Just three days ago, Baby Khrystina was born on Ukraine’s front line with a deadly heart condition and was destined to die within weeks.
Making matters worse, Khrystina developed neo-natal pneumonia in the hours after her birth, meaning that she was close to almost certain-death.
In the most fateful of circumstances an international Cardiac Surgical Team, funded by Chernobyl Children International, arrived in the near-by city of Lviv, to operate on babies who have become the third generation of Chernobyl victims.
In what has been called a ‘Christmas Miracle,’ CCI’s surgeons saved baby Khrystina’s life, thanks to the generosity of Irish people who funded the complex seven-hour surgery on Tuesday.
Chernobyl Children International’s Voluntary CEO, Adi Roche described the team’s work as a miracle:
“The surgeons and nurses have the expertise and knowledge, but without the funding behind this trip, Khrystina would have most certainly died before the end of the week…it’s a Christmas miracle.
“Khrystina owes her life to the kindness and generosity of the Irish people who funded this mission.
“No other nation in the world has stood by and championed those whose lives have been destroyed by Chernobyl as much as Ireland has and this recent Cardiac mission is another reflection of Irish compassion.”
Khrystina’s doting parents told CCI’s team of their initial fear and subsequent relief:
“This week has been the most terrifying of our lives. Our daughter was born into war, and then we learned that she might not survive the week.
“Thanks to Irish people, and the doctors, we can now breathe a sigh of relief and finally feel joy after our daughter’s birth, as we now know that she will survive.”
Dr Igor Polivinok is the Ukrainian lead for the mission, and has fled the epicentre of the war, Kharkiv, following the shelling of his home and hospital:
“Explosions can be heard in the distance, and you can’t tell how close it is. We have experienced frequent bombardment but are not distracted by it. We are determined to save as many lives as possible.”
One member of the brave surgical team is Dublin nurse, Karen Kelly, who was inspired to volunteer her expertise when she learned about CCI’s Cardiac Programme.
Throughout the year, Karen has generously collected thousands of euro worth of medical humanitarian aid, which arrived in the Lviv hospital this week.
CCI’s Cardiac Missions had traditionally been based in Kharkiv, however the teams have been chased by war from East to West and have needed to relocate to Lviv.
Before the war, more than 50% of children with congenital heart defects were not operated on because of lack of facilities and training.
Now it is feared that this rate is much higher and much deadlier.
As a result of the mass exodus of qualified medical personnel, and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities by invading forces, the hospital in Lviv where CCI’s programme is based is the last remaining hospital in Ukraine with the ability to safely conduct complex paediatric cardiac surgery.
