July 28, 2015
Chechnya
In 2001, there were fights in the capital of Chechnya, Grozny. The country's second war devastated health infrastructure and the lives of many people. And that's when Madlen was born, the child of a single mother, which in itself was a big problem.
Thirteen years later, the fights are history; new houses were built, new roads were constructed and the municipal services revived. The security situation has also improved. Nevertheless, you can still see some traces of the war, especially in the social and health sector where problems, that are difficult for us to imagine, still persist.
Madlen, whose mother was once kept hidden with her only relative in the basement of a ruined house - where Madlen was brought into the world, now lives with an adoptive family. The biological mother could not take care of little Madlen. The adoptive mother, Larisa, and her father – Madlen's adoptive grandpa – have been taking care of the little girl with all their love, even after they found out that Madlen suffers from cerebral palsy.
Treatment, including a demanding operation carried out in Moscow amongst other therapies, together with the painstaking care of the family who has secured home schooling for Madlen, has yielded some results. The teenage girl is now able to walk, albeit to a limited extent. She has also learned to write and draw.
However, she has a progressing form of the disease and her doctors recommend urgent medical treatment at a specialized clinic in Moscow. In case of delay, there's a risk that Madlen will not be able to walk independently in the future. The recommended treatment is not covered by the state and it will produce a number of other costs, such as the travel to Moscow and the cost of Madlen's adoptive mother to stay in the hospital during the treatment. The presence of her mother is very important given Madlen's age and her dependence on the family's care for her.
The estimated costs of 150 000 rubles, approximately 67 500 CZK, represent a considerable amount for the family, an amount which they certainly would not be able to put together. Thanks to Czech donors the appropriate treatment will be secured without excessive impact to the already low budget of Madlen's family.
