...and driving.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Children's Hospital in Chop
Last, last Sunday, our friend, Volodya, invited Mike to join him as he went to preach at a Roma (Gypsy) church in the evening. Solomiya and I decided to go also. This was a perfect opportunity because this church is involved with helping out the Children's hospital in Chop (a small city just this side of the Ukrainian border, about 10 miles away). I had really wanted to go back, but we were so busy getting ready for our trip to the US, then we were in the US, then I was a chicken about calling Ernesto (our contact) because he doesn't speak English and I didn't think I could communicate clearly enough with him, blah blah blah.
So- we all went to their church and I used Mike to be my translator. We set up a day to go to the hospital with them.
This past Friday, we met Ernesto and 2 of his friends: Alyosha and Kostya, and headed to Chop. We bought some fruit for the toddlers and diapers and wipes for all!
For those of you who remember my first post about the babies in Chop, you might recall a picture of a little baby with a huge head. We found out when we arrived that that baby had passed away not too long ago.
We delivered the supplies, chatted with the nurses a bit and played with one of the little girls, Larisa. She was also there the first time I visited. Her mom had dropped her off a few weeks prior, deciding that she did not want her because of her physical and cognitive issues. She's about 3 years old.
Larisa began calling each of us "Mama" when we walked into the room and wanted to be held.
We're planning on making this a weekly trip. This hospital has so many needs and no funds to get supplies. I am hoping that as our relationship with the nurses strengthens, they will allow us to be more involved with the care of the babies and that I can incorporate some OT.
So- we all went to their church and I used Mike to be my translator. We set up a day to go to the hospital with them.
This past Friday, we met Ernesto and 2 of his friends: Alyosha and Kostya, and headed to Chop. We bought some fruit for the toddlers and diapers and wipes for all!
For those of you who remember my first post about the babies in Chop, you might recall a picture of a little baby with a huge head. We found out when we arrived that that baby had passed away not too long ago.
We delivered the supplies, chatted with the nurses a bit and played with one of the little girls, Larisa. She was also there the first time I visited. Her mom had dropped her off a few weeks prior, deciding that she did not want her because of her physical and cognitive issues. She's about 3 years old.
Larisa began calling each of us "Mama" when we walked into the room and wanted to be held.
We're planning on making this a weekly trip. This hospital has so many needs and no funds to get supplies. I am hoping that as our relationship with the nurses strengthens, they will allow us to be more involved with the care of the babies and that I can incorporate some OT.
Mini-Trip to Hungary
This past Tuesday, we traveled to Hungary so that we could take our friends vehicle across the border.
Our friends are also NY'ers and are currently in the US visiting their kids for the summer. Their truck is registered in NY and has NY plates, so (because of Ukrainian laws pertaining to foreign vehicles) it must leave the country every 60 days.
The nearest border crossing is only 30 mins away from where we live, but it usually takes anywhere from 1-3 hours to actually get into Hungary.
This time it took us over 3 hrs! Ahhh! There was a car in front of us (at the Hungarian side of the border) in line that was registered in Russia- and seriously- the border guards must have spent like an hour with this guy: going through his paperwork, looking through his car, making calls on their cell phones, etc.
Finally, they let him through and we were next. I don't think the guards were giving this guy a hard time just because his car was registered in Russia; there must have been something up with his paperwork.
One of our favorite things to do when we are in Hungary is to go shopping (well... Maybe my favorite). You can find different foods that are not available in Ukraine and also food and clothing is less expensive.
We went to a couple of huge malls just for fun and had a great day hanging out with our friend, Katya, who had traveled with us.
Solomiya enjoyed herself, but was completely wiped at the end of the day.
Our friends are also NY'ers and are currently in the US visiting their kids for the summer. Their truck is registered in NY and has NY plates, so (because of Ukrainian laws pertaining to foreign vehicles) it must leave the country every 60 days.
The nearest border crossing is only 30 mins away from where we live, but it usually takes anywhere from 1-3 hours to actually get into Hungary.
