Medical Support for Children with Genetic Diseases from Ukraine
Today, Birds for Sofia is intensifying its efforts to support Ukrainian children with rare genetic conditions who are caught in the ongoing devastation of Vladimir Putin’s war — a war that has turned hospitals into targets and left many families without access to essential care.
This Program focuses on delivering essential medical equipment, life-saving medical supplies and medications, as well as covers critical medical treatments and rehabilitation services for children with rare diseases who bravely stay in Ukraine.
To apply to our program, families can fill out the form birdsforsofia.org/application
BfS Rehabilitation Wing
As of 2025, there is not a single pediatric neuromuscular rehabilitation center in Ukraine. As a result, families are forced to flee the country in search of care—traveling to Poland, Germany, or the United States—often at the cost of separation from loved ones and devastating financial strain.
To address this critical gap, we’ve made a commitment to opening the first specialized rehabilitation department in Ukraine—BFS Rehabilitation Wing Program at the renowned Clinical Center of Children’s Healthcare in Lviv, Ukraine. This project is called to strengthen local medical capacity, keep families together, and offer real hope within Ukraine.
Help us build a center of excellence for children with genetic neuromuscular diseases—a cornerstone of our long-term strategy for sustainable care.
Genetic Testing for Undiagnosed Patients from Eastern Europe
This Program is designed to give access to full cycle service for symptomatic undiagnosed children from Eastern Europe, where BfS covers a consultation with a geneticist, prescribed genetic tests, their follow-up interpretation, and a treatment roadmap.
Currently, it operates as a joint initiative between BfS and the ‘Professor Mykytenko Mother and Child Genetic Center’ in Kyiv. Its founder, Dr. Mykytenko, M.D., has successfully resolved 140 cases since the Program’s launch.
In most cases, early diagnosis is a key to preventing lasting damage of a disease by enabling timely and targeted treatment.
Unbiased Inheritable Disease Program for Patients from Eastern Europe
We deliver aid to children with ultra-rare, less-known diseases by covering high-cost treatments not funded by insurance.
We prioritize urgent cases where FDA-approved effective therapy exists and can make a life-changing impact.
In 2025, the Program supports three kids with rare genetic disease, who require uninterrupted medical treatment. Join us to change the lives of kids with ultra rare conditions!
SMA Program for Patients from Eastern Europe
Our Spinal Muscular Atrophy Program targets cases where treatment cannot be covered by insurance or governmental support, and the need for urgent medical equipment, treatment or crucial rehabilitation courses is demonstrated.
In 2025, we are expanding the program’s scope to include surgical cases requiring urgent intervention. These may involve spinal stabilization, orthopedic corrections, neurological, or gastrointestinal surgeries that are time-sensitive and can significantly enhance mobility, reduce pain, or prevent life-threatening complications that can arise as the disease progresses.
Send your birds of hope today – time is the most precious resource these kids have.
Enteral Nutrition Initiative
Our Enteral Nutrition Initiative began as a life-saving effort to support children in Ukraine with rare diseases who rely on gastrostomy tubes for feeding. Since its launch in February 2024, this emergency response has grown into a broader campaign.
Due to the overwhelming demand, we are now working to unite multiple organizations around the world in finding sustainable solutions for delivering critical medical nutrition to Ukraine — including both enteral feeding formulas and other specialized dietary products.
We call nutrition producers and other nonprofits to join us in our mission!