Living in the West, we have come to expect that even in a recession, the medical needs of our most vulnerable children will be met. Not so in Ukraine. Constantly, one meets with families struggling to scrape together enough money to pay for hospital treatment.
Take for example Mrs. Loga, a Christian mother of a 16 yr. old lad called Maxim. When he was just 3, Maxim was saved from drowning in a river. It left him disabled and confined to a wheelchair. He can move, but only with help. He is not able to speak very well but does understand everything and knows his Bible. Indeed, having recently come to faith, he is awaiting the day of his baptism – in the river.
Because of Maxim’s disability, his mother is not able to work. Her husband gave up on his responsibility for the family when he walked out 5 years ago, so she is reduced to a meager, miserable pension. We hope that our partners will give to the Medical Fund so that we can sponsor her and Maxim to the tune of $50 a month and for pay for his treatment of ($900) Then again there is Nazar. His grandmother has worked with orphans at Mikhailivka Orphanage for the past 30 years and when she returns home it is to relieve her daughter, who for the past 2 ½ years has cared for Nazar. Because a doctor refused to admit her in labor to the maternity hospital, he was born with infantile paralysis (polio). Hope Now will try to assist with the cost of a specialized treatment over the coming year for $1,500. Without a more robust Medical Fund, Hope Now is not able to help such as Maxim and Nazar. When we do, there is always much rejoicing.
