Chernobyl Children's Project International

video: watch ccpi volunteers in action in chernobyl affected regions

This 10-minute video was filmed in the fall by Ireland's RTE television, and shows Chernobyl Children's Project International volunteers in action in the Mogilev region of Belarus.

One of the children prominently featured in the piece -- Victor, the little boy with the cleft palate and tracheotomy tube -- died shortly after the filming. (Here is a photo I took of his grave last month).  His loss was a terrible reminder that children belong in families, not in institutions.

Along those lines, the film also introduces Ina Gudkovskie, who lived in an orphanage before joining a real family in one of CCPI's "homes of hope."  You can click here to learn more about the  Gudkovskie family, and watch the video to hear Ina (who speaks English) talk about how having a mother and father has changed her life.  Click the links to read the about the Zhila and Savin families -- happy homes made up of children who had suffered lives of neglect and abuse.  If you want to learn more about sponsoring a family home for children who have been living in orphanages, please email me.

Finally, the film updates the story of Vesnova asylum resident Sasha Levkin, who along with his friend Sasha appeared in the film Chernobyl Heart.  (Both boys are pictured here -- Sasha Levkin is seen holding a photo of Chernobyl's Hero, a Karakorum race horse
whose winnings are donated to CCPI.) Both boys have reached the age when they would typically be transfered to an adult asylum, where they would be warehoused until death.  The boys have feared and dreaded this prospect  for the 7 years we have known them.  In the film, you will see CCPI founder Adi Roche promising Sasha (as he weeps with happiness) that CCPI volunteers will build them a home of their own.   As I write this, that promise is coming true -- a CCPI volunteer team is in Mogilev right now building a disability accessible home for the two Sashas, and for 8 other disabled young adults who will be able to live with dignity, rather than being transfered to an adult institution.

When I talked to the two Sashas last month, however, "dignity" was not the word rolling off their lips -- it was more like: "Party!"  (Don't worry, we've hired staff to assist the young people and provide supervision!)  They were brimming over with excitement and anticipation.  After all of the difficulties Sasha has been through, it is almost surreal to realize that when I next see him, he will be able to serve me tea in his very own home.

program keeps disabled children at home, not in orphanages

In previous updates we've shown how devastating life is for mentally or physically disabled children who live out their lives in orphanages.  And, without intervention, the grim future they face as institutionalized adults segregated from society forever. Thanks to your financial support, we've also been able to tell you happier stories -- stories of our foster families. These amazing families have joined children -- all of whom lived in orphanages and have histories of loss, abuse and neglect -- with parents eager to share their love and provide a secure and nurturing home.

This update is about our Community Care program. This program -- serving 18 children in Minsk, Belarus but set for expansion -- takes disabled children off the waiting lists for orphanages, and provides their families with the support they need to care for their children at home.

Visiting these families last month, I was struck by the unique determination of these parents -- often single mothers -- who care for their children at home in a region where institutionalization is the norm. Chernobyl Children's Project International provides therapeutic home visits, training and supplies for families, outings and other types of support, such as swimming pool visits, accessible home adaptations, and camping experiences for the children. But the passion to overcome obstacles and make it all work comes from the parents themselves.

Andrei, pictured at the top of this post, is an 11 year old with cerebral palsy and autism.  He's a happy and well cared for boy, and his mother is delighted with him -- but clearly exhausted by his activity level.  He is in constant, exhuberant, and barely controlled motion.  It was great to see their loving bond, but I couldn't help but think what a handful he will be as they both get older. They will need all the  support they can get.

Ignat, the calm and handsome boy pictured in my lap to the right , is 6 years old and like many of our children in the program has cerebral palsy.  He lives with his mother, who is single, and his grandmother in a tiny, one bedroom apartment.  A wheelchair lift on the stairs built by CCPI volunteers, and a wheelchair accessible van (paid for with your donations) make it possible for him to enjoy pool therapy visits and trips to McDonald's (a popular treat for the kids and their parents!)

