Our Hockey Brother Needs a Heart Translplant

In February 2022. Dmitriy "Dyma" Markovskiy was conducting a clinic for youth hockey players in Kyiv. An energetic, healthy 46-year-old hockey coach suddenly felt weak, tired, and out of breath. Without warning, his heart stopped, and he was rushed to a local hospital. Fortunately, doctors saved him, but he was in a coma for numerous days.

When Dyma woke up, it wasn’t the news that his heart had stopped and he had almost died that surprised him most.

While he was in a coma, Russia invaded Ukraine, and his family was forced to flee to a remote village to avoid the invasion. His wife Julia stayed back by his side, and family members took their son, Matvey to a village 200km away where they had convened and sheltered. Weeks later, Dyma was finally strong enough to leave the hospital, and he and Julia fled their home in Kyiv to join their family and be reunited with their son.

Dyma is doing better but has a long road ahead of him. Doctors have now told him that he will need a heart transplant, and he will always be limited in what he can do physically. Between the war and his heart, he has been unable to work and provide for his family. Julia is working and the family is doing what they can. Still, medical bills, medication, rehabilitation, and future costs are and will be substantial.

Dmitriy Markovskiy was my Portland Winterhawks roommate from 1993-1994. Dyma left his family and friends without speaking English to follow his dream of playing professional hockey in North America. As Winterhawks teammates and roommates, we spent an immense amount of time around each other that season and quickly developed a strong friendship. I would call Dyma more of a brother than a friend.

I know that others that have had the opportunity to play with or get to know him feel the same way.

Please help Dyma and his family in any way you can.