What We Do

Veronica Offered Hope to Live

Twelve year old Veronica Smeyan, from Gomel in Belarus was suffering from a serious heart condition from which she was not expected to recover. Her life-span was being measured in weeks and months rather than in years and decades.

By late 2002 her condition had deteriorated to such an extent that she was unable to leave her own home. The only trips allowed were to her local hospital where the treatment received was not sufficient to help her recover from her debilitating condition. CCPI first witnessed Veronica’s poor condition on a humanitarian trip to Belarus in 2002. They were told that she had little hope of recovery from her serious condition. The volunteers were so moved by Veronica’s plight that they immediately set about the task of bringing her to this country where it was possible that she would receive the treatment needed to save her life.

She arrived in early November 2002. She was accompanied on her trip from Belarus by her mother Halina and Dr Olga Djelilova. Her weakened state from her congenital heart disease made surgery an urgent priority, but her frail health complicated the required procedures. Her brave and courageous attitude, however, got her through the various medical procedures and by Christmas her health and indeed her prognosis improved dramatically to the extent that she was discharged from hospital to spend Christmas with the Walsh family in Co Cork.

She returned to Belarus in February 2003 only to arrive back in Ireland in April for the next phase of her treatment, a serious heart operation from which doctors were hopeful she could recover. And recover she did after an operation taking seven hours. Again, all who met Veronica were impressed with her positive attitude and her determined will to live. Veronica’s doctors in Ireland were hopeful that she would be able to lead a full and happy life. And their hopes were realized. Veronica is now a healthy and happy 16 year old girl who is looking forward to a bright and shining future.