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The Light That Overcomes Pain
Yet to raise
193 660грн
The story of 13-year-old Darina Shapoval and her mother's immense love for her.
Daryna Shapoval, from Verkhnodniprovsk, requires urgent spinal surgery. She suffers from severe congenital left-sided scoliosis of the lumbar spine (Grade 4), caused by vertebral developmental anomalies. Daryna is exhausted by constant back pain; the deformity is progressing rapidly and threatens the function of her internal organs. To halt this destructive condition and straighten her spine, surgeons need to install a specialized system of titanium implants. This complex construct will correct the curvature and allow the girl to move again without suffering. However, the surgery costs nearly 200 000 UAH – an unaffordable sum for a family where the father is serving at the front and the mother is caring for their daughter.
Some children are born with a special light in their eyes. 13-year-old Darynka is one of them. She is a truly radiant girl – her hugs have the power to make all the world’s worries dissolve; she feels music with her heart, dances with pure passion, and creates stunning crafts using rhinestones.
Yet, behind that sincere, bright smile lies a daily, exhausting pain – a reality that has led the girl to ask, with growing bitterness: "Mom, why am I like this? Why is my back crooked?"
Trials from the first breath
The family was in trouble even before their daughter was born. Doctors informed Darynka’s mother, Yuliia Shapoval, of serious diagnoses prior to the delivery – but after the birth, another difficult discovery awaited her.
"I found out about the diagnoses around the 32nd week of pregnancy: it turned out she had a congenital heart defect and Down syndrome. As for the spine – no one had mentioned that yet; it only came to light after she was born – about two to six months later", says Daryna’s mother.
Due to low muscle tone – common in children with Down syndrome – and congenital deformities, the girl began to develop rapidly progressing scoliosis.
"When my daughter was little, her spine would curve into an arc. We immediately raised the alarm, wondering why this was happening, and I began seeking help from doctors".
Darynka’s heart was saved thanks to a highly complex, seven-hour surgery. However, as the years passed, her spinal issues continued to drain more and more of her strength. She was prescribed a rigid plastic Cheneau brace, which had to be worn 24 hours a day. The brace caused pressure and pain, yet it failed to halt the destructive process.
"It is incredibly difficult to convince her that she needs this. We’ve spent all these years working with her and explaining things, but it remains a source of torment for the child. If she were a typical child... but for my daughter, it is very hard to explain all of this", says Yuliia.
Today, Darynka has stage four scoliosis – the most severe, critical stage. The curvature of her lumbar spine is so pronounced that walking has become difficult for her. Yet, she loves learning; she attends a regular school within an inclusive program, where she socializes and enjoys the company of her classmates.
“We can’t walk long distances; she complains very often that she’s in pain. Well, naturally – given the extent of the curvature... And she’s constantly troubled, asking: Why am I like this? Why is my back crooked?”
Facing Hardship Alone While Dad Is at the Front
Yuliia, a mother and educator with 20 years of experience, once poured her heart and soul into raising children. But earlier this year, she had to make a difficult decision: leaving the job she loved at a kindergarten. Now, amidst constant air raid sirens – and the frequent need to pick up her child from school – balancing employment has become impossible. Yuliia faces these challenges on her own, as her husband – Darynka’s father – is away defending Ukraine.
"My husband is at the front; he enlisted in May 2022. Even though he has the option to return home – since our child has a disability – he remains at his post, determined to stay until the very end. He says, 'I’m here for you. For my child...' I had to quit my job because I chose my child", says Daryna’s mother.
Yuliia navigates daily hardships single-handedly, knowing that whether her daughter’s world remains a safe and comforting place depends entirely on her. She protects Darynka, and in return, the little girl showers her with boundless, childlike love.
"Daryna is simply a miracle. She is a sunshine child – so incredibly kind. When she comes up and hugs me, I forget all my troubles. I thank God for the gift of her; even though things are very difficult, I can no longer imagine life without her".
The only hope for Daryna is an urgent, complex surgery: surgeons will implant a specialized metal structure designed to permanently straighten the child’s spine. However, the cost of the surgery is astronomical for the family. Yet, for us, it is an opportunity to give this bright, sunny girl a healthy future – free from pain, braces, and fear.
The author is Nina Filatova
Photo from the family’s personal archive
Dmytro Petrenko, Head of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of the Rudnev Mother and Child Center (Dnipro): "Daryna has a congenital, left-sided, Grade 4 scoliosis of the lumbar spine. The deformity is progressing rapidly, which could lead to neurological complications, as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary insufficiency. To correct the curvature, we will need to perform two surgeries: a preparatory procedure involving an incision in the chest to increase spinal mobility, followed by the actual implantation of a device to correct the spine. The child will be able to start getting up as early as the second day, and she will return to school in a month. After a period of rehabilitation and adaptation, Daryna will be able to live a full life, leaving this condition behind her".
The supplier of the metal structure-implant issued an invoice for 193 800 UAH.
Dear friends! If you decide to help Darina Shapoval, don’t be confused by the price of rescue. Any donation from you will be gratefully received. You can send a donation by bank transfer to the Ufund. All the necessary details are available in the fund and on the website. You can use our electronic payment system, make a donation from a bank card or electronic cash, including from abroad using PayPal:ufondhelp@gmail.com. Also, transfer help to Darina using the peering payment system by transferring bitcoins to the Fund’s wallet: 1UFondJDKbYMgVhWsyijyvJoWEGWPggNp.
