Stories

Surviving occupation in Kyiv oblast

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 10:17:07 GMT

Kyiv

Kyiv oblast was one of the first regions hit by Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine on 24th February, 2022. Kyiv Oblast is made up of many towns and villages on the outskirts of the capital city, Kyiv. Much of this region was occupied by the Russians right at the beginning of March, 2022, following massive bombardment and widespread destruction inflicted by the Russian military. By the end of April 2022, the region was liberated by the Ukrainian military, much to the joy of the Ukrainian people. Large parts of the region were completely destroyed by the Russians, not just the buildings and infrastructure, but the bodies and souls of the citizens as well.

Borodianka is one of these towns in the Bucha region of Kyiv oblast, 30 miles Northwest of the capital, Kyiv. Most people in Borodianka owned farms, with many animals and large areas of cultivated land. Despite humanitarian corridors being established, it is unclear how many managed to escape. Roads into and out of the town are littered with burnt out cars and vehicles. Borodianka was heavily shelled by Russian rockets on 1 ^st of March 2022 and as a result, eight large apartment buildings were completely destroyed and many people were killed. When the apartment blocks were hit by rockets, locals wanted to launch a rescue operation to find people who were buried under the rubble, both those buried alive and the dead. The Russian soldiers refused to allow anyone to dig through the rubble, or even to bury the dead. It wasn’t until the Borodianka was liberated by the Ukrainian military that the locals were able to search for the bodies of those who had died in the destroyed buildings. This meant that even those who survived the shelling, died under the rubble.

The Russian occupiers forced their way into civilian houses where they set up bases for their soldiers. Any remaining residents were either killed or forced out of their homes into basements. The occupiers killed the animals for food, stole all the canned food from peoples kitchens and drank all the homemade wines. All the while, the locals were hiding in dark, cold basements with no food, light, warmth or medicines. Those remaining in Borodianka were at the mercy of the Russians and could do nothing without prior permissions. To step foot outside their basements without permission would mean being shot on the spot. Residents couldn’t even go out to use the bathroom or to find food without permission. The Russian soldiers destroyed everything they possibly could leaving a trail of destruction wherever they went.

When the Ukrainian military successfully launched a counter offensive and liberated the Kyiv region, residents of Borodianka were deeply relieved, but the reality was that this nightmare was not going to disappear with the Russian soldiers. There were no shops, pharmacies, or clinics that were functioning. All the farm animals had been killed, food stores had been stolen or eaten, their houses were destroyed and most had lost multiple family members. Volunteers from across Europe started to arrive in Borodianka and began building temporary shelters for families on their farm land. This meant families could stay together at home and begin the slow and painful process of rebuilding out of the ashes.

A year later, there are still no shops, pharmacies or clinics in Borodianka. Residents are forced to travel into the city to buy basic food items and medicine. With the majority of remaining residents being the elderly, travelling into the city is near impossible because of mobility and lack of finances. The people are suffering greatly.

Our partner from a local organisation in Ukraine, SEM (Shidno Evropejska Misija) and a small group of volunteers from across Ukraine gathered together to respond to the desperate needs of people in Borodianka and the surrounding villages. The team purchased food, medicines and essential items, loaded the supplies into 3 vans, and drove to Borodianka. For The One was able to provide the funds to cover the cost of the medicines and fuel for delivery. Medications were purchased to meet specific needs in the town and surrounding villages, these included tablets for chronic conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure, sedatives, painkillers, cold and flu tablets and first aid items such as bandages. A total of 40 people received critical food packages and medicines.

While Zsolt and his team were in Kyiv oblast, they had the privilege of visiting 20 families in Borodianka and the surrounding villages. All of these families had lost at least one family member as a direct result of the war and subsequent occupation. The families here find comfort in one another, united by their shared, harrowing experiences. No words are needed to explain the horrors of what each person has experienced, they all know.

