New program provides life-saving heart surgery (12/26/99)

New program provides life-saving heart surgery

GLEN ROCK, N.J. - Through Ukrainian Gift of Life's newest program, Operation Child Cardio-Care, Marian, Volodymyr and Marta will soon have long-awaited life-saving heart surgery.

The lack of technology in Ukraine requires some children with major heart defects to have operations outside the country. Children with certain heart defects, however, can undergo surgery in Ukraine once the financing of costs for surgical equipment and supplies is made available to the medical team. The parish of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bayonne, N.J., the parish of the Holy Cross in Astoria, N.Y. and an "in lieu of birthday gifts" donation provided funds sufficient to pay for each child's specific surgical needs.

The Ukrainian Gift of Life Inc. (UGOL) was organized in 1996 to help the children in Ukraine obtain required heart surgeries that were not feasible because of financial or technological factors. Since June 1997, the UGOL has arranged surgeries in the United States for 39 children from Ukraine.

The organization's commitment to save these children also includes enhancing the medical effort within Ukraine. To this end, UGOL has funded the publication of the translation of a leading diagnostic textbook distributed to all the clinics in Ukraine. Operation Child Cardio-Care further enhances this mission.

UGOL cooperates with Kardio, a unique organization in Ukraine, that was founded in conjunction with the Red Cross of Ukraine in June 1995. It is based at the Lviv Cardio-Vascular Surgery Center and is funded by private donations.

Although doctors are willing to donate their services, the number of operations that can be performed at this center and throughout Ukraine is limited by the lack of financial resources, limited governmental medical support and minimal non governmental contribution. Patients must provide their own surgical supplies and medications, which can cost up to $1,000 for heart surgery. When a monthly salary in Ukraine averages $70, raising this sum of money for surgery is a tremendous hardship.

Churches, schools, organizations or individuals in the United States can help cover costs of surgery for a specific child in Ukraine through Operation Child Cardio-Care. UGOL provides the sponsoring group with information about a child from among cases reviewed by medical professionals. Members of an advisory board review surgery cost and authorize payment of expenses paid through a trust fund established for these specific contributions.

Pastor Marian Struch of the parish in Bayonne has given his wholehearted support to the campaign to raise $1,000 for 10-year old Marian Zahorujko's surgery. Elizabeth Siryj, president of the Rosary Society, and Justyna Petrincyk accepted the challenge and achieved their goal.

The pastor of Holy Cross, the Rev. Philip Sandrick OSBM, also is launching a parish-wide project. Parishioners have received materials from UGOL and anxiously await more letters and pictures from the young patient Volodymyr Plish.

UGOL Trustee Stefania Bryant had a surprise birthday celebration. Birthday donations, in lieu of personal gifts, totaled $1,000, giving a third child, 16-year-old Marta Lytvyn, an opportunity for surgery. "What better way to celebrate my birthday than to give a child the gift of hope for a full and productive life?" she said as she announced her decision.

For information, call (201) 652-5505; tax-deducible contributions may be sent to: Ukrainian Gift of Life Inc., 233 Rock Road, Suite 333, Glen Rock, NJ 07451.

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