What We Do
Kidney Transplant Saves Anna
The work of Chernobyl Children’s Project International brings the organisation into contact with many people from the Chernobyl Zone suffering in a myriad of ways from the dreadful consequences of the explosion of 1986. One such case is that of Anna Marchuk from the Grodno region of Belarus. Teenager Anna was given little hope of a long and happy life when it was discovered that she would require a kidney transplant – a medical procedure beyond the reach of many in the Chernobyl Zone.
CCPI was alerted to Anna’s case by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Belarus who contacted the organisation for help. CCPI took the decision to help Anna and in close co-operation with the authorities in Belarus arranged for her to travel to Warsaw with her mother Valentina.
Valentina, wanting more than anything to give her daughter a chance at life, agreed to donate the kidney that would ultimately save Anna’s life. The operation took place during March 2003. The operation was an outstanding success. Anna, now back in her native Belarus, has reason to hope for the future.
Following Anna’s recovery the Chernobyl Children’s Project received the following letter thanking Adi Roche for arranging for the operation that has saved her daughter’s life:
Dear Adi Roche,
I am Anna Marchuk’s mother and I writing to you with gratitude, respect and thanks for helping to save my daughter’s life. On 27 March 2003 my daughter has got my kidney transplanted. The operation was performed in Warsaw, in Poland at the “Centre of Children’s Health”. It was a very successful operation and we stayed at the clinic for 2 months. First, Anna was at the surgery ward and both her kidneys were removed (there were lots of complications and they performed 3 operations on her). Thank God, everything was well afterwards. Then, she was moved to the kidney transplants ward and almost immediately, 2 weeks after the operation we were signed out home. At the moment, I am her doctor, because we live in a far province. There is no specialist who could help us out here.
Thank God she feels fine, although we have to take a good care of the kidney. For this, she has to do regular medical examinations and take medicines and do a rehabilitation course. Every 2 weeks we have to go to Warsaw for check-ups.
I have had to start working for my husband is unemployed. These are all details considering what we managed to do together for Anna. Every day I pray to God for my daughter. I pray for all people who have compassion and charity in their hearts.
I also pray for you because you are a saint for me. I have a dream that is to see you and to bend to your feet.
Good-bye,
Valentina Marchuk
