We continue to support families in the regional children’s cancer hospital. Our co-worker Nina shares her heart for these families in the following letter.

We have been helping people from the first day of invasion. We distributed humanitarian aid, often remotely, since my family and I as well as other families from our church were forced to evacuate to the West of Ukraine. Two months later we returned home. Unfortunately, the children continue to get sick and with 70% of this region under occupation many of these children have lost contact with their families, many have lost their homes. Many mothers who are here with their children simply do not have money to buy medicine and food. When they do manage to get it, they have to repeatedly go down to the basement where the children receive the medicines in a non-sterile room amid the constant sound of air raid sirens. Understandably, the children are very frightened. God prompted me in this difficult time to become more active in this ministry. We were able to provide them with medicines specifically chemotherapy drugs, (these are not currently available to buy in Ukraine but we have been able to get them from Italy), food, water, and hygiene products. Because of connections made with believers during my son Erik’s treatment in Italy, we were also able to negotiate with clinics and foundations there for the treatment of 5 more children with cancer. On the Ukrainian side, per the doctor’s recommendations, we organised the evacuation of each child and their family members that were with them by ambulance to clinics in the Italian cities of Verona, Balzano, and Trento. For some children, we paid for a hotel to rest on the road, and purchased the necessary things for the journey. A believer in Italy organised the arrangements with the clinics, housing, documents, food, etc, and supplied an interpreter. I am very grateful to God for providing this opportunity, however prayer support for these children as well as financial support is very important.

Arthur

My name is Marina Z. and I am the monther of a wonderful child nambe Arthur. Wehn I first heard his diagnosis 1.5 years ago, the whole world swam before my eyes. The first three months of the first protocol were filled with continuous tears, coffee, PRAYERS, complete confusion, and incomprehension. Then people from different local churches started coming on the weekends to pray for our children, including some other parents who already went through all this. We are very grateful! We are also grateful for your volunteers for their attention to our children and to us mothers, for organizing the process and helping the Haematology Department. Now, in such a difficult time for everyone, they find the time to listen to our problems, the strength to organize help, and words of support to encourage us. Thank you all very much from the bottom of my heart. May the LORD help you in everything and keep you safe.

Polina

Hello. My name is Nina V. and we are from a city in eastern Ukraine. My daughter Polina was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia which was very frightening for us. We did not understand what the journey of cancer would be like and how we would get through it. Then the war added even more uncertainty as the necessary medicines disappeared from pharmacies, and food and hygiene products from store shelves. (Note: Patients in Ukraine need to buy their own medications, food, and supplies during their stay in the hospital.) Then two volunteers came to help us: Nina and Oksana, They provided us with water, medicines, food, toys, and snacks. They found different opportunities to buy a vital drug for Polina - Purinetol. They gave me more than help - they gave me hope in the future and health of Polina, faith that we can all get through and overcome everything. Thank you all for your help!