An 18-year-old resident of Kstovo is battling a rare genetic disease.

      On June 15, 2026, 13:27 Society An 18-year-old graduate from Kstovo, Ekaterina Averyanova, who suffers from a rare genetic disease - spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), has passed the Unified State Exam (USE) in chemistry and biology and is preparing to enter a university. The girl moves in a wheelchair and dreams of becoming a doctor. According to her, the exams were not the most difficult test in her life, as she has had to cope with the consequences of a severe illness daily since childhood. The first signs of the disease appeared when Katya was two years old, but the diagnosis was only established at the age of five. By the fourth grade, she had completely lost the ability to walk independently. According to pravda-nn.ru, since the age of 13, the girl has been receiving pathogenetic therapy funded by the "Circle of Good" foundation. Despite the treatment, the disease has led to progressive scoliosis. Now, Ekaterina finds it painful to sit and difficult to breathe. After additional examinations at a federal center in Moscow, doctors recommended urgent spinal surgery with the installation of a metal structure. Nevertheless, the girl continues to prepare for her future profession. She is considering studying at the Institute of Biology and Biomedicine of NNGU named after Lobachevsky in full-time mode. It is worth noting that after reaching the age of 19, patients with SMA receive the necessary therapy through regional programs. In the Nizhny Novgorod region, there are regulations guaranteeing medication support for adult patients with this disease. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials for 18+.