This time it took us over 3 hrs! Ahhh! There was a car in front of us (at the Hungarian side of the border) in line that was registered in Russia- and seriously- the border guards must have spent like an hour with this guy: going through his paperwork, looking through his car, making calls on their cell phones, etc.
Finally, they let him through and we were next. I don't think the guards were giving this guy a hard time just because his car was registered in Russia; there must have been something up with his paperwork.
One of our favorite things to do when we are in Hungary is to go shopping (well... Maybe my favorite). You can find different foods that are not available in Ukraine and also food and clothing is less expensive.
We went to a couple of huge malls just for fun and had a great day hanging out with our friend, Katya, who had traveled with us.
Solomiya enjoyed herself, but was completely wiped at the end of the day.
What we've been up to lately...
Mike was invited to play again this past Friday night at our church. Practice starts as 8:45pm, they start playing for the service at 10pm and Mike usually gets home after 1am. It's a late night, but I think Mike is really enjoying the opportunity to play and be more involved at our church.
At the Children's hospital in Uzhhorod, there are 2 girls from Holland taking care of the babies for 3 weeks. This is their last week here. One of them works as a pediatric nurse in Holland. They both speak English, so it has been fun to get to know them a little. They are volunteering with an organization called East European Mission. Their goal is to provide monetary and physical support to hospitals in Transcarpathia. I met the director ( he was visiting the girls last Tuesday) and we talked for about 20 mins. He told me they have other volunteers (on short-term trips) in 3 other cities right now.
Definitely a good contact to have. I told him about the poor conditions of the hospital in Chop, so he is going to see if their organization has the funds to take on another hospital.
The girls from Holland are only allowed to take care of the babies in one specific room (the newborns are in a different room). Since the older babies were getting such good care and attention, I decided to just hang out with the newborns while the Holland girls are here.
At the Children's hospital in Uzhhorod, there are 2 girls from Holland taking care of the babies for 3 weeks. This is their last week here. One of them works as a pediatric nurse in Holland. They both speak English, so it has been fun to get to know them a little. They are volunteering with an organization called East European Mission. Their goal is to provide monetary and physical support to hospitals in Transcarpathia. I met the director ( he was visiting the girls last Tuesday) and we talked for about 20 mins. He told me they have other volunteers (on short-term trips) in 3 other cities right now.
Definitely a good contact to have. I told him about the poor conditions of the hospital in Chop, so he is going to see if their organization has the funds to take on another hospital.
The girls from Holland are only allowed to take care of the babies in one specific room (the newborns are in a different room). Since the older babies were getting such good care and attention, I decided to just hang out with the newborns while the Holland girls are here.
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Babies!
First visit back to the Children's Hospital happened yesterday!
Very thankful to The Father's Paradigm church in Hyde Park, NY for giving us money to be spent on these little ones!
Bought a couple of large packages of diapers to take with me. Below are the 2 recipients of these diapers!
Thank you!!!
Very thankful to The Father's Paradigm church in Hyde Park, NY for giving us money to be spent on these little ones!
Bought a couple of large packages of diapers to take with me. Below are the 2 recipients of these diapers!
Thank you!!!
Back in the UA
We had a great trip to the USA to visit our family, friends and church. It was crazy busy most of the time- but we really enjoyed it!
Highlights of the trip include:
- watching Solomiya play with her cousin Sophia
- eating sushi
- going to NYC & Brooklyn
- not cooking for 5 weeks
- hanging out with our famliy
- driving our loaner car (thank you Dunham's!!!) on smooth roads
- shopping at Target
- sharing our love for Ukraine and talking everyone's ears off about what we're doing there
Here are some select photos:
Highlights of the trip include:
- watching Solomiya play with her cousin Sophia
- eating sushi
- going to NYC & Brooklyn
- not cooking for 5 weeks
- hanging out with our famliy
- driving our loaner car (thank you Dunham's!!!) on smooth roads
- shopping at Target
- sharing our love for Ukraine and talking everyone's ears off about what we're doing there
Here are some select photos:
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