Saturday, 31 October 2015

Six-year-old girl beats the odds after being born with her heart outside her chest

Virsaviya Borun, a native of Russia who moved to South Florida
with her mother, suffered from a rare condition - called Pantalogy of
Cantrell- that caused her heart and intestines to form outside of her
body. Her heart is protected only by a thin layer of skin.
“When I was pregnant, the doctor said she will not survive,
that she is going to die,” Dari Borun, the girl’s mother, said.
The remarkable girl defied the odds set against her and lives, for the
most part, like any other girl.
"I like to draw Jesus, ponies and angels,” Virsaviya said. “I
don't go to the school and I don't go to the ballet but I want
to do it at home."


Borun said she found a surgeon in Boston able to treat her
daughter, but the cost prevents her from pursuing it.
“It's gonna be expensive for sure and I tried to work with
social worker and she said we don't have opportunity to
apply for insurance,” she said.
An NBC 6 story on Borun and her inspiring little girl was shared
millions of times following its intial airing, prompting many
throughout their community to reach out and help.
An anonymous donor even reached out to the station and offered to

cover the remainder of Virsaviya’s fundraising goal.
“I don't have a family here. It's just me and Virsaviya, but
now I feel like I have a family because a lot of people just
caring about us. They love us. They want to help,” Borun
said.
Though funds are being raised to help the girl receive treatment, she
is currently unable to undergo surgery.
“She can't get it because of her high blood pressure and
pulmonary arteries. So if it goes down, if she will feel better,
they're going to check her in two years,” Borun explained.
At the moment, the mother is concerned with covering basic
treatment as well as living expenses for herself and her daughter

Despite the challenges, Virsaviya said it’s the heart that keeps her
and her mother going.
“My mom always told me that she loves my heart and I really
like it,” she said.

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