A Story of Unwavering Faith in Life: Baby Bohdanchyk

Bohdanchyk, a little boy with a big heart, was born on May 12, 2023. His parents, Nataliia and Ihor, carefully chose his name, settling on "Bohdan" — which means "God’s gift." It became a symbol of hope, faith, and love for the entire family, especially since the journey to his birth was full of challenges and anxiety.

Until the 20th week of pregnancy, the couple had no idea of what lay ahead. But during a routine second-trimester scan, Nataliia received heartbreaking news: their son had severe congenital conditions — Tetralogy of Fallot, gastric atresia, and a suspected Down syndrome. Doctors urged Nataliia to terminate the pregnancy, stressing the urgency of the decision. It was a devastating blow. How to cope? How to accept such a reality? Her heart was torn between fear and love — and love won.

The couple sought second opinions. There, they finally heard words of hope: the heart defects could be corrected with modern surgical techniques. That moment was a turning point. The parents wholeheartedly believed Bohdanchyk had a chance to live.

To minimize the risks during delivery, they chose to give birth under the close care of specialists at the Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology named after Olena Lukyanova. When Bohdanchyk was born, the doctors confirmed the diagnoses. They warned that without surgery, he wouldn’t survive. But even with surgery, the path wasn’t simple: if the stomach was operated on first, the heart might not endure; if the heart was treated first, the non-functional stomach would accumulate toxins, preventing him from eating.

The final decision was left to the best cardiologists in Ukraine. The family turned to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery named after Mykola Amosov. After a thorough evaluation, the doctors concluded it would be safe to start with gastric surgery.

This surgery became the first step toward recovery. Bohdanchyk began to gain weight and grow stronger. A year later, when he had grown enough, the doctors scheduled his heart surgery. The four hours and fifteen minutes he spent in the operating room felt like an eternity for his mother, Nataliia. So when the surgeon entered the room and said the words, "The operation was successful," her eyes filled with tears of joy. Though years of follow-ups still lie ahead, her little hero had made a huge leap forward.

Bohdanchyk is still too young to dream, but doctors have already noticed his keen sense of hearing, and his mother believes this might one day lead him to music. Who knows? Perhaps one day this little boy will captivate the world with his talent.

Bohdanchyk’s story is one of parental love that overcomes fear and doubt, medical progress that gives the gift of life, and human kindness that steps in at the hardest moments. His recovery became possible thanks to many caring people — and especially the support of Lancôme, who provided essential medications and supplies for his surgery and rehabilitation.

This miracle happened thanks to the "Big Little Heart" project by Lancôme for St. Nicholas Day 2023.