May 2: Ukraine Update
By Lina Knutsdatter Thingstad ~ Hands On Global Team Leader Last week we were, as usual, at different shelters in Chernivtsi ~ all the way up to the Carphatian mountains, close to the Ivano-frankivsk region. We visited refugees in very remote areas, where health service is more than difficult to attend, and where internally displaced people are housed under poor [...]
March 29: Ready to come home
My last day in Ukraine. New team oriented. Busy day today. Over 70 patients, many with severe mental trauma. Children afraid to be outside, insomnia, and constant worry that the air raid siren means missiles will followed them. I am saying goodbye tomorrow morning to an amazing team who will continue this work with courage and compassion. I am ready [...]
March 28: Sending a young boy to Norway
Today we went to a small village outside Chenvistzi. There are many refugees there. We worked in a very small hospital/clinic and saw over 75 patients.The highlight was meeting a young boy 5 1/2 years old with a congenital heart condition. He had cyanosis lips and diaphoretic on exertion. Our doctor examined him and heard a very loud murmur. His [...]
March 27: The untold suffering we see
It has been an emotional and exhausting few days. We have seen many patients, several with really sad situations. A few women with cancer who had to leave their homes amidst the bombings. Due to the war they cannot get the chemotherapy they need. Chemotherapy agents are just not possible now for anyone. Another tragedy of war, a failed medical [...]
March 25: The stress of war on the body and soul
Oh, the stress of war on the human body and soul. Today we held so many weeping people in our arms. And people who never had high blood pressures with bps so high. One gentleman who is alone in the shelter with no family, who has lost his home to bombings, came to us with a headache and stress. His [...]
March 24: The painful reality of war
This beautiful child we saw in clinic today has just lost her father. He was a civilian soldier fighting for his homeland in Kyiv. This is the painful reality of war, fatherless children and a young widow.Fighting continues, bombs continue to be dropped. The humanitarian corridors were supposed to be open for some hours yesterday for food water and medical [...]