Our story begins on March 3, 2022, while Russians already occupy the town Vasylivka only fifty kilometers south of our office.
Among the calls for help we receive is one from a mother, Olha, who begs for help — anticonvulsant medication for her son who suffers from epilepsy. For us to locate and purchase the medicine would require only half an hour. But they are stranded in the zone between good and evil, between our tanks and the enemy’s. Delivering to Mars might be more feasible!
We realize that we cannot help. The mission seems impossible. Even with all our knowledge of pharmaceuticals, all our hryvnias, and our thousands of friends worldwide, we still need a miracle to save the boy from an epileptic seizure.
We do not decline to assist. Instead, we offer only that we will try. We cannot commit because we have no idea how delivery can be accomplished.
Late in the evening, our miracle appears on Facebook. Brave drivers are planning to evacuate desperate people from Vasylivka. Around midnight, we call and wake Olha to ask for location details. Her village, Lisne, has been without electricity for a long time. Smartphones have dead batteries. Only her dumbphone still works.
In the morning, we buy medicines and diapers in pharmacies and hand them over to volunteers. At noon, Olha calls with thanks for the delivery. Sending photos of documents for our report must wait for a working smartphone.
This story ends on March 18 when we receive the photos. And you know what? We need these photos not only for the financial report, but also to strengthen faith in miracles and in people. We hope that this story inspires you.
Thank you, Anna Eremenko, Valeria, and all the intrepid people around! You are really incredible!