This project spanned six years, one of our longest, but the impact has been truly life-changing.

In August 2020, the mother of a seven-year-old girl named Polina reached out to us for help. Polina’s father has a disability, and the family was unable to cover the cost of her medical care. Polina suffered from a rare condition that caused chronic inflammation in the bone of her foot, stunting the growth of her leg in early childhood. By the time they contacted us, her right leg was four inches shorter than her left, and the ongoing infection posed a life-threatening risk. Doctors had recommended amputation.

We helped the family connect with leading specialists in another city and covered the cost of the trip, incidentals, and Polina’s few weeks long hospitalization. Under the care of a team of exceptional physicians led by Dr. Dmitro Yershov, the infection was successfully stopped. What followed was a multi-year, difficult but essential process of leg lengthening, primarily outpatient, but requiring several additional hospitalizations.

For more than six years, we covered all of Polina’s medical expenses. Along the way, her treatment was expanded to include correction of scoliosis that had developed due to the difference in leg length.

Today, Polina’s legs are equal in length, and her scoliosis has been successfully treated. We are deeply grateful to have played a role in transforming her future, saving her leg and giving her the ability to walk forward in life with confidence and hope.