One lady who received a food package shared what had happened to her neighbours during the Russian occupation. The family, a mother, father and their adult son, had lived in a nice house in Borodianka. When the Russians entered the town they moved into this families house, destroying all their possessions, taking all of their food, alcohol and farm animals. The family were forced to live in the basement and could only leave when the Russians allowed them to. One day the Russians, who were living in their house, opened the basement door and ordered the family to come out into the yard. The Russian soldiers were waiting for them with their guns, ready to shoot. The woman (mother) thought that they would all be killed but instead the Russians shot and killed their son and left both parents alive. Not only did these parents watch as their son was executed in front of their eyes, but they were refused permission to bury him. So deep is the trauma, the mother is no longer mentally stable and she rarely leaves her house. Whenever the neighbours/receive food donations or other essential items, they ensure that they take supplies to this mother and father. They care very deeply for one another and won’t let anyone go without.

One lady receiving food and medicine support told Zsolt and his team that her husband and son had both died while fighting to liberate the Kyiv region in the first months of the war. This lady was deeply grateful for the support as it had been extremely difficult for her to sustain herself alone. This is a horrifying painful reality for many of the women and families who remain in Borodianka.

The people were deeply touched and grateful to have received this help in the midst of such hardship and heartache. It is shocking that even after a year, of liberation, people are still suffering form the lack of basic food, goods and medicines. Every penny given to help the beautiful people of Ukraine means so much. Not only are the team able to meet a physical need in providing much needed food and medicines, but they also take something much greater, hope. The team met people wherever they were however they came, and offered them friendship, love and hope.

Baby boy found on a rubbish dump

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:05:03 GMT

Zion

Zion was found by a couple who run an orphanage, barely alive, amongst a large pile of rubbish in a small rural village. It was impossible to know his exact age due to serve malnutrition and neglect. Some said he was a newborn, other claimed he was older, either way, this was a tiny, precious baby close to death.

He was immediately taken to a local hospital where he was cared for around the clock for the next 6 weeks. Over the following months, he battled severe malnutrition, recurrent pneumonia and many viral infections that knocked back a lot of progress being made. As well as providing financial support to cover medical bills, we invested as much time as possible in loving this little boy. The trauma caused by abandonment, rejection and severe neglect is powerful and we recognised that dealing with the emotional trauma was just as important as the physical. I will never forget the permanent look of fear and terror in his eyes, he would never give any eye contact.

We would spend hours and hours cuddling Zion, speaking words of life and purpose over him, holding him close, telling him he belonged here and that we loved him. We watched as this tiny, frail, terrified little baby began to respond and eventually thrive despite the knock backs. The day Zion looked back into my eyes and held my gaze was the most rewarding and precious moment of the journey with him. From that day on, he never stopped staring into the eyes of those who loved him. When he was well enough to leave the hospital, Zion was released into the care of the couple who found him near their orphanage. We visited regularly and supplied all his milk, nappies, medications and regular hospital visits.

Looking at Zion now I can hardly believe it is the same child. He is a happy and healthy little boy and loved by all those who meet him.

Ukraine outreach

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:05:03 GMT

Balakliia

Balakliia is a city in Kharkiv, Eastern Ukraine and currently around 30 miles away from the frontline. The city and surrounding areas were some of the worst hit by the invasion in the early months of the war and as a result it quickly fell into Russian control.

The war has been devastating for this region but Russian occupation made living unbearable for those left behind. Balakliia was liberated in September 2022 after 6 months of occupation. Despite the relief and joy of being liberated, the people of Balakliia continue to face immense challenges simply to survive each day. The enemy left behind a trail of destruction on an ‘apocalyptic’ scale and inflicted unspeakable acts of horror and violence on remaining residents leaving thousands of spiritually, emotionally and physically broken and traumatised people. Sickness and disease is a growing problem exacerbated by months of living in damp, dark basements in freezing conditions and with poor sanitation, nutrition, lack of sunlight and limited access to medicines.

