Ottawa activists raise funds to help physician from Ukraine (11/07/99)

Ottawa activists raise funds to help physician from Ukraine

OTTAWA - In the beginning of November 1998, the prospects for Dr. Ihor Homziak were dismal at best. The Lviv resident, being without hearing, found himself "psychologically very low." Once a respected physician in his hometown, he had completely lost his hearing in 1988, when a police officer beat him at an anti-Communist rally in his hometown. This impairment left him unable to practice medicine and support his wife, Angela Ostapiuk, and his two sons.

But, eight years later, the doctor's hopes were rekindled in anticipation of a fund-raising effort in Canada to restore his hearing. It went well at first, but in October 1998 the effort tapered off, having raised $20,000 - half of what was needed to cover the cost of surgery.

Enter the selfless perseverance of the undaunted trio that began the fund-raiser. Comprising Vera Bociurkiw, Pearl Ford and Marta Talanczuk, the group dedicated itself to the task even when it seemed impossible.

It all had begun when Mrs. Bociurkiw was visiting relatives in Lviv in 1996. By chance meeting with the dejected doctor at a party, she opened her heart to his plight, and after returning to Canada, she approached the Ukrainian Catholic Women's League about the aforementioned fund-raiser. The league, affiliated with St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Shrine in Ottawa, agreed to help. Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Talanczuk joined Mrs. Bociurkiw, and, with the computer support of Mychailo Ryndzak, the three initiated the campaign with their own grocery money.

When Dr. Homziak came to Canada for pre-surgery examinations, they provided him with meals and accommodations. And when administration funds dwindled - as they often did - the women continued to contribute to the cause.

On November 2, 1998, the Ottawa Citizen published an article about their effort. This one story catapulted its progress, and by January of this year, over $50,000 in cash and medical equipment was collected. Dr. Homziak went in to the Sunnybrook Health Science Center of Toronto for surgery on January 18. He successfully received cochlear implants and his hearing is now restored.

Several months later the 38-year-old physician returned to Lviv to help others in need in his native land, and the three selfless women to whom his surgery is indebted have been commended by the Ukrainian Canadian Professional and Business Association of Ottawa as "truly inspiring examples of Christian values in action."

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