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.
ACCORDING TO HER MUM SHE SAYS
“When
I was pregnant, the doctor said she will not survive, that she is going to die,”
Dari Borun.
The remarkable girl defied the
record set against her and lives, for the most part, like any other girl.
Virsaviya says
"I like to
draw Jesus, ponies and angels,” . “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.
