This week ‘Kharkiv with You’ charity asked me to help them with the project which they are working on with Kharkiv kids who have serious health problems, like cancer, genetic disorders and so on, who already have been invited for free treatments to Europe, but they need to be transported there and this is very costly. Severely ill children, who are in need of major world-class surgery are sent to Italy, Rome and Naples, to the hospitals of the Bambino Gesu network: “IRCCS San Raffaele Roma†,“Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesu†and “Ospedale Bambino Gesu di Palidaroâ€. These hospitals are working under the patronage of Pope Francis.
Almost all components of the projects are free, except for the fuel as they need it for their cars, the cost of travel to Lviv, where 'Kharkiv with You' charity organises a shelter to accommodate and form groups, which includes accommodation and meals. Also the need to cover the costs of the hotels when travelling on the way to the country (they are driving there) , as well as special food for some children, and things like diapers and similar items.
Additionally there are also sometimes unexpected problems; for example, they brought the baby to Italy for surgery as they were told that the surgery would be immediate, but it has been postponed, as the baby was not strong enough and needed time. But for 'Kharkiv with You' these are unaccounted costs, as the mother and a child have to live somewhere before the surgery (so they need to take care of the housing and living expenses, whilst the doctors are preparing the child for the operation). Currently there are 80 such children, a total of 120 who are registered in the Programme, with severe pathologies. I have pictures of many.
