THE SURVIVOR'S DAY - 2001
ANNIVERSARY: 10 YEARS SINCE THE PROTOCOLE BFM WAS FIRST USED IN CRIMEA!
LIFE IS GOING ON!..
It is an annual tradition in the hematological clinic to celebrate the Survivor's Day on June 1. It is so nice when it is a USUAL thing for children who have suffered leukemia - blood cancer - to get healthy!
But this year it was a special holiday, an anniversary. 10 years ago the stuff of the hematological clinic under the chief-doctor Valentin Usachenko has first started using the German medical anti-leukemia program BFM (Berlin-Frankfurt-Munich). So instead of a huge rate of deaths there came an incredible number: 75% of saved lives...
Those whose lives were saved at the clinic, have come here for the holiday. There were lots of them, the hall was overcrowded. Tons of flowers. Applauds when the doctors walked into the hall. They have helped each of these children to stay alive.
A lot of children have already grown up. More and more of them come to this annual holiday with their own children. Now there are not only their parents beside them, but their mates. A new, adult life has started. But they cannot forget what they've undergone here, in the clinic, during long months of suffering.
The nurses helped the children who are on the treatment in the department now to get down to the hall. They wear gauze bandages, they're still weak and don't have hair. But they have shining eyes looking at those who have already won over the disease: "We will also be able to make it through!" By the way, this year Lena Lifanova, who was the first patient to be treated from leukemia on basis of this German program in 1991, came to the holiday.
The holiday started with the games for children organized by the psychologist. Then there was a concert given by dance-groups. And then the real excitement for the audience came: the clown Tolyan (Anatoly) is everybody's favorite - children's and adults', patients' and doctors' and of the guests of the clinic. The circus artist Anatoly Lyadnov this time has brought with him a whole team of young gymnasts and jugglers from the circus. They have presented their short program 'Circus, circus, circus!'
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Then they went to the wards to entertain those children who were not able to get down to the hall to join the holiday. This time Tolyan even went to the reanimation department to visit a girl who was undergoing there blood-cleaning. So he entertained everybody who stayed with her in the ward by walking on his hands. |
And can there be a holiday without presents?.. Finally it was their turn: candies and oranges to raise the mood, books to wander with their characters, and funny "speaking" clocks.
Besides, there were 16 children and teens who have received the "Diplomas of former patients". They were those who went through the treatment 5 and 10 years ago. Among them was Masha Vasilenko who came to this holiday with her child who is already 1 year old.
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There were guests who came to celebrate with us this holiday: hematologists from Kiev and Lviv. There also came professor Guenter Schellong from German city Munich; he is one of the leading European hematologists. Thanks to his efforts we are able to accomplish complex and expensive anti-leukemia programs of treatment in Ukraine. Still, the German professor wasn't let just to sit still and enjoy the concert. The clown Tolyan took him out to the stage and put on him a funny wig and nose... The holiday was filled with joy and laughter. This is the day of our victory. |
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The preparations for the celebration were done by the hematologists along with the members of the community "Parents' Initiative" - the parents whose children suffer with leukemia.
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The celebrations came to the end, but life is going further. What will it bring to these children? In many ways it depends on us, adults. Depends on our readiness to help other people in their trouble. Depends on how each of us is able to love others, which means to cut off one's own pleasure to help somebody else out. That's what is really difficult! But can we live without that? |
People were leaving the clinic with presents in their hands and smiles on their faces. They carried with them their 'diplomas' that they've received from the Valentin Usachenko's hands. They won't forget the words written there:
Defeating hell and pain
for sake of future life,
You are the winner in the deadly struggle.
Let be your life as bright as summer sun,
The road you chose - be even brighter,
The destiny will save you, dear child!
Live long and happy life but don't forget...
by Marina Strogaya and Andre Trofimov
FROM OUR MAIL
Date: June 1, 2001 14:49:31
Subject: 1 June
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Hello, 'Parents' Initiative'! My greeting to all of you - to the adults and kids, parents and doctors - with one of the nicest holidays: The Survivor's Day! I wish you health and happiness, sun, joy and love, and... courage. Though all of you can already be probably called the strongest people in the world. For these children who have lived through this treatment are now really strong. Now nothing will scare them.
And I'm especially admired by the parents and doctors who see all that suffering and keep struggling with it - no matter what.
Be strong! And let God be with you all!
Ann
You can find here the stories and pictures related to the past holidays