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Europe: Belarus

Anastasia Sergeovna Suprun Country of Origin: Minsk, Belarus
DOB: 9/21/91
Aliment: Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)

In early October 1992, Reverend Ralph C. Harley of Mobile, Alabama was visiting in his home with a missionary named Dave Hamilton who had recently returned from Siberia and Russia. He spoke of a baby in Minsk, Belarus who desperately needed an operation.

The child, a young girl named Anastasia, was diagnosed at birth as having a ventricular septal defect (VSD). In this condition, a hole exist between the two sides of the heart, thus allowing oxygen-rich blood to mix with carbon-dioxide rich blood. This heart defect prevents the body from getting all the oxygen it needs and children with this condition often look blue.

Doctors in Belarus were able to diagnose the problem, but unable to

treat it. Anastasia need an operation that could not be performed in her home nation. Her family was very poor and lived in a single room apartment so traveling abroad to seek care was not an option. Her father's monthly income was about $40 and Anastasia's family was lucky to have food and a place to live.

Through Reverend Harley and Mr. Hamilton, Anastasia was referred to Dr. Michael Artman and Dr. Dimitris Nikas of the University of South Alabama. The two physicians arranged for Anastasia to come to the United States for medical care. That medical care ultimately came from Heart to Heart International which arranged for an immediate operation. On February 26, 1993, Dr. Albert Pacifico of the University of Alabama at Birmingham performed the operation that sealed the hole in Anastasia's heart. She recovered quickly and returned home a bright pink baby.

Since her operation, she has had no medical problems. She lives with her mother, father, and her older brother in Minsk.

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