In August 2024, the REFUFIN project faced a highly complex and urgent case. Volunteers from Ukraine reached out for assistance for a family whose daughter required an immediate double kidney transplant and ongoing treatment. Thanks to the coordinated efforts of all the volunteers involved, the family received the help they needed.
Request for Support
The story began on August 9, when Darya Gulik, manager of the REFUFIN project, received a message from Elena Tarashchanskaya, a volunteer from the partner organisation Rubikus.HelpUA.
Lena relayed a request from Viktoria Ivleva a volunteer and activist from Ukraine, who reported on a group of children in need of transplants. Following the destruction of the Ohmatdyt hospital, where the children had been receiving treatment, they were transferred to another location. However, constant power outages made regular dialysis impossible, putting the children's lives at serious risk.
Searching for a Solution
Darya began gathering information on options to transport the patients to Finland or other European countries. She contacted Finland’s Ministry of Health and learned about the EU's ERCC program, which coordinates patient transport. However, it turned out that children requiring organ transplants did not qualify under this program.
Meanwhile, volunteers, including Viktoria Ivleva, continued exploring alternative solutions. They succeeded in organising transportation for two families to Germany, where local hospitals were ready to accept the children. However, Germany was not a suitable option for one family with a girl named Alina, who needed regular dialysis three times a week and preparation for urgent surgery. Viktoria launched a fundraiser to cover travel expenses, allowing the family to travel to Finland, where arrangements had already been made for safe continuation of treatment and medical procedures.
Thanks to the efforts of Rubikus volunteers, the girl and her mother were able to leave Ukraine, first travelling to Poland and then to Helsinki. It was a long and difficult journey, but it marked the first step toward saving the girl's life.
Arranging Reception in Finland
The REFUFIN team contacted the Espoo police in advance, explaining the urgency of the situation and the girl's critical need for dialysis, as she could only survive for two days without it. The police accommodated the family, allowing them to register without waiting in line immediately after the office opened, minimising delays. At the same time, REFUFIN informed the Nihtisilta reception centre about the situation in detail.
The centre prepared everything in advance to ensure the family could rest immediately upon their arrival in Finland. Moreover, the centre’s staff quickly coordinated a medical appointment, enabling the girl's medical examination and treatment to begin as soon as possible.
Medical Assistance
At the hospital, doctors faced an unexpected challenge: the list of medications the girl had been taking in Ukraine was incomprehensible due to differences in drug names and formulations between Ukraine and Finland. Although her diagnoses were translated into English, the medication names and dosages remained in Ukrainian. This created difficulties since even similar medications could have different active ingredients and dosages.
Darya personally took charge of this issue. She researched the medications, matched them to Finnish equivalents, and translated the information for the doctors so they could understand exactly what the girl had been taking. This process required significant time and effort, as the doctors needed to not only identify the medication names but also calculate dosages according to Finnish standards.
Currently, the girl undergoes dialysis three times a week, and the family is housed in an apartment in the Helsinki metropolitan area. Medical professionals continue to monitor her condition and are developing a treatment plan to ensure her health remains as stable as possible.
Conclusion
Thanks to the efforts of the REFUFIN project, the girl and her mother received urgent medical assistance and began the necessary treatment. The girl now attends regular dialysis sessions, while doctors continue to develop a long-term treatment plan. The family is temporarily living in accommodation provided by the reception centre, ensuring comfort and stability during the recovery period. Most importantly, the girl is under the care of qualified specialists and receiving critical medical support that would have been impossible in the conditions of war.
REFUFIN volunteers, along with Darya Gulik, remain in contact with the family, providing ongoing support.
This case is just one of many examples where the REFUFIN project takes on complex cases involving individuals in critical health conditions. By coordinating with medical institutions, law enforcement, reception centres, and other volunteer organisations, REFUFIN ensures not only safe transportation but also timely medical treatment while minimising the stress and challenges faced by those in need.
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