Aid Masha’s Path to Healing from Pancreatic Cancer

Dear friends, family, and kindred souls,

With warmth and gratitude, we reach out to you during this deeply challenging time. For nearly two years, Masha Vasilkovsky searched for answers, seeking guidance from both Western and Eastern health professionals across the state. Despite her relentless efforts, a clear diagnosis remained out of reach—until December 18, 2024, when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Masha is a visionary artist, devoted teacher, mother, sacred friend, and profoundly compassionate soul who has touched countless lives with her generosity, strength, and unwavering spirit.

A FEW OF MASHA'S SOCIETAL CONTRIBUTIONS

Masha Vasilkovsky has dedicated her life to the art of animation, education, and fostering creative expression in young artists. She developed innovative animation curricula, mentoring young artists through masterclasses worldwide. Her work has helped countless aspiring artists develop unique visual storytelling voices.

Masha founded an educational initiative in Uganda, collaborating with humanitarians Richard and Sylivia Seruwagi. Since February 2022, she and a team of professionals—including a child psychologist, theater director, and musician—have been providing weekly online classes for 28 vulnerable children in Jinja City’s slums. The program focuses on humanistic education and aims to complete a cultural center as a safe space for the children

She played a key role in founding the Lumen Animae School of Visual Arts in Ukraine, offering free artistic education to young people affected by war. Through this initiative, she ensured that Ukrainian students had access to high-quality animation and visual arts training, regardless of financial barriers.

While still a graduate student at CalArts, Masha was part of the initial Community Outreach Program teaching animation to homeless children in the downtown skid row area.

More recently, Masha contributed to Holocaust remembrance through animated short films, documenting survivor testimonies in works such as THE PROMISE: a Story of Holocaust Survival Leon Malmed and THE STORY OF THREE RINGS: a Memoir of Holocaust Survival by Dana Schwartz. These films, created in collaboration with institutions like The Holocaust Museum Los Angeles, preserve vital historical narratives for future.

VIEW MASHA'S FILMS

FUNDRAISING NEED

Since December 2024, Masha and her partner, Ruah, have paused all contracts with Lumen Animae Studios to focus on Masha’s healing journey, living through a medical emergency for the last three months.

Despite insurance coverage, many medical expenses remain. Hospitalization fees, ongoing medications, acupuncture, and physical therapy are just a few of the costs that continue to incur.

Now, as she walks this path of healing, we ask for your support on this journey. With your aid, we will be able to push forward, including rehabilitation of both hip fractures, the experimental treatment we hope to start soon, and other continued expenses.

Support comes in many forms, and we are deeply grateful for every prayer, every loving thought, and every visualization of Masha filled with life energy. Your kindness and generosity mean the world to us as we navigate this journey together. Thank you for walking this journey with us.

With loving respect,

Masha and Ruah