Surgical and education mission to Ukraine.
Donation protected
You know how people often say ... "I wish there was something I could do..." or "I wish I could do more ..."? Well, I have found a way to do just that.
The war in Ukraine continues to impact both the Ukrainian people and those around the world. Millions have been displaced from their homes, families have been torn apart, home and businesses destroyed and casualties on the front lines and innocent people. As a result of the ongoing fighting, Ukrainian hospitals are lacking in much needed medical supplies and patients are often deferring proper medical care, either due to geographic limitations or enduring significant wait times due to decreased number of medical providers available.
One of the colorectal surgeons that I work closely with at Northwestern is Dr. Vitaliy Poylin. He is Ukrainian and last year he started a medical charity called Pack the Plane to Ukraine.
Pack the Plane to Ukraine is a Not for Profit organization that was formed in response to the war in Ukraine. During this time of crisis, Ukraine is struggling with resources and access to basic supplies, both medical and personal. Pack the Plane to Ukraine has been collecting, purchasing, and shipping humanitarian goods and medical supplies to cities all across Ukraine.
In addition to sending much needed an critical medical supplies to Ukraine, Dr. Poylin has led a week long surgical trip to Ukraine in 2022 where a team of surgeons from Boston and Chicago traveled to several hospitals in western Ukraine and Kyiv to operate and to drop off supplies. The surgeons also taught new techniques and surgical methods to the Ukrainian doctors.
In the second week of July there will be another week long trip to continue this ongoing effort. This trip will include working with Ukrainian surgeons for complex cases that have resuted from the ongoing crisis either being delayed or not having enough resources to complete the much needed surgical procedures. US and Ukrainian surgical teams will work together to evaluate and treat these patients. This trip will also include ostomy specific outreach that I will lead to provide clinical resources for both Ukrainian providers in need of education and supplies and also several patient clinics where we will be able provide much needed ostomy specific care, education and supplies as there are very limited resources during the ongoing conflict.
I am very honored to be joining the surgical team during the upcoming trip in July. I am reaching out to raise funds for both the cost of traveling to Ukraine and also to be able to continue provide supplies and care to several hospitals and patients across Ukraine. We also will be providing a master class in oncology and GI surgery at the National Cancer Institute in Kyiv so that Ukrainian surgeons and medical teams can continue much needed education and continued learning for the advancement of their surgical skills.
The trip to Ukaine will take place 7/7/23-7/16/2023. Any donation amount (big or small) would be so appreciated. Any funds raised above the travel costs for the trip will be used to purchase additional medical supplies.
Below you will find some information from the previous tri and the amazing work the Pack the Plane and Ukraine organization is continuing to do.
If you have any additional questions or thoughts please do not hesitate to reach out.
With love and thanks,
Rachel Hendee
Organizer
Rachel Hendee
Organizer
Chicago, IL