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Saturday, 8 Apr 2023
Updated / Saturday, 8 Apr 2023 20:22
By Paschal Sheehy
Southern Editor
A six-year-old boy seriously ill with cancer, who fled Ukraine with his
family days after the war broke out, is now in remission after
undergoing months of intensive treatment in hospital here.
Leonid Shapoval had a bone marrow transplant in Dublin after doctors in
Kyiv told his parents they could do no more to treat his leukemia when
the war started.
Leonid arrived in Ireland in March of last year when he came to the
home of his grand-aunt, Victoria Walden, near Ballydehob in west Cork.
He was seriously ill, his family were scared and the future looked
bleak.
The contrast with the young man in more recent days is stark: now he is
smiling, happy and healthy.
Shortly after his family arrived in Ireland, Leonid underwent a bone
marrow transplant at the Children's Health Ireland (CHI) at Crumlin in
Dublin.
Just over a year on from his arrival here, the young man and his family
are happy: he is now in remission and cancer free.
"Sometimes we had really bad days, but now he's just fine," Leonid's
mother Yana said.
Leonid, Yana and Serghiy Shapoval
Victoria came to Ireland from Ukraine on a work visa in 2001. When
Russia invaded her home country last year, she welcomed Leonid and his
parents, Yana and Serhiy, to her home.
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Read more on the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Yana said she is now looking forward to a bright future for her son.
"He loves learning. He loves studying. He picks things up just like
that. He's a caring, loving boy and that's what we need in Ireland -
care and love.
"I'm 100% sure from where Leonid was a year ago and the way he is now I
can see a bright, lovely future ahead of him. His health, his attitude,
his everything came out so, so well."
Leonid Shapoval with his parents Yana and Serghiy just over one year
ago
The Shapoval family want to thank the doctors, nurses and medical staff
who treated him in Cork and Dublin, and the hundreds of people who
contributed to his care and made them feel welcome in Ireland.
"I want to say thank you to all the doctors, to all the nurses, to all
the staff in the hospitals. They are amazing people," Ms Shapoval said.
"I want to say thank you to all Irish people. You are so kind and
really amazing."
Last August, Leonid rang the bell at the children's hospital at CHI
Crumlin to signify that his treatment was at an end.
Check-ups followed subsequently: first weekly, then fortnightly and
later once every three weeks and then once a month.
"Now he has full energy again. He has a good appetite. Now he can eat,
he can drink. He can have a normal life.
"After the bone marrow transplant, he is a healthy boy," his mother
said.
The family live in Dublin now as it is easier to access his ongoing
healthcare needs there.
They plan to stay in Ireland long term, and Leonid is looking forward
to starting school soon.