What We Do

Vitaly's plea heralds birth of Long Term Care Programme

 
"Please, please, take me to your country, I will die if you leave me here."

This was the plea which prompted the establishment of the Long Term Care Programme in 1994. While visiting the Children's Hospital in Gomel Adi Roche was approached by 10 year old Vitaly Gutsev. At the time Vitaly faced certain death from Chernobyl Heart, a condition that had previously been unheard of but had become frighteningly common since the 1986 explosion.

His young body had already suffered a series of devastating strokes. Doctors in Belarus admitted they lacked the resources to help him and he was likely to die. His plea to Adi was literally a matter of life or death. Vitaly was airlifted to Ireland on New Years Eve in 1995 where he underwent six months of life-saving treatment. He has returned regularly since for further treatment and will continue to do so into the future.

"Vitaly's heartfelt plea could not be ignored. He needed our help and so the Long Term Care Programme was established. He was a very sick child when he arrived here in 1995 but thanks to the expert care he has received in Ireland he has a future to look forward to."  (Adi Roche)