For The One was able to partner with a local organisation on the ground, SEM (Shidno Evropejska Misija) run by dear friends of ours. Zsolt and his team of local Ukrainian and Hungarian volunteers are reaching some of the most desperate communities with food, medicines, generators, blankets, clothes and many other essential items. Financial support for this latest trip came from multiple sources across a number of different countries and groups, all covering different aspects of the trip. This is the beauty of people coming together for a common goal and serving alongside each other. The team were able to reach 3 towns/cities in the Kharkiv region including several smaller villages in the surrounding area.

For The One was specifically able to fund the large order of medications and first aid items that had been requested by local leaders on the ground and provide the funds needed to cover the cost of fuel, food and accommodation. The medicines and supplements requested and purchased included analgesics (painkillers), cold and virus mediations, antipyretics for fever, antihistamines, drugs for a number of acute and chronic conditions such as high blood pressure, sedatives, and a range of vitamins to supplement poor nutritional intake. First aid items such as bandages and iodine solution were vital for dressing wounds and preventing infection. To date, 40 individuals have been given up to 2 weeks worth of medications.

In Izyum, Andryivka and Balakliia, volunteers from the local church have opened their doors to remaining residents and established community hubs where people could go to warm up, find food, receive essential supplies (where available), to find friendship, support, and love. Generators and gas heaters were provided to these centres by the volunteers to enable the churches to continue serving the local people for as long as they are needed.

Joy in the midst of tragedy

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:05:02 GMT

Thomas

Thomas is an 11 year old boy from a mountainous region of South East Asia. He lived in a small village with his parents and siblings. One day, whilst Thomas was playing outside his house he was hit by a long range weapon, traumatically amputating the right leg and badly damaging his left leg.

With the nearest hospital a days drive away, For The One, having been informed of the incident almost immediately after it had happened, had to act quickly to ensure any chance of survival. A small medical team on the ground were able to control the bleeding and stabilise Thomas just enough to transfer him to a bigger hospital that could deal with the complexities of traumatic injuries on this scale. Thanks to the quick actions of all those on the ground, Thomas eventually had surgery that not only saved his remaining leg but also saved his life.

With very minimal pain relief, multiple surgeries and being far away from home, Thomas was overwhelmed and desperate to go home. Just weeks after the incident, his brother was killed in a second horrific incident. This is the reality of war! Overwhelmed with grief and unspeakable trauma, the family chose to return home to say goodbye to their son/brother. This is not the choice we would have wanted for them, but we were learning, and continue to learn, how to navigate and balance the need for medical treatment alongside the complexities of trauma, grief and war. With most mobile data and phone lines cut in this region, communication was incredibly difficult but we continued to be in contact with the family where possible and monitor recovery as best as we could.

For The One was able to cover all the costs of Thomas’ medical bills including all transportation cost, accommodation and food. It was also an opportunity to offer a variety of support to the whole family including friendship, love and hope. Recently, Thomas and his older sister made the long journey to seek further advice on a potential prosthetic leg. Just 8 months after the incident, Thomas was accepted for assessment at a prosthetic clinic specialising in children and they were ready to receive him immediately. The day the first photo was shared of Thomas standing with his new prosthetic leg we felt two things. On one hand our hearts ached as we recalled the trauma and pain this little boy has suffered, and we grieved everything he has lost. But on the other hand, we were overwhelmed with pride and joy to see Thomas standing upright for the first time in 8 months and with a smile on his face. He is alive and for that we are so grateful. But it doesn’t end there, with his physical healing well on its way, our heart is to see Thomas find complete healing emotionally too.

Thomas continues to thrive as he adapts to life with a prosthetic leg. He will need ongoing help and support, particularly as he grows but we are so proud of him.

Hope for many more years to come

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 14:05:01 GMT

Simon

Simon is a 71-year-old man from a remote and mountainous region of South East Asia. He had been suffering from back pain for many months, which was getting progressively worse by the day.

He had become housebound in his home and unable to work to bring in a wage. With no hospitals or clinics in his region, he travelled with great difficulty, for 4 days to reach a big city where he hoped he may be able to see a doctor. We were introduced to this gentleman through a mutual friend and asked if we could help in any way. It has been a complex journey of medical consultations, tests, surgeries and treatments but with no diagnosis for a very long time.

