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Occasionally the Yearn Foundation will come across a cause that connects especially close to home.

This cause we are blogging about is to help our dear friend, Tatiana Smirnova, who lives in Vladivostok, Russia (eastern Siberia). Her son, Kostya Smirnov, is in serious need of help with healthcare. He miraculously has survived several surgeries to date but is in need of even more help.

We have posted, in its entirety, a letter from Tatiana below.

–letter from Tatiana about Kostya–

Dear Friends: My son, Kostya Smirnov who is now 18 months old, has serious congenital growth defects, spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Before birth none of the doctors predicted that Kostya would have these defects. Soon after his birth they sent him to the neonatal department of the hospital. The young child waited for a long time while doctors decided who would perform the operation.

At that time President Zvyagolski was our branch president and I asked him to give the child a blessing. He spoke with the head of the medical department and set up a time and then my child received his first blessing.

After the blessing things moved much more quickly and when the infant was one month old the operation took place. On the day of the operation I knelt down next to the operation table and pleaded with the Lord for the health of my son and for a successful operation. Unfortunately one operation was not enough; the child’s head began to grow very quickly as fluid began to accumulate inside the skull. They placed the child in intensive care and we waited for another miracle. Both branches prayed and fasted for the recovery of Kostya.

The second operation took place a month after the first, which also went well, thanks to the Lord. We left the hospital when the child was two months old. From that time the child constantly received massages, physical therapy, as well as other available treatments. By recommendation, neurologists also performed laser treatments and injections.

At the present time our doctors have told us that they have done all that they can with the resources available in our country, but Kostya is unable to walk or stand by himself, although he really wants to and tries often to stand up.

In March of 2009 we went through the first course of treatment in China, using the methods of traditional Chinese medicine. After the course, Kosya’s legs began to get stronger. He began to more and more confidently walk, holding onto the hands of an adult.

For full healing, three or four courses of treatment are needed. The next course begins in September of 2009. The cost of this course is $5,460. I am turning to you to request help. Any sum would be a huge comfort to us, on our path to healing.

If you are aware of anyone else who might be able to help us, please forward this letter to them. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Sincerely, Tatiana Smirnova”

–End of letter–

Thanks readers for taking the time to review Tatiana’s letter.