After the flooding in Ukraine, a lot of houses were severly damaged. Together with you and our partners, we started a renovation project. Our partner wrote a letter about it:
Dear Valued Partners,
We are sincerely grateful for your prayerful and financial support, which Ukraine needs now a lot. We are glad to share with you the progress of our house repair project.
This month, we received a shipment of furniture, appliances, and mattresses for the people whose homes we are repairing. We are sending you sincere gratitude on behalf of the people who received these items. Besides, we are very grateful to you for raising funds for kitchen furniture. Thanks to you, we were able to restore five rooms for five families. We have already helped one of these families to restore the kitchen too, and the kitchens of two more families are under construction. In total, we are still working on four houses. In this update, we would like to share with you the story of a person you are helping.
Mrs. Maria
Surviving the Occupation and Flooding: Maria’s Tale of Resilience.
In the heart of Kherson, amidst the turmoil of war and the devastation of floodwaters, lives Maria. This woman, coping with disabilities, embodies the resilience of the Ukrainian people. Born in 1949, Maria has weathered the storms of history, but nothing could prepare her for the trials of recent years.
As the Russian invasion swept across Ukraine, Maria and her husband stood firm, joining demonstrations in support of their homeland. However, the echoes of gunfire silenced their protests, and fear drove them into uncertainty. The invasion brought not only political upheaval but personal tragedy as well. Maria’s son sought refuge in the countryside, as he was facing the brutality of occupation forces. Armed men ransacked his home, leaving destruction in their wake. The arrival of Chechen forces brought a new wave of terror, with their disregard for humanity and ruthless search for valuables. Maria’s courage faltered as she confronted the barrel of a gun, pleading for mercy in the face of chaos.
Medical Struggles
Maria’s medical journey is a testament to the challenges faced by individuals caught in the midst of conflict. Following a harrowing encounter with occupying forces, Maria found herself in need of urgent medical care. As she recounted, the ordeal left her unable to walk, prompting her admission to the neurology department for assessment and treatment. Here, the expertise of the local orthopedist proved instrumental in restoring Maria’s mobility and addressing her injuries.
However, Maria’s road to recovery faced further obstacles. Despite her urgent need for surgery, the volatile situation in Kherson made local medical facilities unsafe. The threat of ongoing shelling and violence made it necessary for Maria to be transfered to a hospital outside the city. Tragically, the chaos of war intervened once more, as shelling targeted the very hospital where Maria was scheduled for surgery. The destruction wrought by the bombardment forced Maria’s evacuation from Kherson, underscoring the precarious nature of healthcare in conflict zones.
In a desperate bid for treatment, Maria’s son undertook the difficult and tiring journey to Odesa, where medical facilities offered a glimmer of hope. However, the cost of treatment was enormous. Despite the financial strain, Maria underwent surgery in Odesa, starting a journey of rehabilitation and recovery. This is only one example of challenges faced by civilians in conflict zones, where access to essential medical care is often compromised by violence and instability.
Water and Hope
Yet, Maria’s journey was far from over. The floodwaters that engulfed her home tested her once more. With the support of a charity organization, Maria started rebuilding her life. Together with her husband, Maria reclaimed what was lost. Their determination is a beacon of hope.
Despite the trials that beset them, Maria remains steadfast in her faith, her prayers a testament to the resilience of the human spirit. In Maria’s words, Ukrainians may have been bombed, robbed, and flooded, but they refuse to be cowed by adversity. United in their struggle, they find strength in the solidarity of the global community. As Maria looks to the future with unwavering resolve, her story serves us as a reminder of the power of resilience in the face of adversity. In her courage, we find hope, a light in the middle of war and destruction.
I wanted to extend a heartfelt thank you for your generous support in assisting Maria and other Ukrainians like her during their challenging journey. Your kindness and compassion have made a meaningful difference in their lives.
Thank you for being a beacon of light in these dark times for the people of Ukraine.
Warm regards,
Valentin Siniy,
President of TCI