All the while Simon continued to deteriorate and was drifting in and out of consciousness. Eventually Simon was diagnosed with skeletal tuberculosis (TB of the bone) of the spine and doctors told us there was nothing they could do for him and to take him home to die. At this news we chose to fight harder for his life and to remain under the care of the hospital. Slowly our persistence began to bear fruit and Simon began to make small improvements. He is now staying outside of the hospital not only nearing the end of treatment but thriving and excited to go home to his family.

Advocacy is a vital part of our support, particularly for those who are most vulnerable, such as those caught up in poverty and sickness, such as Simon.

Healing from addictions and depression

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:53:40 GMT

Danny

For The One was introduced to 30 year old Danny whilst caring for his sister who was battling cancer. Danny is a quiet man with a gentle, caring nature but years of emotional trauma, brokenness and rejection has left him battling addictions of many kinds.

He was held in bondage by the lie that he was worthless, insignificant and a lost cause. This was manifest in many damaging behaviours including alcohol abuse.

We had the privilege of walking alongside this man over several years and watched him come alive as he encountered love and acceptance for the first time. Walking alongside Danny involved regularly meeting him and his family to talk, listen, eat together and offer physical, emotional and spiritual support.

Danny had been excessively drinking whilst his sister was sick in hospital and this then escalated when she passed away in late 2020. For Danny, this was his only escape from the reality of the overwhelming pain he was feeling. He was also sleeping rough on the dirty concrete floor of the hospital, unable to face the reality at home.

We were able to support the family with accommodation in an area where there were small business opportunities and For The One volunteers visited the family regularly to encourage, support and love them.

Over the past year, Danny expressed a desire to give up alcohol and asked for help. We were delighted to be able to get him seen by a local clinic who are guiding him through this process. He is trying to support the family run the small business as he continues his journey of recovery.

One ladies journey to full health

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:47:34 GMT

Mary

Mary is a 34 year old lady from South East Asia. Mary lost her father when she was young, leaving her mother to raise her and her brother alone. In 2017 whilst studying, she began to suffer with excruciating abdominal pain.

A trip to the hospital revealed a mass attached to the uterus and growing steadily. At the time, with no money for treatment and having been told she would likely need a hysterectomy, she decided to return home without treatment. Between 2017-2022 the mass grew leaving Mary looking 6 months pregnant and in constant pain. Tragically, in 2021, her brother died suddenly.

One of our volunteers was able to arrange for her to be seen by a highly skilled surgeon who was not only experienced, but also incredibly kind and understanding. They promised to do all they could to remove the tumour without the need for a full hysterectomy but admitted this was unlikely. After 5 hours of surgery the surgeons managed to isolate and remove the whole tumour without the hysterectomy. A few days later the histology results came back to confirm it was benign. Seven days after the surgery, Mary got to return home to her mum and is doing exceptionally well.

It was a real privilege to be able to support Mary through her surgery and to provide the means needed to enable her not just to survive but to thrive. We are grateful for the opportunity to prevent another tragedy in this little family after so much grief and loss.

Broken dreams and a shattering diagnosis

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:47:25 GMT

Martha

Martha (not her real name) is 20 years old and lives in a rural village with her brother, sister in law and their 3 children in a small bamboo house. Her parents died many years ago and it tore the family apart.

Two years ago her legs began to swell and she found it painful to walk. The family saved what money they could to send her to the hospital. The doctors diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis, started her on medication and made a referral to a rheumatology consultant. At this point the family had used up all their savings and there was no money left for further treatment so Martha returned home. Over the next year, Martha’s symptoms got progressively worse, she dropped out of school and could barely leave the house. Her whole body became swollen, from her face down to her toes. Every movement because excruciatingly painful and she was often tired and short of breath.

When we met Martha, she was acutely unwell and had lost all hope. It wasn’t difficult to see the pain she was in. She timidly told us her story, the pain, the hopelessness and the fear. We asked Martha what her dreams were for the future, at which she let out a nervous laugh and with some gentle persuasion, she told us she loves animals and wanted to be a vet. At that point she broke down and wept.