The little girl pictured in the pink jacket is 6 year old Nadya. She has cerebral palsy and suffers frequent seizures.  In the photo she is held by CCPI board member Michael Rodin -- but I enlarged the photo to focus on her lovely face and eyes.  Her eyes are the only responsive part of her, until we turn on her music box and her mouth explodes into a smile. Their apartment had no furniture or comforts and Tanya, Nadya's mother, seemed  to be extraordinarily stressed, on "on the edge."  She told us she was not sure how long she would be able to continue caring for Nadya at home.  This is clearly a family we need to observe and support carefully in the coming months.

Thirteen year old Marguerita is pictured with medical care program coordinator Valentin Chernyakevich, who manages the staff of Belarusian therapists who make home visits to our children.  An inoperable tumor on her spine has taken away her ability to walk. But she uses a wheelchair provided by your donations, and a ramp built by CCPI building program volunteers allows her to get out with her mother and participate in fun activities organized by Valentin and his staff. Last summer, she attended one of our camps for disabled children, and she loves her regular trips to the swimming pool.  She told us she would like to have a chance to ride a horse. Marguerita speaks a bit of English -- it's her favorite subject when a teacher comes in to visit her, and she loves to get letters written in English. She is proud of her mother's singing voice, and urged her to sing Belarusian folks songs to us. She is a very happy and optimistic girl.

Eighteen children, and families who critically need professional and social support in order to care for them at home.  All of them would be in institutions without this program.  Cared for by strangers, they would be extremely vulnerable. Please consider making a donation to help us continue this program, and expand it to help more disabled children avoid the horror of institutionalization and stay with their families where they belong.

video: cbs news reports on chernobyl "nightmare" and containment efforts

This CBS video report is on the status of the 10 year and running project to safely contain the destroyed nuclear reactor at Chernobyl.  We picked up the clip from Mark Resnicoff's excellent Chernobyl and Eastern Europe blog.

In the two minute video, (if you reading this on email or a feed you may need to click here to view it), reporter Katie Couric describes the Chernobyl accident as "a nightmare from the Soviet era" that will continue to haunt the region "for generations."  The cost to contain the Chernobyl reactor is over $1.5 billion so far, with the USA being the largest single country donor.

The clip starts with a brief advertisement that was embedded by CBS -- we are grateful to be able to share the clip at no charge, but it is not a product endorsement by Chernobyl Children's Project International.

 

zhila family: children heal wounds of tragic past, face hopeful future

Two weeks ago, we visited the Zhila family in the Ossipovichi, Mogliev region of Belarus.  The Zhilas are a part of Chernobyl Children's Project International's foster families program -- we take children out of orphanages and place them in carefully selected, real family homes.

You can read the stories of the Savin and Gudkovskie families -- remarkable families with amazing stories of survival.

We spent the previous night at an orphanage.  As our van navigated the country roads toward Ossipovichi, I knew that seeing children in a loving family would be a jarring and welcome contrast. But I was haunted by the knowledge that these 10 children -- ages 5 to 16 -- have shocking stories of loss and neglect. 

As we arrived, Petr (the father), was putting finishing touches on a new porch. He had been busy since our last visit, building bookshelves and desks for the children, and expanding the family areas of the home.  His wife Galina made tea and told us how the children are adapting to family life.  (Go to our website to see video of sisters singing a song to us.)

The children pulled our hands and excitedly took us from one room to the next. They giggled as they showed off their bedrooms, their new desks, their school projects and personal treasures.  Looking at their happy faces I remembered terrible stories from their recent pasts.  About how the birth mother of Tanya (11),  Sasha (10) , and Kirill (5) spent food money on alcohol and left the children to starve. They found bits of potato peel to fry on the fire. How their father beat them with a stick after they ran away, and how they watched as he broke their mother’s legs.  How they rescued her when she tried to commit suicide by hanging, and by cutting her wrists.

