Matvey's Journey to Safety and Treatment
Donation protected
Hello. My name is Anita Schneider. I am a mathematics professor at Anoka-Ramsey Community College in Coon Rapids, Minnesota. I am writing on behalf of family/friend, MN National Guard and U.S. Air Force veteran, Joe Whitcomb. Joe is a licensed, trauma-informed psychotherapist, living and working in Kyiv, Ukraine. Joe began his escape from Kyiv Tuesday, March 1st and arrived safely to Poland Tuesday, March 8th.
I am fundraising not for Joe, but rather his girlfriend Elena’s nephew, Matvey Gurin. Matvey is a nine-year-old Ukrainian boy, living two hours from Kyiv. Matvey has stage four neuroblastoma and can no longer receive medical treatment due to the war. A hospital and doctor in Germany have agreed to take Matvey as a patient. Matvey will need medical transport and a police escort through a war zone to reach Poland. From there, he will need air transport to Germany. His family thanks those they describe as “Ukrainian Patriots" for arranging their escape. They will encounter significant challenges; in addition to the shelling and bombing, Matvey is quite weak. They see no other option. They are grateful to have a plan for escape and treatment; however, Matvey’s surgery and chemotherapy are estimated at $300,000 USD. As you can imagine, his family does not have the means to cover the cost.
If you are in a situation to help financially, or know of organizations or individuals who can, please let me or Joe know. Joe Whitcomb has a U.S. bank account and will get the money to Matvey’s parents in Germany. Other financial arrangements can be made, as needed. None of us know how to make this work but we have agreed to do everything we can.
I am asking nothing for myself. I have volunteered my time because, like most of us, I want a way to contribute. I feel helpless from the sideline.
You can follow Joe Whitcomb’s journey and his appeal for financial assistance for Matvey Gurin on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joewhitcomb2. Joe also asks no money for himself. His goal is to get Matvey to Germany and cover the cost of treatment.
You can hear/read the story Minnesota Public Radio did on Joe Whitcomb at https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/02/27/minnesota-native-in-kyiv-views-russian-invasion-firsthand
Thank you for your time and consideration and any leads/assistance you may give.
Slava Ukraini!
Anita Schneider
I am fundraising not for Joe, but rather his girlfriend Elena’s nephew, Matvey Gurin. Matvey is a nine-year-old Ukrainian boy, living two hours from Kyiv. Matvey has stage four neuroblastoma and can no longer receive medical treatment due to the war. A hospital and doctor in Germany have agreed to take Matvey as a patient. Matvey will need medical transport and a police escort through a war zone to reach Poland. From there, he will need air transport to Germany. His family thanks those they describe as “Ukrainian Patriots" for arranging their escape. They will encounter significant challenges; in addition to the shelling and bombing, Matvey is quite weak. They see no other option. They are grateful to have a plan for escape and treatment; however, Matvey’s surgery and chemotherapy are estimated at $300,000 USD. As you can imagine, his family does not have the means to cover the cost.
If you are in a situation to help financially, or know of organizations or individuals who can, please let me or Joe know. Joe Whitcomb has a U.S. bank account and will get the money to Matvey’s parents in Germany. Other financial arrangements can be made, as needed. None of us know how to make this work but we have agreed to do everything we can.
I am asking nothing for myself. I have volunteered my time because, like most of us, I want a way to contribute. I feel helpless from the sideline.
You can follow Joe Whitcomb’s journey and his appeal for financial assistance for Matvey Gurin on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/joewhitcomb2. Joe also asks no money for himself. His goal is to get Matvey to Germany and cover the cost of treatment.
You can hear/read the story Minnesota Public Radio did on Joe Whitcomb at https://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/02/27/minnesota-native-in-kyiv-views-russian-invasion-firsthand
Thank you for your time and consideration and any leads/assistance you may give.
Slava Ukraini!
Anita Schneider
Organizer
Anita Hiller Schneider
Organizer
Ramsey, MN