Zlata is a 7-year-old girl from Kherson, Ukraine, born with a heart malformation known as Atrial Septal Defect.
For years, her mother Olga had searched for a way to get her the surgery she urgently needed. With no spouse, no siblings, and no travel experience, Olga faced that challenge on her own — holding on to hope.

As of September 2024, Kherson remained under threat from constant attacks. Drones and shelling made daily life dangerous. Zlata had been diagnosed with a serious heart defect when she was just three months old. Doctors monitored her condition closely, hoping the opening in her heart would close with time.

When Zlata turned four, a cardiogram confirmed that surgery was necessary. A specialist from Kyiv was scheduled to visit Kherson in March 2022 to perform the operation. But weeks before the surgery date, their city was pulled into the chaos of war.

On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion and occupied Kherson. The procedure was canceled. Hospitals shut down. Phone calls went unanswered. The family’s focus shifted from recovery to survival. Even later attempts to schedule treatment were unsuccessful due to vaccine requirements and limited access to care.

In June 2024, a new opportunity opened through contacts at the Children’s Hospital in Kyiv. The family was invited to explore possible surgery in the United States. With help from Ukraine Children’s Aid Fund and volunteer coordinators, they gathered paperwork, planned logistics, and prepared for travel. Viktoriia, a Ukrainian escort fluent in English, accompanied them on the long and unfamiliar journey.

In November 2024, Zlata received successful open heart surgery at a leading children’s hospital in Alabama. Her mother shared the following words in her own voice:

“I am extremely thankful for Ukraine Children’s Aid Fund that paid for our entire trip and for the families that hosted us and help us along the way. Thank you very much for all the help you provided for us already and for all the good people who made it possible for my daughter to have this treatment. Your kindness means the world to us.”

Zlata is now recovering well and continuing to gain strength. If you would like to support her follow-up care or help another child in need of urgent treatment, please consider donating to our Medical Assistance Fund.

Click here to make a tax deductible donation that helps children like Zlata.