For more than 20 years of the ‘Mother and Child’ charity, we have seen many difficult stories, and all of them are in our hearts forever.
20-year-old Bohdan had just gone out to buy bread that day. His life could have ended in an instant - he was ruthlessly shot from a Russian APC in Gostomel on the second day of the war. He was severely wounded, and only by a miracle was he taken to the Bucha hospital.
There, amidst the gunfire and explosions, doctors worked to bring others back to life at great risk. Andriy Svist, a neurosurgeon with a big heart, and his wife, a paediatrician, left their family to be with those who needed help. They became the rescuers who did the impossible - they gave Bohdan a second chance at life.
When we heard this story from Andriy and Olga Svist, we immediately took action. Without hesitation, we organised the evacuation of the young patients from Bucha, where the flames of war were raging. More than 20 children we took out of the burning city were saved from the imminent threat.
But our journey did not end there. Bohdan, who was severely wounded, needed not only rescue but also long-term treatment and rehabilitation. We began negotiations with Italian clinics and found partners to transport the boy and other children to Italy.
Thanks to the support of caring people, Bohdan received the necessary help at the well-known rehabilitation centre Fondazione Santa Lucia. We made every effort to make his dream of returning home come true.
After his rehabilitation, he still needed constant medical supervision, and for this purpose we found him an opportunity for quality treatment in a private clinic. The courage and kindness of hundreds of people made this story possible.
We would like to express our special gratitude to Andriy and Olga Svist, the dobrobut.mc clinic and all the caring people with big hearts.
Once Bohdan had a special meeting that brought him great joy. His idol, footballer Andriy Shevchenko, spoke to him via video link. His words of support became a real gift for the boy.
Let this story inspire us in these dark times, reminding us that together we can overcome any difficulties. Together we are a big heart!