When Andrea (11)  and Roxana (7) lost their mother in an accident, their father medicated his grief with alcohol.  He tried to quit but couldn't, and they moved to their beloved grandmother's home. A house fire killed their grandmother, and left Roxana with burns over 30% of her body.  Scars from her burns peeked out from the neck of her blouse as she and the other children performed songs for us and played with each other.

In the parlour I spotted a small shrine to their dead 5 year old son, and I realized that Galina and Petr knew something themselves about loss and moving on. 

No doubt many challenges are ahead for this newly formed family.  And yet, today, it seems natural for them to be together.  The children behave as if they’ve been together forever. And Galina and Petr are grateful for their large family, and determined to surround their children with love and prepare them for a hopeful future.

The Zhila home was sponsored by the Cork Outreach Group of Chernobyl Children’s Project International.  If you, your business, or community group would like to learn about sponsoring a “home of hope, email me.

lombard illinois students on "chernobyl heart" mission

A few months ago, I received an email from Glenbard East High student Hannah Reneau.  Her teacher, Chris Vandenberg, had assigned his Lombard, IL students to research a social need then take an action to bring about positive change.

Hannah told me that she and her friends Jenna Kenny and Michele Graham went online to learned about the Chernobyl disaster and the work of Chernobyl Children's Project International.  They wanted to know what they could do to help kids their age affected by the disaster.

(The photos show, from left to right, Jenna, Hannah, and Michele. )

When I told them that CCPI is launching a children's cardiac surgery program in Ukraine this year, the students found their goal: To raise enough money to save one child's life.

I sent the girls a copy of the film Chernobyl Heart, and they arranged a screening for fellow students and the community.  Hannah said "It really opened their eyes to what is going on in Chernobyl regions.  Most were overwhelmed by what they saw."  They rallied around the girls in supporting their mission. 

Hannah, Jenna, and Michele:  Not only have you saved a young life, but judging from the photos, it looks like you had a great time doing it!  I promise to send you a picture of your "Chernobyl heart" child when we return from Kharkiv, Ukraine this May! 

cedar-n-sage donate song to chernobyl children's project international

Long time Chernobyl Children's Project International supporters and band Cedar-N-Sage have come up with another way to help families and communities affected by Chernobyl.

By clicking on the image below, you can listen to their latest single, What in the World, from their upcoming album, Reflection Pool. 

If you download the single by clicking on the "$,"  or going here, the band's proceeds will go to CCPI. 

Cedar-N-Sage means "healing through knowledge."  The Arkansas based band consists of D'Lorah on vocals/keyboards, Earl McCool on bass, and T on guitars.  T -- her given name is Tina -- grew up in Japan. As a schoolgirl, she remembers seeing repeated images of the aftermath of the bombing of Hiroshima.  She told me, "This was not the stock footage one sees in the US, of the mushroom cloud -- they showed everything."  The images continued to haunt her, and when she saw the film Chernobyl Heart it "reactivated the anger and sadness I felt as a child."  She and the band have been supporters ever since.  They see What in the World as their environmental song, and decided to donate the proceeds to CCPI. 

Thank you, Cedar-N-Sage, not only for this, but for the support you have shown these past years!   I hope everyone will listen to the song, and join me in thanking the band for their contribution. You can learn more about how contributions help by clicking here.

thievery corporation & chernobyl 20 spark support for children

Last week I was honored to receive a check from lounge/electronica band Thievery Corporation and Mondano ("World Citizen')  Mondano is a Washington DC based alliance that ignites transnational cultural and artistic collaborations.

Pictured above:  Andre Kravchenko (Mondano), Eric Hilton (Thievery Corporation), me, Rob Garza (TC) and Bill Crandall (Mondano) at ESL Music.

The team embarked last year on a project called Chernobyl 20 -- an effort to focus attention on Chernobyl's continuing consequences.  The collaboration brought together photographers, musicians, and the final haunting recording of a beloved vocalist.

