respirators for ukrainian children's hospital

---DAY 2---




---DAY 1---

 

My name is Matt Gregson. I grew up in Idaho and was blessed with an opportunity to become a Physician Assistant. I have worked in gastroenterology for the past 7 years. I have always felt that someone "needs" to go help when there is some tragedy. My life has changed and now allows me to be the person that helps. Due to the current situation in Ukraine and my skill set, I felt the need to volunteer to go to Ukraine. I was able to visit a children’s hospital in Khmelnytskyi, Ukraine and speak with several members of their nursing staff.

 

The Khmelnytskyi City Children's Hospital is set up to treat 6 infants at a time. However, I was told that they can be trying to manage up to twelve. Patient rooms handle 2+ children per room. There are no curtains to separate one child from another. If one child is dying, the staff have to try and hurry to move the other child/ children from the room. I was able to see two surgical patients. One had peritonitis, and they didn’t know the English words for the diagnosis for the other. These two boys were in beds that were, at best, 5 feet apart.

 

Their newest equipment is from 2000. Due to city funding limitations, they don’t know when or if ever they will get new medical equipment. They have 9 respirators, of which only 5 are working. The nurses told me that these are the highest need machines. Air to patient rooms is supplied by compressors that they have moved into a single room and have connected to a homemade manifold. The portable X-ray machine is one of the oldest I can recall seeing. They have stated that other needs include: patient monitors and infusion pumps.

 

I am here with August Mission. They are a group that helps across the world. They have access to resources locally and can acquire the necessary medical equipment. The money provided would be able to help local economies as well as provide the essential equipment. I would actually be able to deliver the equipment to the children's hospital. We are asking for $30,000. Any amount would be great. Please, do what you are comfortable with.