Our acquaintance with Ekaterina is inextricably linked with the First Baikal Hematology School, which took place in May 2024 in Buryatia. Within the framework of this Scientific and Practical Conference, a meeting of patients and doctors of the NMRC for Hematology of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation took place. In order to meet her saviors, and personally convey words of gratitude, Ekaterina Alekseeva traveled 450 km. We wrote about this in the Conference summary. After that, Ekaterina became a participant in the Project "I Will Live!". You will be able to get acquainted with the amazing story of a girl from Siberia in September at VDNH. Her portrait will be displayed in a project of the NMRC for Hematology shown at the exposition.
Ekaterina, from Buryatia, is the mother of two wonderful daughters. Not so long ago, after building their own house, the family moved to Irkutsk. Today, Ekaterina and her husband are making plans for the future, although only a few years ago, after learning about her diagnosis, the young girl only had one dream – to stay alive.
In the photo: Ekaterina Alekseeva with her daughters. Photographer Yulia Malofeeva, Ulan-Ude
How it all started
On the 7th of January, my neck and collarbone swelled. However, I attributed the symptoms to a cold. I smeared myself with a warming ointment, wrapped myself in a scarf and went to bed. It got even worse the next morning. There was a very strong pain. I don't like going to hospitals, and this was during the January holidays. The doctors, of course, took a look at me, but they didn't find anything in the labs or in the X-ray and told me to come back after the holidays. I returned, but once again they didn't find anything and sent me to to an oncologist. In Buryatia, because of the long queues, it was impossible to get to a specialist, so I turned to Irkutsk. In Irkutsk, after examining me, the doctor reported that the swelling resembled lymphoma, but to confirm the diagnosis, it was necessary to examine the lymph node tissue under a microscope for malignancy. While I was waiting for the results, I managed to get sick with the coronavirus. It was terrible. I thought I wouldn't survive at all. Furthermore, my daughter was so young. At that time, she was 1 year and 11 months old. On the 14th of February, three days before my daughter's birthday, I l got my diagnosis – Hodgkin's lymphoma. It's a cancer of the lymphatic system. I cried a lot. I had a small child and was young myself, just 26 years old. My relatives did not believe it. They thought it was a mistake. I was living my life and raising a small child. Yes, I was going through a difficult period at that time. When I found out about my diagnosis, I was going through a divorce with my first husband. I started going to Irkutsk, where they began preparing me for chemotherapy. However, there was an opportunity to go to Moscow for treatment. The Semashko Republican Clinical Hospital gave me a referral to the NMRC for Hematology. A doctor who used to work in Ulan-Ude took over my treatment.
I hoped that the diagnosis was a mistake
On the 2nd of March, my two-year-old daughter, my mother and I flew to Moscow. Even when I was on the plane, I hoped that they would tell me that everything was fine, and that the diagnosis made in Irkutsk was a mistake. I had a PET CT scan, and I finally found out which lymph nodes were affected. There were no tears anymore. The only thing I asked was: ‘Will I be able to have more children?’ They explained to me that there was a chance, but I had to undergo 6 courses of chemotherapy. On the 16th of March, the first course of chemotherapy began. I was admitted to the hospital for 13 days. The hardest part was being separate from my daughter. Alone with myself, I asked: ‘Why did this happen to me? For what? What did I do to deserve this?’ At that moment, thoughts of my daughter, who was the main motivation in my recovery, saved me.
I underwent the next five courses of high-dose chemotherapy in a day hospital, coming to the NMRC for Hematology every day. All my hair fell out and I had severe swelling. At first, my daughter didn’t recognize me, but then began calling me a hedgehog. Chemotherapy has a strong effect on memory. Even now, I sometimes have “brain fog.” I either couldn't eat anything at all, or I couldn't stop eating. My body itched. I still have pigmented spots. During treatment, I was given blockades that completely stopped my menstrual cycle. Chemotherapy completely kills you from the inside out. My nails peeled off of my skin, and all of this at the age of 26. A beautiful young woman who needs to raise her young child, and it turned into this. It was very difficult to get over.
Thankful for my life
For the support in these difficult times, I am very grateful to my family- my brother and his family, my sister, my aunt, my uncle. I definitely couldn't have done it without my mom. She dropped everything in one second and came with us. My future husband was very supportive. Like my daughter, he gave me incredible strength to fight this disease. A special thanks to a doctor of the NMRC for Hematology, Darima Samunkoevna Badmazhapova. She is a very radiant woman. She always supported me and said, ‘Don't worry, Katya, you'll be fine!’ She was in touch with me 24/7. She saw how difficult it was for me and understood me. I am very grateful to her and to the department head, Evgeny Evgenyevich Zvonkov. They gave me a second life- complete remission. After chemotherapy I had to undergo a control PET CT scan. I dreaded the results. They were delivered to the post office. In conclusion, it was reported that all lymph nodes had recovered, and the lymph node in the mediastinum remained the same size. When I read this, I cried, thinking that the treatment hadn’t worked, but the doctor explained that yes, the lymph node remained the same size, but there was no cancer and that I was in complete remission. We stayed in Moscow for a while. I was so exhausted that even lifting a tablespoon seemed impossible.
Unexpected pregnancy
When I returned to Ulan-Ude, I tried to take care of myself as much as possible. When I was in treatment, I was very strongly supported by a childhood friend who, being a soldier, was on the front line himself. On the 3rd of November 2023, we got married. I really wanted more children, but I understood that I needed to recover. I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to carry the child to term. The doctors also talked about it. In March 2023, I felt that something wasn’t quite right with me. The pregnancy test turned out to be positive. However, the gynecologist in Irkutsk said that there was no pregnancy. In Ulan-Ude, I was told that I couldn’t have children at all after a disease like this.
However, the human chorionic gonadotropin test showed a positive result. I had no choice but to call my doctor in Moscow. I told Darima Samunkoevna that I thought that I was pregnant. There was a pause on the other end of the phone. After a while, my doctor answered with a question: ‘How is Katya?’ I understood what she meant. Less than 2 years had passed since treatment, and I had become pregnant. Of course, I was scared, but I was determined and even told my husband: ‘If it is destined, then we will live together, if not, the child will be raised by you, but I will never have an abortion. I will believe in a miracle, and a miracle will happen.’ Miracles have happened more than once in our lives. Darima Samunkoevna was very supportive of me, saying: ‘I believe in you. Everything will work out.’
The birth of my second daughter
I carried the baby to term and gave birth in 4 hours. It was a very fast delivery. At 3:15 a.m., I became a mom for the second time. When my husband found out, he was moved. He came to visit us on the 10th day, looked at his daughter, and went back to the front line. Yes, it was hard. My eldest daughter, who was three years old at the time, demanded attention. We managed it. Now, the eldest daughter is 4 years old. Her name is Svetlana. The youngest, Margarita, is not even a year old. I wish those who are currently struggling to not despair. Everything that happens to us makes sense and comes for a reason. It was a life lesson for me. Remember that, after every dark night, comes the dawn. There is always a sunrise. When I found out about this diagnosis, I searched the Internet for information and found one woman who went through this struggle, underwent chemotherapy. She gave me faith. When I got to the NMRC for Hematology, I met a girl who was undergoing her sixth course of chemotherapy, and I had just started the first. She calmed me down and said it wasn't that scary. We must go forward and not despair. We became friends. She had a baby too.
The main lesson
Choose yourself. The most important person in your life is you. You are much stronger than you think. Life is much more wonderful than I thought at that moment. You need to live and enjoy every day.
We would like to thank photographer, Yulia Malofeeva and art project manager, Victoria Garmanova for their help in organizing the photo and video shoots.