We took Martha to the hospital where they immediately ordered multiple tests including blood, X-rays and ECG’s and sent her home on medication awaiting test results. Three days later we returned to the hospital where she was diagnosed with Lupus and immediately admitted with an enlarged heart and inflamed kidneys. Lupus is an autoimmune disease with no cure but symptoms can be managed to maintain a good quality of life. Since then Martha has deteriorated, however, the care she is getting from the hospital is exceptional and we are confident in her determination to fight this disease.

We continue to love and support Martha and her family through friendship, encouragement, regular hospital visits, and financial provision to cover all medical costs. We know this is a long road but we are committed to seeing Martha thriving, healthy, back in school, and dreaming of her future as a vet.

The beauty and brokenness of grief

Thu, 09 Mar 2023 09:46:21 GMT

Grace

Grace is a 5-years-old girl from a mountainous region of South Asia. Her family are poor and her father is sick and unable to work.

Her mother works as a farmer and earns just enough money to put food on the table for the family. Grace developed a small swelling on her neck when she was 4 years old. A local clinic was able to do blood tests and a basic ultrasound but the quality of the scan was very poor it was impossible to make any potential diagnosis. The family were told they would need to go to a larger hospital in a city to get the diagnostic tests required. With all the families savings, Grace and her Mum traveled for 4 days to get to the city where they had some distant relatives. A neighbour saw the little girl and contacted us to see if we could help. We met Grace and her Mum in a shopping centre car park to introduce ourselves and immediately fell in love with this beautiful little girl and her mum. The swelling grew significantly after this first meeting. After months of repeated blood tests, scans, a wrong diagnosis, biopsies and medications, Grace was finally diagnosed with a malignant germ cell tumor and began a year of gruelling cancer treatment during the first six months of the pandemic.

For The One was able to support Grace financially through all her medical treatment which included all transportation fees and food. In addition to the physical need, we dedicated ourselves to seeing her thrive in every aspect of her journey. We spent hours sitting in clinic and hospital waiting rooms whilst entertaining ourselves with kids YouTube, phone photos and videos, playing hide and seek, eating snacks, laughing together and learning to communicate in each others languages. We ate on hospitals floors, played games, sang songs, did face painting, kinetic sand modelling and so much more. Whether she was admitted into hospital, going to appointments or at home between treatments, we were there. Grace wanted to be a teacher when she grew up and she definitely had the character to be one. She was so determined, yet full of fun and mischief.

This brave warrior walked through her cancer journey with such grace, courage and incredible joy! Of course there were tears, but laughter always followed closely behind. Whilst most of the world was in lock down (or some form of home quarantine) Grace was travelling back and forth to the hospital for surgery and chemotherapy. Daily painful procedures, blood tests, scans, medications that make her vomit, blood transfusions, confined to her bed and only her Mum for comfort. Yet her only complaint was that her hair had disappeared so what does her hairbrush do now?!

Grace successfully completed her treatment and was officially declared cancer free in early 2021. They returned home to their village where they received a hero’s welcome. Tragically, our precious girl, Grace, died in the summer of 2022 from a preventable infection. This is the reality of poverty and poor access to health care services. She died from pneumonia after the family were unable to find the transportation fees to get from their village to the nearest hospital. By the time a neighbour offered his car and drove them to the hospital, it was already too late and they sent her home to die. We miss Grace so much, but in the midst of the grief, we are choosing to celebrate her life and look forward in hope. We continue to keep in touch with her family and offer as much love and support as we can. In the early days after Grace passed away, we covered the cost of the funeral and then supplied the family with a months worth of food to allow her mother to stay at home with the family and grieve her daughter. We hoped this would alleviate the burden of putting food on the table each day but gave her mum the option of choosing when she was ready to return to work.

At For The One, we know first hand that grief is a gift. In a way, grief is just love with no place to go. The measure of grief is simply a reflection of the depth of love that was shared. To deny the fullness of grief is to deny the depth of love. We both love and grieve Grace deeply.