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'I'm dying soon of AIDS: please be parents to my 5 year old son'

By 0 and 0 and 0
17 August 2017

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Svetlana Maximova before she caught HIV. Picture: Channel 1

Svetlana Maximova, 26, knows she doesn't have long to live.

'I try not to look in the mirror, I'm constantly losing my hair and weight,' she said. 'I can get paralysed any moment now.'

Her only goal left is to find a good family for her beloved son Artem, who is thankfully clear of the HIV virus, but has no idea his mother is soon to die. 

'I feel worse and worse every day,' she said. 'I want to find a normal family for my child. 

'I want to be sure that my son will get everything he needs - toys and studies and as he grows up, his new parents can give him all that I will not be able to.'

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone


Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone


Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone
Svetlana's son Artem. Pictures: Channel 1


She candidly confessed: 'There were several times when I wished I could take just as many pills as possible. But when I hear the voice of my son, all this changes.'

Svetlana, from the village of  Ubor-Kiret in the southern Siberian republic of Buryatia, went on a 1st Channel TV show to tell her sad story - and appeal for parents to come forward who will care for Artem. 

The show is hosted by Yulia Baranovskaya, ex-partner of Russian football star Andrei Arshavin, and Alexander Gordon.

Yulia told viewers that at first dying Svetlana's request might seem 'weird' but asked viewers to hear her out. 

While Svetlana has relatives, neither she - nor they - believe they are suitable to raise the child when she is gone. 

Meanwhile, Artem is unaware of the tragic earthquake coming in his life.

'When I grow up, I will have my own house. I will live there with my mama,' he tells viewers.

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone


Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone
Svetlana now, her village and house in Siberia. Pictures: Channel 1


'Nobody knows how much time I have left, maybe a month, perhaps a year,' said Svetlana. 'Medication doesn't helping me anymore. 

'The only thing I want now is a normal family for my son. I often cry at nights when my son can't see me; I need to gather all my strength to keep going. 

'It helps me to lie down next to my son, and then a new day comes.  

'Every month I spend about 10 days in hospital. 

'Because of HIV, other diseases attack me.

'My heart is aching, some days it is hard to breath, sometimes my muscles get weak and I can hardly hold a spoon. I can drop a glass of water trying to drink.  

'When I feel very bad I just lie down, and Artem comes to me, asks how I am feel and if we should call Aunt Lyuba - this is our paramedic. 

'But she can hardly help, only with pain relief if necessary.'

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone


Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone
Svetlana Maximova with her parents, and presenter Yulia Baranovskaya. Pictures: Channel 1


This anguished mother admits that she is trying to prepare her loving son for life after she is gone, agonising as this is.

'Sometimes I ask Artem: 'What if one day I have to go away and can't take you with me?'

'He asks: 'Why?'

'And I say that one day you will grow up a bit and know.'

In tears, she said: 'I try to deal with Artem in a way so he is not too much attached to me as his mother.'

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone
Svetlana Maximova. Picture: Channel 1


Svetlana has known for nine years about her HIV infection. 

It is not clear how she caught the disease which she found out about at 17. 

She still manages to grow vegetables to supplement the tiny allowances on which they live. 

'Artem and I eat at home only once a day. I often go to my neighbour Galina for tea and I take Artem with me.'

In her mind, she has the experience of her own blighted childhood, and desperately hopes that despite her coming death, her boy can avoid a miserable fate. 

She wants him to be raised in a real family, not an orphanage.

When she was ten, her father killed her mother, hiding the body in the forest, she said, explaining how she was orphaned.

'We found my mama's body under a pine tree, behind the cemetery. 

'Police investigators said even a dog would have found it hard to find her. 

'Then the police took my father away.'

Mother in heart-rending nationwide appeal to find loving mother and father she can trust to raise her boy when she is gone
The TV show found Viktor Chernyak, Artem's missing father. Picture: Channel 1


Neighbour Galina said:  'Sveta (Svetlana) cries a lot now.

'She  worries very much what will happen next to her Artem; he feels her so well, he knows exactly when she is unwell.

'He prefers to stay with her rather than to go and play with other children. 

'I wouldn't mind taking him at all, although I have six kids of my own.

'But nobody will allow us. They will say I only want money.'

The TV show found Viktor Chernyak, Artem's missing father. 

Despite him not being officially recognised as such, a DNA test for the show proved his paternity.

But he appears unsuitable to raise the child, and admitted the authorities would 'never allow' it. 

