A Parent of a six-year-old Russian girl who was born with her heart on the outside of her chest is now raising money needed for her daughter's surgery.
Dari Borun was told by doctors that her daughter wouldn't live long after birth, but Virsaviya Borun-Goncharova has defied the odds growing up into a little girl who likes to draw and dance.
"I like to draw Jesus, ponies and angels," said Virsaviya Borun told NBC Miami.
"I don't go to the school and I don't go to the ballet but I want to do it at home," she added.
She suffers from Pantology of Cantrell, a rare disorder that is present at birth involving the sternum, diaphragm and pericardium.
In Virsaviya's case, she was born with her heart and intestines on the outside of her body, covered by a thin layer of skin.
"I don't go to the school and I don't go to the ballet but I want to do it at home," she added.
She suffers from Pantology of Cantrell, a rare disorder that is present at birth involving the sternum, diaphragm and pericardium.
In Virsaviya's case, she was born with her heart and intestines on the outside of her body, covered by a thin layer of skin.
"Virsaviya is missing part of her chest bones, part of [her] abdominal muscles, and doesn't have a diaphragm," says a fundraising page set up for the family.
"My heart is right here. It's outside of my chest and I really love my mum, she's always touching my heart because she likes it," said Virsaviya.
Born in Russia, Virsaviya was turned down by 'many doctors' until a physician at Boston's Children's Hospital agreed to treat her.
Video
We're introducing you to this sweet girl from Russia, who now lives in South Florida. She was born with her heart...
Posted by NBC 6 South Florida on Wednesday, October 28, 2015
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