Patient Story 2

Vasia's Story

Riley Doctors Are Last Chance for 4 Year Old

July 27, 1998 - Four year old Vasia Latachilin arrived for his first visit to the United States late last week with his mother. Although Vasia looks like any healthy four year old boy, he has a very complex congenital heart disease. Vasia was diagnosed with Critical Aortic Stenosis at three months old. Based on 90,000 births in the United States annually, one of approximately 8,000-9,000 babies are born with Critical Aortic Stenosis.

Although Vasia underwent a successful surgery in Russia when he was three months old, he now needs a second open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve. Vasia's mother, Svetlana, wrote a letter to Dr. John Brown of Riley Hospital for Children, pleading for help. The open-heart Ross procedure, using a pulmonary homograft, will be performed by Dr. John Brown and Dr. Mark Turrentine this Friday, July 31. Riley Hospital is 5th in the nation for Pediatric Heart Surgery. The family has no money and no health insurance. Human compassion and dedication have gotten the family to America.

  • Dr. Brown is performing the surgery at no charge.
  • Rotarians donated $10,000 to Clarian Health to cover fees.
  • Clarian Health is covering overhead fees.
  • The Rotarian District 6560 Gift of Life Program is covering housing fees.
  • Cryolife donated the pulmonary homograft.
  • American Airlines paid for two round-trip tickets.
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