Comments (21)

Can you please let the readers-followers know how her quest for suitable parents is coming.
VS, Ontario Canada
31/12/2017 03:58
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I would love to help brinson382@gmail.com
Carla brinson , Manassas vs
29/10/2017 09:37
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Ill take him in and raise him and take care of him i have a 5 year myself
Teri Stoddard, Duluth Minnesota USA
14/10/2017 08:59
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I will love to have him I have 5 kids and there grown but I'm raising my grandson and he's 6 years old and it will be nice to have someone that he can grow with and go to school with you can email me Kdaughtrey73@yahoo.com anytime
Katina Daughtrey , USA broward
30/08/2017 05:52
1
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I am so surprised to see that no family from Russia has come forward to adopt this boy. Is it so that only foreigners are allowed to express their interest?
s,k, sharma, kathmandu
23/08/2017 17:24
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My husband and I have a one year old boy. My husband is in the military and I currently stay home with my son. I would love to care for your little boy. I could never imagine how hard your situation is and I hope everything works out and you find what your looking for.
Jaimie Curran, South Carolina, United States
23/08/2017 06:29
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I am not going to explain my whole family on here but would love to find a way to connect with this mother and give her the opportunity to meet my family and see my home... cali.baby95@yahoo.com
My husband and I have a 6 month old son a great home and lovely family
savanna, lewistown montana
23/08/2017 02:38
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I'm single mother too and I have to lovely kids and I'm happy to have him as my son please contact me
Hello I'm happy to look after your son , Gold Coast
22/08/2017 19:34
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Hi,
What a brave women you are! I truely hope everything works out for you and your son. We are a "normal" family I hope hehe!2 kids (girl 8 boy 6) 3 dogs 1 cat and a bird! We would love to offer your son a loving home ❤️ Please feel free to email me: mike_and_tiff@hotmail.com
Tiffany Soligo, Australia
22/08/2017 17:07
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Samoan German heritage. We have 3 BOYS. Age 4,6&9. Plus dozens & dozens of cousins on both sides. Our family loves sports. Education in Australia is amazing. He will never feel alone or unloved. But will always make sure your memories lives on. We would love love to have another son. All the best to you both.
Richard & Vai Faleao, Australia
22/08/2017 16:32
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We are a family of 5, my husband and I have been married for 17 years we have 3 young boys 1,4,6 we own our own home, I am a fulltime mum while my husband supports our family. We would be honoured to have your son join our family we have a large extended family to love and nurture your son as our own. Please contact us if you would like to know more about us. I wish you the absolute best outcome for you and your son.
Casey, Sydney Australia
22/08/2017 13:22
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Hello ,
Just one look in your sons beautiful eyes and I know that we could give him an amazing life with love and opportunities , we are a loving couple who have been married for 11 years , we own a lovely home on the Gold coast in Australia and live 5 minutes from the beach and have schools and playgrounds all around us. We would be blessed to have Artem in our lives.
Im not sure about adoption policies from your country ,if it is suitable please contact me on asfordc@bigpond.net.au
My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.
dana Case, Gold Coast Australia
22/08/2017 05:24
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We are a family of three. Our son is 10. We would love to adopt Artem and make him a part of our family as we can't physically have anymore children. My extended family would be overjoyed. He would have a big brother to keep him company and safe. He will grow up in Perth Australia with us. We will always share your memory as his mum. Let me know. I hope you contact us trisha@comfortshortstay.com
Trisha, Perth Australia
22/08/2017 02:52
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We are a family of three. Our son is 10. We would love to adopt Artem and make him a part of our family as we can't physically have anymore children. My extended family would be overjoyed. He would have a big brother to keep him company and safe. He will grow up in Perth Australia with us. We will always share your memory as his mum. Let me know.
Trisha, Perth Australia
22/08/2017 02:50
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I see 4 American people here writing in wanting to adopt him & give him a good future, whether they are suitable? Who knows? But the odd fact of the matter is Mr Putin has stopped Americans from adopting Russian children (only he can say the real reason why) with the result that Artem may end up in an Russian orphanage & that would be a "Tragedy" for both him & his mother's wishes.

Mr Putin (have a heart) and start allowing children be adopted by people from abroad again not just in America but Europe as well or where ever. Otherwise too many of your children will end up in your orphanages which in a lot of cases aren't fit for purpose.

I hope the mother (Svetlana) wish comes true before she passes away & that her child is placed into a loving new home environment with people who will truly look after him in place of his own mother.

My prayers to both of them, & remember, God works in mysterious ways.
Jaker, Dundalk
20/08/2017 09:26
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