Stem cell treatment helping Vlada Kravchenko’s fight to walk again

Vlada Krevchenko sustained a spinal cord injury after a lighting structure collapsed on her in September of 2008 in an accident at a party at Fra Ben in Qawra. The metal scaffolding collapsed on a number of people. Unfortunately, Vlada was the one to sustain the most severe injury, which has left her paralyzed.

Following the accident, the 20-year-old decided to give stem cell research a try at the Neurovita Clinic in Moscow.

“I was determined to have this research implemented on me as a patient,” Vlada said. “Two years ago, my knowledge was based on research. But today I can say that it does give positive results, very much so it helps me with my daily exercises and in my recovery which at the end of the day is to get back on my feet and walk.”

The spinal cord injury stem cell treatment method consists of adult stem cells harvesting from peripheral blood, conservation and their infusion into the spinal fluid, or direct cell transplantations into the tissue of brain or spinal cord.

After her first operation, Vlada regained muscles around the hips which enabled her to crawl.

Despite spending four months in a hospital bed, she managed to start post secondary education at St Aloysius Sixth Form. Regardless the physical struggles and absence from lectures, she successfully passed all her examinations last summer.

She is now member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), at the Richard Clarke’s academy.

Vlada said she had decided to go public with her campaign because she wanted to show society there are alternate ways to recovery, calling for everyone to “aim high and believe in yourself”.

“I myself was inspired by a young woman. Following the campaign, I started receiving many calls asking about the treatment. So I am happy that now I can also help other people,” she said.

Vlada’s future plan is to keep going on with the treatment: “A lot of people have put their efforts into it, including myself, my family and my friends.”

But the treatment costs money:  “I have not received any compensation so far, no money from the insurance and no money from.  My family has also to take on the legal expenses and so we had to acquire the funds,” she said.

A new obstacle has arose in Vlada’s court case, as SonLit, the company that had been contracted by Fra Ben to install the defective light mounting, has been liquidated. “However, the case is still open because there are other individuals and companies involved,” she said.

Vlada also said that if she manages to receive her compensation, she would give it away to charity: “It is money from charity which is helping me recover, so I would give it back.”

An emotional Tetyana Gordiyenko, Vlada’s mother, said she appreciated the help they have been given so far. “I don’t know what we would have done if the accident happened in another country,” she said, adding she was confident that “one day I’m sure we will stand here, dancing together.”

Fully knowing that court cases may take a long time, Vlada decided to get the required funds from charitable events and organizations. Hence, the Help Vlada campaign was set up in 2009. The campaign is also registered as a temporary organisation with the Commission for Voluntary Organisations in accordance with Voluntary Organisations Act.

So far, Vlada’s campaign has managed to collect over €35,000 which have been crucial in helping her start the stem cell therapy as well as continue with the daily rehabilitation. The first time she travelled to Moscow in 2009, where she stayed for a whole month, had cost her €23,000 including the procedure and the checkups.

The Help Vlada campaign, together with Oldskool Promo, is organising the “Aim High!” Benevolent Music Festival on April 16, at Sky Club, with the voluntary participation of local DJ’s and performing artists. One of the DJ’s also includes DJ Ruby, who had performed at the same concert when Vlada was injured.

Admission is with free invites against a contribution or by paying €10 at the door. Invites can be collected from Blackbull, Plush, Twenty 2 and QBar.