The Chernobyl 20 photo exhibition examined the contrasting perspectives of photographers Antonin Kratochvil, Paul Fusco, Bill Crandall, Donald Weber, Gabriella Bulisova, Robert Knoth, and other artists. Some of the photographers traveled with CCPI through Chernobyl regions.  The exhibition was shown at the United Nations and at the US Congress hearings on the 20th anniversary of Chernobyl.

Robert Knoth's powerful affection for Annya Pesenko, who has a brain tumor, is captured in the photo shown here.  We feel privileged to count Annya's family among those served by CCPI's hospice program in Gomel, Belarus.  I was saddened to tell Robert about this brave girl's poor condition on my last visit to her.  It was heartbreaking to see her struggle to remain conscious, and the pressure on her mother was enormous.

Thievery Corporation's The Passing Stars was the last song recorded by Pam Bricker.  Pam was the voice behind Thievery Corporation's iconic song, Lebanese Blond.  After her death, Eric and Rob kept the song from commercial release, and placed it on iTunes with all proceeds to help children affected by Chernobyl.  Eric told us, "Pam would have been proud that her final track helped people in this way." Included with the download is a digital booklet of the Chernobyl 20 photo exhibition.  You can find both on iTunes by searching for "Thievery Corporation" and selecting "The Passing Stars."

This effort brought together diverse talents in common cause.  It not only raised funds that will be put to good use.  It reached new audiences to broaden the understanding of the ongoing nature of the Chernobyl disaster.

sponsor spotlight: depfa bank supports chernobyl children

For two years in a row, DEPFA BANK plc has hosted a golf outing to benefit Chernobyl Children's Project International.

The outings, which mobilized some of New York's largest financial services companies, were the inspiration (and hard work) of DEPFA managing director Jane Russell, with the support of DEPFA general manager Herb Jacobs. 

The first outing was held on September 11, 2006 -- the 5th anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon.  Sponsors attending, all of them residents of New York City , were vocal in their belief that they couldn't be doing anything better to honor the date and the memories of those lost. A second successful outing was held this past fall.

Major sponsors of two events included:  Morgan Stanley, King & Spaulding LLP, Kutak Rock LLP, Allied Irish Bank, Nixon Peabody LLP, GFI Group, Lehman Bros, Stifel Nicolaus, Seattle Northwest Securities Group, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliff LLP, Packerkiss Securities, The Bond Buyer, Chapman & Cutler LLP, Citibank, Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP, Banc of America Securities.

We're proud of our work, and how smartly we invest our funding.  But we know we are relatively small and unknown, and that the tragedy of Chernobyl is largely forgotten.  Often it seems as though the big sponsorships always go the really large charities:  The ones with celebrity endorsements, big ad campaigns and media "buzz."  To receive this kind of support -- two years in a row -- and from such large and prestigious firms, was a "big deal" for us. And not just because of the funds raised (which were significant) but because of the confidence and trust placed in us, and the recognition that Chernobyl continues to affect so many.

I wrote a letter to Herb Jacobs, to express our gratitude for DEPFA BANK's endorsement, and to let him know how much it meant to us.  His answer was short and elegant -- and it stays with me because of how well it sums of the feelings of the many supporters and hundreds of volunteers who have embraced this work:  "It has meant more to us."

chernobyl children's project international appoints youth un representative

A young woman of Ukrainian heritage, Christina Stegura has grown up hearing stories about Chernobyl, and hoped that there might come a time when she could help.

Now she will, and in a very substantial way.  Christina will serve as one of Chernobyl Children's Project International's representatives at United Nations Headquarters in New York. This unique opportunity is the result of a partnership between CCPI (a UN accredited non governmental organization) and Lehigh University of Bethlehem PA.

Christina, a dean's list student who is vice president of her school's global citizenship program and pursuing degrees in sociology and anthropology, will be the first of a series of Lehigh University students to represent CCPI at the United Nations. She will visit the UN every month to represent CCPI's work in Chernobyl affected communities, attend briefings, and report back to us on how we can support the UN Millennium Development Goals.  The Millennium Development Goals are a set of quantifiable targets in spheres of development and poverty eradication that are to be achieved by 2015.

