Matvej Delendik

Dear donors! Matvej is a two-year old boy under the wardship of "Chance" foundation whose story has been followed by many people. In May 2012 after a long period of medical examination Matvej was diagnosed with chordoma (malignant tumors of the skull base). At the beginning Matvej was treated in the "Center of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Immunology" (Borovliany). He was also consulted by the experts at the Institute of Neurosurgery of Burdenko (Moscow), who decided not to operate on the baby due to the lack of experience of conducting such operations on such young children. Luckily, the clinic in Germany was found, where doctors successfully remove chordomas in children. Professor B. Mayer from the Munich neurosurgical clinic Rehts der Isar has proposed a phased medical treatment. The first stage implied the surgical removal of malignancy. The following step was to undergo a proton radiotherapy that acts directly on the tumor cells, in contrast to the traditional methods of radiotherapy. The preliminary cost of treatment for Matvej was from 58 000 to 67 000 Euros, plus the subsequent proton therapy cost of at least 50,000 Euros. Active collection of donations was possible due to many responses from people that could not stay indifferent to the story of Delendik family. Dr. Mayer's team conducted two complicated operations, lasting more than 9 hours each. Common effect of the surgery was the elimination of 90-95% of the tumor. Matvej has bravely endured all the trials and tribulations and started to open his eyes and move the fingers. The specialists from the Rehts der Isar consulted with professors from Boston, Harvard, Zurich about the further treatment of Matvej. Unfortunately, morphological examination has revealed that the tumor is even more aggressive and resistant than chordoma. The disease of Matvej is so rare that at the moment the German experts are unable to offer any adequate therapies as further treatment. The boy's parents have decided to continue searching for clinics in other countries. In connection with the emerging new circumstances Foundation "Chance" has decided to suspend the collection of funds until the situation with possibility of further treatment is clarified. We thank everyone who is involved and helps the Delendik family.

The video about Matvej is a courtesy of ONT TV channel (Belarus). The author is Tatiana Zhakhovskaya.

Parents' Letter (June 15, 2012)

In May 2012 after long and thorough examinations by lots of specialists the child was diagnosed with a skull-base tumour. Matvej is in critical but stable condition. He is now  in the Borovlyany Children's Oncology, Hematology and Immunology Center. The only way to help the child is surgical transnasal and transoral tumour removal. In Belarus such operations are not performed: there are no adequate trainig, qualified specialists and equipment.

The specialists at Burdenko Neurosurgery Research Institute (Moscow) tried to help Matvej. During the surgery performed there the diagnosis was made and a biopsy was taken. Matvej was diagnosed with a very rare tumour — chordoma. The doctors in our country never met a child suffering from such a tumour. Unfortunately, Matvej can't be operated on at Burdenko Neurosurgery Research Institute due to the lack of expertise in performing such surgeries in young children.

But Matvej's diagnosis is not a sentence. Several European clinics are ready to admit our son for the surgery. Professor Meyer at the Neurosurgical Clinic of the Munich Technical University agreed to operate on our child. There the doctors have experience in removing such tumours in children and postsurgery rehabilitation. After the chordoma removal Matvej is recommended to undergo a course of protone therapy in Gernay or Switzerland.

Our son's treatment is going to be long and expensive. The necessity for several surgeries might arise. When it comes to young children, protone therapy duration is quite long. Unfortunately, our family do not have the amount necessary for our child's treatment. The sum we have raised on our own is not enough to pay for the surgery and further rehabilitation.

We are sincerely asking you to help us pay for Matvej's treatment and give him a chance for recovery. Your help will become a chance for our family to overcome our son's disease. The Chance Foundation has already helped many children. We hope that you will help our son as well.