As part of the Mother’s Day initiative by Lancôme and Tvoya Opora, 1,000,000 UAH was raised to fund surgeries for children. We are sharing the stories of patients who were given a chance at a healthy life

Lisa’s Heartbeat of Hope

Lisa’s parents learned about her diagnosis only after she was born. Until that moment, the pregnancy had been smooth, filled with peace and joy. But with her very first breath, their world changed. At the maternity hospital, cardiologists detected a congenital heart defect and advised close monitoring by specialists.

For three long months, the family followed doctors' instructions in their hometown of Odesa, living in a state of uncertainty. Constant medical visits and sleepless nights became their new routine. Desperate to help their daughter, they searched for a solution.

Eventually, their journey took them to Kyiv, to the M.M. Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery. There, they finally found hope. The doctors recommended waiting another three months before surgery, giving Lisa time to grow stronger.

In October, that long wait turned into action. Lisa’s heart surgery lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes. While her parents anxiously waited outside the operating room, the doctors worked to repair her tiny heart. After 12 days in intensive care, the family was able to return home — and Lisa will not require further heart surgeries.

This life-saving operation was made possible through the Mother’s Day initiative by Lancôme. As part of our “Big Little Heart” project, in partnership with the Amosov Institute, we cover the cost of essential medicines needed for heart surgeries.

Lisa’s mother says her greatest dream now is to see her daughter grow and thrive in a peaceful Ukraine.