Story of Survival Amidst Destruction
Daryna Vertetska found herself in a nightmare as she sat with her 8-year-old daughter, Kira, in Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital amidst the chaos of Russian missile attacks. Kira, battling cancer, was undergoing treatment when the explosions shattered the peace of the capital, Kyiv.
“We decided not to interrupt it,” shared Ms. Vertetska, determined to ensure Kira received the vital care she needed.
Despite the perilous situation, a missile struck the Okhmatdyt Children’s Hospital, unleashing a deafening explosion that left shards of glass cutting into Kira’s skin. “She was very frightened,” recalled Ms. Vertetska, as they navigated through the chaos to safety, bloodied but alive.
Now, the once-vibrant hospital and a beacon of hope for children like Kira lie in ruins, another casualty of Russia’s relentless assault on Ukraine.
Amidst the rubble, exhausted rescue workers labored tirelessly, while doctors and nurses scrambled to relocate critically ill children, including those undergoing intensive cancer treatments like Kira, to alternative care facilities.