Thanks to Lehigh University for this wonderful donation of time and talent, and to Christina to advocating CCPI to be the beneficiary.

chernobyl shut down plans continue as belarus plans new nuclear plant

Several months ago I noted that Ukraine signed a $505 million contract with Novarka to build a new shelter for the ruined Chernobyl nuclear reactor.  This new shelter is to replace the hastily constructed sarcophagus that started to crumble and leak radiation 10 years after it was constructed.  It is hoped that the new shelter, due to be completed in 2015, will hold up for 100 years.  The plan, price tag, and completion date have been moving targets for many years.

(This post is illustrated with images of a "walk-through" virtual reality model of the actual Chernobyl disaster site that is located on Second Life.  The "Chernobyl Memorial" was created by virtual world building company Magrathean Technologies.)

On Tuesday, Itar-Tass News Agency expanded on Ukraine's plan for final disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the plant.  The plan calls for the power plant's premises to be completely cleared sometime between 2046 - 2064.  (That's what I call a flexible deadline.)

Also on Tuesday, the Security Council of Belarus announced their final decision to build the first nuclear power plant on their own territory.  Belarus shares a border with Ukraine and was seriously damaged by radioactive winds that contaminated their territory in the days after the accident.  Belarus' moratorium on building domestic nuclear power plants expired as of 2008.  The planned nuclear plant will cost an estimated $4 billion, and will be built by Russian company Atomstroiexport.

The Jamestown Foundation's Eurasia Daily Monitor posted an article last week by David Marples, professor of history and classics at the University of Alberta Edmonton.  Marples reported that a site for the new plant has been selected near a village called Kukshynava, located in the Mogilev region. Here's a video of the survey work in progress.

Apparently the first choice -- near the village of Krasnaya Palyana -- had to be scrapped after a survey revealed that the land was too contaminated by the Chernobyl disaster to be safe for building. 

Belarus urgently seeks energy independence after Russia's move last year to double the price Minsk pays for gas imports. At the same time, the people of Belarus suffered greatly in the aftermath of Chernobyl, and continue to pay a heavy medical  and economic price. A number of my Belarusian friends and colleagues believe that the decision to move so quickly toward nuclear power -- especially without some sort of national public referendum -- is bound to stir fears and controversy in communities across Belarus. 

story: strangers join talents to help chernobyl children

CCPI supporters Derek Casari and Perry Norton recently surprised us with the gift of radio public service announcements (PSAs). Click on the player below to listen to one, and then read on for the story of how two strangers merged their talents to help children affected by Chernobyl. (If you're reading this post on email you may need to click here to see the audio player.)

 

Perry (pictured left) is the woman behind PanRight Productions, a one stop studio that creates audio for commercials, games, audio books, podcasts, and PSAs. Her mission is to "be a champion for artists and non profits for whom being heard is the most important task." In the spirit of last month's holidays, Perry offered her clients a special gift -- a free radio PSA for the favorite charity of the first 5 clients to respond.

Derek was first in line, requesting a PSA to benefit Chernobyl Children's Project International.   Derek is a systems engineer for 20th Century Fox post production in LA. Several years ago, Derek's six year old son Aaron died of a rare form of liver cancer. (With Derek's permission, here's a picture of Aaron and his grandfather at right.)  Derek told me that two years of grueling chemo regimens and sleepless nights spent at Children's Hospital of LA -- and the ultimate loss of Aaron, who so desired to grow up -- destroyed his marriage, his finances, and almost his  mind.  His search to find meaning in his son's death led Derek to volunteer for sustainable business incubator Green2Gold. And he found a special attraction to CCPI programs that help seriously ill children, and an admiration for CCPI founder Adi Roche.

