Tuesday, May 4, 2010
| 2nd May 2010 Dear All We have just returned from our latest trip. We avoided the problems with volcanic dust in fact we knew nothing about the volcano until we reached Ukraine. We went to see our usual families to give them financial help and were introduced to a new lady. She is in her early 40's. She used to be a nurse and had a very nice flat. However, she met a man and had a child. This child was born blind with cerebral palsy and epeleptic fits. She had to sell her flat to pay for medication of her child. The child is now approximately 6 years old. He just turns in circles all day and plays with a cupboard door which he likes to open and shut as it squeaks. His Mum says it drives her mad. She is now living on the 9th floor of a block of flats. She has had a thrombosis which turned gangrenous in her left leg and it had to be amputated at the top of her thigh. She has had toes removed from her right foot with the same problem and it is thought that she will loose this leg also. Her neighbours are reluctant to babysit; she has no family so when she goes out shopping on her crutches she has to leave her son at home alone. When we asked how we could help her she just asked if she could have some of our washing powder as it was better than theirs! Her carpet is threadbare but we do have some coming in which we will give her. We will also give her new bedding. On the lorry which we sent out in February there was a motorised scooter. We have asked Dr P to see if it would be any good for her. We were so upset about this lady's plight and felt so helpless but she is just one of the many cases which we come across in Ukraine. Thank you all again for your help it enables us to continue to do our best.
Kind regards Alan and Pauline |
