Green for go; up and running.
But first, breakfast with the boys; gritschke, meat from last night’s barbecue and eggs. Some morning paperwork preparing for my afternoon meeting with some of the incredible surgeons at Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital. A bowl of tasty homemade soup for lunch and the short ride to Slavutych metro station with Dmitry.
Metro 3 – The Green Line from Slavutych to Lukianivska, a direct line taking about half-an-hour. Then, a twenty-minute walk to Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital; retracing my steps from previous times. As they say, ‘The Hospital is Working and Standing for Life’; Ohmatdyt is the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine, saving young lives since 1894. The hospital has 720 beds, treats more than 20,000 people annually and performs more than 10,000 surgeries a year.
First stop was to meet Ihor and Inna, husband and wife surgeons here (Ihor on the Neonatal Ward and Inna on the Emergency Ward); they have been my contacts, now friends, since this journey began. We headed to see Sergiy Klimenko, Head of the Emergency Department; a warm embrace, a coffee and a chat; likewise, Sergiy has been a part of my journey since the beginning; the extraordinary leader of this extraordinary team. I sourced a coagulator for him in June (today’s picture); he and his team use it every day (I have pictures); in June, we also sourced additional medical equipment that is being manufactured in Germany by Storz; anticipated delivery first week November.
Sergiy was generous in his gratitude; I said, please, maybe write a little letter for me to take to England; he did; in Ukrainian; he doesn’t speak English. I smiled and said ‘okay, weekend homework; please, in English’; he smiled, ‘okay’; he did, I have; amazing man; his words:
‘I, the director of emergency medical care, Sergiy Klimenko, am grateful for the Nadezhda – 4 diathermy coagulator purchased by Nick, which we really need for daily work and saving children and I hope for further help. Thank you!’
From here, Ihor and I headed to see Valeriy Bovcun, Head of Microsurgery; I first met Valeriy in June. He showed me a portfolio of his work; it was early morning; I am mightily glad I had foregone breakfast; the things these heroes must do to rebuild the ‘Children of War’ is beyond words. In June, I promised Valeriy that his team would be next in line for our support; I had come to honour my pledge. First, Valeriy insisted on showing me an updated portfolio of his extraordinary skills; images far too graphic; sickening.
Amongst these were shocking, chilling images of injuries sustained by a twelve-year-old girl. For some time, I have been saying I wanted to follow the recovery of a war child; the girl, Kseniia Verbika. I asked Valeriy if I could meet Kseniia; he said he would ask her Mum before my next visit. One of my aims this trip is to find three ‘Heroes of Ukraine’; a new Arrival, an Adolescent and an Adult; our the ‘AAA’s’; my thinking is for us to follow our ‘Heroes of Ukraine’ and, thereby, to gain a better understanding of life in this war-torn country. I was wondering, hoping, that Kseniia would become one of my ‘Heroes of Ukraine’; we can find out next week.
Our meeting with Valeriy was to discuss and agree a schedule of equipment for us to source next week; he had, of course, this ready to hand. He accepted his weekend homework with alacrity; to cost and source the equipment; he promised this would by with me by Monday. You know, I sat in Valeriy’s office; listening about and seeing the evidence of this extraordinary man’s extraordinary skills; piecing together children of war; yet, when he realised my pledge from June was now a reality, his eyes moistened. Please, be in no doubt as to what your generosity means.
I first met Dr. Ihor one year ago; he has always wanted to show me his work on the Neonatal Ward but access is restricted due to the incredibly vulnerable nature of the new born; but, this time, he said ‘Nick, I have permission for you to visit my ward’. We went and I met four mothers with their tiny son or daughter (one daughter with a healthy twin-sister) each one given the chance of life following a life-saving procedure by this remarkable team; each one ‘free’ to go home within the next few days. Amongst the rubble of destruction, you reconcile that everyday life goes on.
Ihor and I returned to see Sergiy and Inna in the Emergency Department; we sat down to a coffee when Sergiy’s phone rang; he jumped to his feet, said something to Ihor and raced from the room. A critically injured girl had just arrived by ambulance from Kherson; first stop neurosurgery; thereafter, dependent upon the first stop. Probably another long night; the everyday reality of war.
To be a tiny part of this is a privilege beyond words; I headed for home; I truly didn’t know what to think; all I know is that it had become another ‘sometimes not day’; maybe, one day, the tears will cease.
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