Derek and Perry worked together to develop the public service announcement above, and presented it as a gift. This story is a reminder that doing good is not always about donating cash. It can be about thinking creatively, mining your talents, and combining your talents with other's. CCPI could never have afforded to pay for the creation of these PSAs on our own.  And now you can help us get them out to be heard.

The PSA comes in 15 and 30 second versions, and a one minute version.  Westwood One and Beasley Broadcast Group have already agreed to run them.  Here's how you can help:

Blogger? Post our PSAs -- email me and I'll send them to you.

Radio station or media company contacts?   Ask them to run the PSAs.

None of the above?  Click on "email this link" at the bottom of this post and spread the word.  As Perry says -- "being heard is the most important task."  And the children affected by Chernobyl are well overdue to be heard.  This post is in memory of Aaron Casari.

photo essay: chernobyl seen by children

In March 2006 Unicef organized a photography workshop for children who live in Chernobyl affected communities in Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia.  Each of the kids, aged 12 to 17, was born after the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.  Each was asked to go back to their home country and take photographs to capture their personal experience of Chernobyl.  I first saw the photos in Minsk in 2006. 

Here is Unicef's online photo essay, Chernobyl Seen by Children.

Last month the photos were exhibited again at the United Nations in New York city.  The UN General Assembly convened a meeting called "A World Fit for Children +5."  At this meeting, world leaders reviewed progress against international initiatives to improve the health and well being of children.  It was a fitting venue to revisit how the Chernobyl disaster has affected a new generation.

In November, I posted my observation that many of the most popular "genre" of Chernobyl photographs are taken by outsiders, and thus have a voyeuristic quality.  I find these photos refreshing in contrast because they reflect each child's personal and ordinary experience. As the exhibition materials point out, "for these children Chernobyl is not statistics, it is daily life."  For more on how children artistically address Chernobyl, click here to see the Chernobyl Child Artists photo gallery on this blog.

It would be an affront to minimize how Chernobyl affects children and families today.  At the same time, these photographs underscore how important it is for organizations such as CCPI to help families focus on the future.  Realistically, but with hope.  As do these young photographers.

The photo of the baby (who has cancer) admiring the camera was taken by Anton Gordeichik of Belarus.  Vitaliy Sigaev, age 13, of the Russian Federation took picture of the boy his age in the hospital.  Both pictures are from the Unicef exhibit "Chernobyl Seen by Children."

video: vesnova children's mental asylum -- another chernobyl legacy

This is a short video that Chernobyl Children's Project International made for the 20th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster. You can watch it now and, at the end of the post, write a comment to let us know what you think of it.

The video speaks for itself, and I have two personal comments. 

First:  In October 2002, I visited the Vesnova Children's Mental Asylum (located in the Mogilev region of Belarus) for the first time.  I lived and slept there, as I have many times since. I can personally attest that since 2002, CCPI has improved greatly the quality of life of kids who live there. As an unpaid volunteer and a board member, I value my professional reputation and simply would not stay involved if this were not true.

The condition of the building where the children live has improved dramatically since my first visit.  This is because of a massive volunteer work force, provided by citizens of Ireland, that you can read about here.   Organizations like the Toothfairy Foundation and Vodafone donated costs of materials.  Monthly training and hands-on care from Irish and American medical professionals improved child care practices.  And this was possible because of strongly motivated peers in Belarus.

We know (because you've told us) that you strongly support our programs that take children out of orphanages and place them in loving homes of their own.  We agree and these programs will continue to be a strong focus entering into 2008.  But the sad fact is that that, while these programs are an important source of hope for  "typical" children, change will come more slowly for children with intellectual disabilities.  (This is historically true, including in the United States.)  So, we think it is very important to help the forgotten kids of Vesnova, while at the same time investing in the long view. 

What also strikes me as I watch this video again is the disturbing image of Sasha, the little girl with the unusually large head.  Sasha lives in the Gomel region of Belarus.  Sasha's family is one client of our hospice program.  This program provides medical and social support for families with the most seriously ill children.

