“THEOur thoughts and prayers, at the moment, are focused on our little patients who, in the next few hours, together with their mothers will board a train bound for safety in Poland “ to affirm it is Iana Dashkovska, head of international projects of the Zaporuka Foundationthe twin reality of the foundation Soleterre active since 2003 in the pediatric oncology wards of Kiev and Lviv.
It is precisely the Italian non-profit organization that has organized this opportunity to escape to save the hell of Kiev 15 children suffering from more serious diseases, so far hospitalized and treated in the basement of the Cancer Institute of the Ukrainian capital.
Ph. Andy Rocchelli
The importance of a refuge
«We are very worried – says Iana – because we are in the midst of fighting, there is no stable border line and any movement is very dangerous. But we have no alternative, we cannot risk these children being trapped here, surrounded by Russian troops and deprived of the treatments and medicines they need to survive“.
A refuge, as safe as possible, however, has already been found by the other young patients, in less serious conditions, evacuated to Ternopil from the Dacha del Sorriso, home for children with cancer and their families, established by Soleterre in collaboration with the Ukrainian foundation led by president Natalia Onipko.
The Dacha of Smiles
“The basement of our shelter, too close to the airport, had also become precarious. Now in the Dacha there is no one left, our safety and that of the little patients were at risk “Iana declares, unable to hold back a sigh full of regret having had to abandon the facility which, for many years, represented the safe haven for hundreds of cancer patients.
“I’m afraid I will never be able to see ours again Dachamy city, “he adds. There is undeniably so much fear even for Iana that, the day after the Russian invasion, she managed to escape from the capital to the small town of Sokal, near the border with Poland.
Iana Dashkovska
The night the war broke out
“The night the war broke out, I was sleeping in my home in Kiev. Initially, I heard a barrage of text messages arrive on my cell phone, but, half asleep, I just thought about checking what time it was and I rolled over in bed. Only a short time later, the sound of the bombs made me jumpSo Iana remembers the first moments she realized that the capital had also been attacked, up to that moment defined as a sacred place by the Orthodox.
So, instead of being alone in Kiev, the young Ukrainian operator, in a hurry, collected some clothes and basic necessities and managed to reach the small town at the moment quiet, welcomed by a colleague of the foundation.
The days between commitment and fear
“We spend the whole day looking for updates on what is happening, fearing that the bombings could occur in every area. We sleep just a couple of hours a night, often dressed, in the garage, the safest place “ continues Iana who, at the same time, is in direct contact with Natalia Onipko to ensure support for the children cared for by their association.
«I am preparing the lists of drugs requested by the doctors – she explains – but now I am concentrated above all on the documents of these children leaving for Poland. I am filling out the medical history sheets that will be delivered to the associations and structures that will welcome our patients in Poland and in other European countries“.
The need for support
What is happening, especially for these children, it is a war that adds to their daily fight against disease. The little ones ask many questions that parents often do not have the strength and time to answer; the older ones discover the reality of the facts on the internet.
Protecting children is the main goal of parents, Iana Dashkovska and the foundations Zaporuka And Soleterre: “We are working tirelessly, we try to defend ourselves, but the support of the world is important. We thank Italy that is showing us its closeness also through donations and shipments of drugs and basic necessities “he concludes, confiding in lhope that the Ukrainian army will be able to defend their land, their freedom, the future of these children, above all.
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