Seversk, Ukraine — December 14, 2009 — Tatiana Nikolaichuk’s mother, daughter, and small grandson rely on her income, so when she badly fractured and dislocated her left leg, they were worried. Not only would she not be working at the metallurgical plant in a small town in eastern Ukraine, but the medical bills would pile up. When Nikolaichuk was treated at the local hospital, her relatives had to buy casting supplies and materials, as well as some medications for her.

The situation for this family improved after International Relief & Development (IRD) delivered medical commodities to the Donetsk Oblast Rehabilitation Hospital. IRD, in partnership with Project C.U.R.E. and the U.S. Department of State, sent two containers filled with medical supplies to Ukraine in March 2009, which were distributed to 14 different medical facilities, including the rehabilitation hospital treating Nikolaichuk. The hospital now has a fully equipped physical therapy room, where Nikolaichuk exercises and receives massages, and her medical supplies are also free.

“Now when I can take massage, I am feeling better and better every day,” Nikolaichuk explains. “I am happy to get medical treatment at the hospital when it doesn’t cost me much. It would be impossible for me to go through all that treatment without IRD’s humanitarian assistance to the hospital, which provides such medical services to the patients like me. I would like to thank all IRD staff involved in humanitarian activities in Donetsk oblast.”