Daryna Shapoval, from Verkhnodniprovsk, requires urgent spinal surgery. She suffers from severe congenital left-sided scoliosis of the lumbar spine (Grade 4), caused by vertebral developmental anomalies. Daryna is exhausted by constant back pain; the deformity is progressing rapidly and threatens the function of her internal organs. To halt this destructive condition and straighten her spine, surgeons need to install a specialized system of titanium implants. This complex construct will correct the curvature and allow the girl to move again without suffering. However, the surgery costs nearly 200 000 UAH – an unaffordable sum for a family where the father is serving at the front and the mother is caring for their daughter.
Some children are born with a special light in their eyes. 13-year-old Darynka is one of them. She is a truly radiant girl – her hugs have the power to make all the world’s worries dissolve; she feels music with her heart, dances with pure passion, and creates stunning crafts using rhinestones.
Yet, behind that sincere, bright smile lies a daily, exhausting pain – a reality that has led the girl to ask, with growing bitterness: "Mom, why am I like this? Why is my back crooked?"
Trials from the first breath
The family was in trouble even before their daughter was born. Doctors informed Darynka’s mother, Yuliia Shapoval, of serious diagnoses prior to the delivery – but after the birth, another difficult discovery awaited her.
"I found out about the diagnoses around the 32nd week of pregnancy: it turned out she had a congenital heart defect and Down syndrome. As for the spine – no one had mentioned that yet; it only came to light after she was born – about two to six months later", says Daryna’s mother.
Due to low muscle tone – common in children with Down syndrome – and congenital deformities, the girl began to develop rapidly progressing scoliosis.
"When my daughter was little, her spine would curve into an arc. We immediately raised the alarm, wondering why this was happening, and I began seeking help from doctors".
Darynka’s heart was saved thanks to a highly complex, seven-hour surgery. However, as the years passed, her spinal issues continued to drain more and more of her strength. She was prescribed a rigid plastic Cheneau brace, which had to be worn 24 hours a day. The brace caused pressure and pain, yet it failed to halt the destructive process.
"It is incredibly difficult to convince her that she needs this. We’ve spent all these years working with her and explaining things, but it remains a source of torment for the child. If she were a typical child... but for my daughter, it is very hard to explain all of this", says Yuliia.
Today, Darynka has stage four scoliosis – the most severe, critical stage. The curvature of her lumbar spine is so pronounced that walking has become difficult for her. Yet, she loves learning; she attends a regular school within an inclusive program, where she socializes and enjoys the company of her classmates.
“We can’t walk long distances; she complains very often that she’s in pain. Well, naturally – given the extent of the curvature... And she’s constantly troubled, asking: Why am I like this? Why is my back crooked?”
Facing Hardship Alone While Dad Is at the Front
Yuliia, a mother and educator with 20 years of experience, once poured her heart and soul into raising children. But earlier this year, she had to make a difficult decision: leaving the job she loved at a kindergarten. Now, amidst constant air raid sirens – and the frequent need to pick up her child from school – balancing employment has become impossible. Yuliia faces these challenges on her own, as her husband – Darynka’s father – is away defending Ukraine.
"My husband is at the front; he enlisted in May 2022. Even though he has the option to return home – since our child has a disability – he remains at his post, determined to stay until the very end. He says, 'I’m here for you. For my child...' I had to quit my job because I chose my child", says Daryna’s mother.
Yuliia navigates daily hardships single-handedly, knowing that whether her daughter’s world remains a safe and comforting place depends entirely on her. She protects Darynka, and in return, the little girl showers her with boundless, childlike love.
"Daryna is simply a miracle. She is a sunshine child – so incredibly kind. When she comes up and hugs me, I forget all my troubles. I thank God for the gift of her; even though things are very difficult, I can no longer imagine life without her".
The only hope for Daryna is an urgent, complex surgery: surgeons will implant a specialized metal structure designed to permanently straighten the child’s spine. However, the cost of the surgery is astronomical for the family. Yet, for us, it is an opportunity to give this bright, sunny girl a healthy future – free from pain, braces, and fear.
The author is Nina Filatova
Photo from the family’s personal archive
Dmytro Petrenko, Head of the Orthopedics and Traumatology Department of the Rudnev Mother and Child Center (Dnipro): "Daryna has a congenital, left-sided, Grade 4 scoliosis of the lumbar spine. The deformity is progressing rapidly, which could lead to neurological complications, as well as cardiovascular and pulmonary insufficiency. To correct the curvature, we will need to perform two surgeries: a preparatory procedure involving an incision in the chest to increase spinal mobility, followed by the actual implantation of a device to correct the spine. The child will be able to start getting up as early as the second day, and she will return to school in a month. After a period of rehabilitation and adaptation, Daryna will be able to live a full life, leaving this condition behind her".
The supplier of the metal structure-implant issued an invoice for 193 800 UAH.
Dear friends! If you decide to help Darina Shapoval, don’t be confused by the price of rescue. Any donation from you will be gratefully received. You can send a donation by bank transfer to the Ufund. All the necessary details are available in the fund and on the website. You can use our electronic payment system, make a donation from a bank card or electronic cash, including from abroad using PayPal:ufondhelp@gmail.com. Also, transfer help to Darina using the peering payment system by transferring bitcoins to the Fund’s wallet: 1UFondJDKbYMgVhWsyijyvJoWEGWPggNp.