My brother Dmytryk was a healthy child in his first year of life. In 2002, being 15 months old, Dmytryk got sick with salmonellotic meningoencephalitis. This Illness wasn’t detected in time because Dmytryk was treated at home during first two weeks after he got sick. We didn’t know the frightful diagnosis as illness didn’t manifest itself clearly. But when he started having convulsions and his state became critical we rushed him to the local hospital.
Local doctors did their best, however, they were short of resources to treat such illness. After the cerebrospinal punction was done, my little brother was moved to the Intense Care department of the Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases. For three long days Dmytryk was in the state of coma, with assisted pulmonary ventilation.
Doctors couldn’t guarantee him to survive.. but a month after Dmytryk was checked off. Sadly, he was discharged from the hospital with organic lesion of the brain, strong psycho-motor retardation and
paralysis.
One year later the functions of extremities began to restore, the facial muscles began to work. Unfortunately, Dmytryk lost all skills acquired before. He cannot walk – he stands only with some
support, does not talk. It seems to us that he poorly understands what we tell him.
In between 2002 – 2006 he was put to the hospital more than 10 times. High temperature caused by pneumonia, flu, ARD (acute respiratory disease) or bronchitis brings him strong and long-lasting convulsions.
In 2007 convulsions became all more frequent. Dmytryk’s treatment constantly repeats the simplified scheme of treating symptoms only. Thus a child gets plenty of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
We consulted with paediatricians and neurologists from
different hospitals of Lviv. They explain that rales and respiratory disorders that take place are not caused by pneumonia and bronchitis for which Dmytryk is most frequently treated in local hospitals.
Rather, it’s caused by stagnant processes resulting from the fact that Dmytryk doesn’t move and spends most of the time in supine position.
Dmytryk is faced with harsh living conditions, malnutrition, inaccessible effective medicare. We live in a village in a small 1-room house that fits 7 family members.
All attempts to treat a child in neurological departments of children hospitals in Lviv come across the unwillingness of doctors to deal with the heavy case, shortage of free beds or resources of treatment.
For effective treatment, we need to find professional doctors with sufficient expertise in central nervous system and locomotorium.
We want Dmytryk to be cured, but don’t have enough money for this. Will we find the doctors and physicians who could help him? It’s very difficult, but we believe it is possible. We are thankful for
people who are willing to help. Without God and your support we would not have hope.

Mariya Melnyk (Dmytryk’s elder sister)
Nadiya Melnyk (Dmytryk’s mother)
Dmytryk’s brothers and sisters

80540 selo Nowyy Mylyatyn
Buskyy rayon
Lwiwska oblast
Ukraine
Tel.: +380 97 123 316 3