Boston-area Ukrainians trying to help gravely injured student from Ukraine
PARSIPPANY, N.J. - In early July, Oleh Bizyaev, a young man from Ukraine who was pursuing graduate studies toward a Ph.D. in economics at Boston College, was found lying in the street, his head severely beaten.
He was taken to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. A portion of his skull was removed in order to relieve pressure on his brain.
As he lay in the hospital in an unconscious state, his mother, Aleksandra, and brother, Vadym, arrived from Ukraine to be at his side. As of early September, Oleh Bizyaev remained unconscious, but was breathing on his own.
The 28-year-old honors student, who was in the United States thanks to a grant from the Soros Foundation, hails from Odesa. In 1998 he graduated at the top of his class from Odesa State University, where he was a student in the physics department. He holds a master's degree in economics from the National University of Kyiv Mohyla Academy.
The Boston-area community of Ukrainian Americans has sprung into action to help Mr. Bizyaev. St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church has opened an account for funds to help pay for his medical expenses. Now the community is appealing to fellow Ukrainian Americans to help out.
Donations may be sent to: Ukrainian Fraternal Federal Credit Union, P. O. Box 185, Boston, MA 02132-0185. Checks should be made payable to St. Andrew Church Account No. 1085.
Most recently, the fund-raising campaign was bolstered by Ukraine's consul general in New York, Serhiy Pohoreltzev, who wrote an appeal to the Ukrainian American community that appeared in Svoboda. The appeal called for donations to cover medical care, as well as Mr. Bizyaev's eventual transfer to Ukraine. It was noted that additional information is available from Vice Consul Serhiy Kulykov by calling (212) 371-6965.
Boston-area Ukrainians are also helping Mr. Bizyaev's family with housing and everyday needs while they are in this country.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 19, 2004, No. 38, Vol. LXXII
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