the child hears, but does not understand the speech directed at him/her.  Sasha's mother must help her to dress, use the toilet, eat, and other normal things that most of us take for granted. So, it’s unfortunate that her country's public health care system can't give Sasha the help she must have.

Take a look at a news report about Ukraine’s failing healthcare system. On paper, healthcare in Ukraine is free . But, it’s very costly. The “free state run” hospital doesn’t offer the special care that Sasha needs. Her parents must use a private clinic. So, I hope great people like you lend a helping hand. This is a rally to give Sasha the chance to live a more normal life. She wants to run, play, shout, speak, sing, and etc.

GoFundMe is not available to citizens in Ukraine. I created this campaign to help Yana and her family with Sasha's fight, their fight.  I hope that many like you donate what you can to this worthy cause. The life-changing therapy is Sasha's best hope at a chance to live a normal life. Sasha has never experienced normal, so she doesn’t know what it is. We can change that!

Sasha works with various specialists every day. She returns to Kiev every three months for treatment at the brain stimulation center . The family struggles with the rising costs. They are unable to continue to pay around 800 Euros/906 USD each month for daily therapy.  It costs 1500 Euros/1700 USD every three months for her two weeks stay in Kiev for rehabilitation. Doctors don't know how long Sasha requires this therapy. But, they have stated the process could take between 2 and 3 years.

Sweet Sasha’s Story:

Hello! My name is Yana, and this is my daughter Sasha.

As a first-time mom, I never dreamed that our daughter would struggle with speaking. In fact, I thought with excitement what our baby’s first word would be and when she would utter it! After showing difficulty with moving her legs, arms and neck, my husband and I visited doctors. The doctors diagnosed Sasha with impaired motor function. We knew we had to do everything possible to help our daughter. At 4 months old, Sasha started therapy and spent 2 weeks in a rehabilitation center. Therapy continued every 3 – 4 months until she was 18 months old. Still, Sasha didn’t speak any sounds.

More tests concluded that Sasha has Sensory Motor Alalia . Children with this diagnosis need on-going classes with a psychologist and speech therapist. They also need brain stimulation.

Sasha is three years old and speaks three words. She says “mama” (mother) and “baba” (grandmother), and “papa” (father) in Russian. We have spent everything and now need your help! We are confident that Sasha will speak if she continues to receive on-going therapy.

Because Sasha is unable to speak, we can’t ask or answer her questions. We want to know how she thinks and feels. We want to know her fears so we can calm them. We want to listen to her hopes and dreams and encourage her. We want to hear her say that she loves us! We know Sasha has a strong voice and much that she's waiting to express. She may give speeches, be a comedienne, a government official, a doctor, lawyer, or singer. Without the chance to learn to speak, Sasha may never get to share her gifts with the world!

All the money received through this campaign will go towards her treatments. Sasha’s dad and Yana hope that you will give her the gift of speaking. Your donation will pay for her much-needed therapies. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers and for joining us on this journey. We will post updates about Sasha's progress. Also, we will share family stories and tell you when she speaks more words. So, please visit this page often, and share the link with family, friends, colleagues, or your church.