Sasha's Story

The following story is from a ministry called "Doorways to Hope". Doorways to Hope works to enable local Christian families to bring orphans into their homes through foster care and adoption by providing material resources and ongoing support. I am moved by the fact that a family would adopt a dying child. I can't think of a greater act of compassion. Imagine a child being ushered into the arms of Jesus, not as an orphan in isolation, but surrounded with love, care, dignity and her forever family. I'm struck by the fact that adoption is no longer just a way to build a family, but for many, it's a response to God's mandate to care for the orphan. Let's pray together not only for this family, but all the families that God is calling to bring hope to orphans.

December 10, 2010

When Sasha was six years old, her mother, a sex worker, left her not only as an orphan, but also with HIV. Sasha was taken to a sanatorium where children normally stay for a month or so doing therapy. Sasha was there for four years, and she contracted tuberculosis of the bone and her HIV progressed in 4th stage AIDS. The doctors gave her a diagnosis of 2-3 years to live.

Sasha’s fate changed in 2009 when a case work accidentally found some of Sasha’s old paperwork that had been misplaced years before. Suddenly, the forgotten girl was no longer forgotten. Sasha’s sad story tugged at the heart of the case worker and the woman determined to do whatever it would take to find a family for Sasha. The first family she turned to was the Isaev family, famous across Ukraine for being the first family to adopt an HIV positive child. Sveta and Evgeny Isaev now have 7 HIV positive children living in their home. In September, 2009, the Isaevs went to meet Sasha in the sanatorium. They knew as soon as they met her that she would be the newest addition to their family.

The Isaevs brought Sasha home on a very special day—December 25th. Aside from being Christmas day, December 25th was also Sasha’s 10th birthday. The Isaevs took Sasha to a market and got her a Barbie with four dresses, and Sveta says Sasha was delirious with joy. She has fit in very well with their family, adapting to all of her new brothers and sisters.

Unfortunately, Sasha’s health continues to deteriorate. The doctors say that she likely only has a very short time left to live. Sveta and Evgeny are doing everything they can to brighten Sasha’s time in their family, while still holding on to hope for a miracle. They believe that God miraculously brought her into their family, and are praying that He will miraculously heal her physically so that she can stay with them. They ask for you to join them in prayers for their little girl, who has the right to life and a future.

For more information on Doorways to Hope and how you can help Sasha, visit www.doorwaystohope.org.