Sasha has a condition called hydrocephalus.  The common name for this is "water on the brain," and in the US it affects one in 500 births. It's a common birth defect, more common than Down's Syndrome.  Since 1960 there has been a treatment for hydrocephalus, and while it remains a serious condition in the USA and Europe one does not see children like Sasha.

I've seem many children like Sasha (in various degrees)  in Chernobyl affected regions. Why?  Radiation? Deficiencies in diagnosis or treatment?  Nutrition? I don't know, but would like to know more.  In fact, if you know a medical expert on this birth defect, I would like to hear from them via email.)  What I do know is this: Children with hydrocephalus, left untreated, suffer tremendously in their short lives. I've witnessed this myself. Imagine nurses trying to carefully turn the heads of tiny children with huge skulls . . . turning to prevent pressure sores, while the children moan in pain and the nurses themselves weep. 

The unique situation of Sasha, however, does not come through in this video at all.  Sasha's mother and father feel blessed to have her.  They never considered handing her to an orphanage.  They call her an angel and rush home from work to see her. Sasha's dad,  Vitaly, says he can't imagine life without her.  He describes the music she likes, how she responds to it, how they spend their day.  As I look at her, I have to admit I hope she has no consciousness.  But I get caught up in his belief.  He sees moods, desires, preferences for certain foods, particular clothes.  He talks about her like any of us would talk about our kids.  After visiting them in April, my colleague Sherrie  and I feverishly shopped for the specific foods and clothing Vitaly told us Sasha would like.  I'm not sure what inspired our sense of urgency:  Sasha herself, or Vitaly's devotion to Sasha and his belief that it mattered.

Vitaly's singular focus on his "angel" and lack of self pity are are so inspiring.  I think it would be a great subject for another film.

chernobyl: the life saving gift at work

I can't look at this picture without imagining how I might feel to see my own child in an intensive care unit, hooked up to tubes and wires and hissing electronic equipment.  Only days ago, this child's parents were in the situation all parents dread:  Not knowing if their child would live or die.  Today she lives, thanks to a partnership between American and Belarusian surgeons and a life saving gift.

In October, I wrote about the Portland grandmother and the unusual way she raised funds to help kids needing heart surgery in Belarus. We combined her donation with one from a Rotary Club to purchase a Somanetics Cardiac Oximeter.  The oximeter just arrived in Belarus with a volunteer surgical team.  (The device allows surgeons to non invasively monitor oxygen levels in a young patient's brain and kidneys while they are on bypass during surgery. If the heart fails, the surgical team can intervene before irreparable damage is done.)

This equipment will save the lives of as many as 175 children a year.  We thought you might like to see this photo of the first one.  Pictured here,  Dmitry Leskovsky MD  (of the  National  Children's Cardiac Center in Minsk) and William Novick MD performed what is called a "Stage 1 Norwood" on the child.  The operation is one of the more complex performed in the USA or Europe.

As I reported last week, our cardiac surgery program has saved the lives of close to 300 children in Belarus, and has provided training and equipment that reduced the waiting list for children's heart surgeries from 7000 to 2400 under 5 years.  This spring, we will bring the program to Ukraine, where 50% of children who need complicated heart surgeries do not get it.

But today, we are celebrating the life of this one child.

chernobyl heart: i want to save a child's life for christmas

It's only December 1, but I already know  what I want for Christmas:  I want to save one child's life.  I'm hoping you will help me -- I've never asked you for anything before, have I?

This spring, Chernobyl Children's Project International will send an American medical team (led by Dr. William Novick, MD) to Ukraine.  They will operate on children who have very serious heart conditions -- genetic defects that have dramatically increased in incidence since 1986.  Without an operation, each of these children will die.

In 2008, we will sponsor 4 such trips to Ukraine, and save many young  lives.  But I would like to be personally responsible for just one life!  You can give me my wish by clicking on the DONATE button on this badge (either here or above) to make a secure online donation.  If I am able to raise $1,500, I will post a photo of "my" child this April.  If you prefer, you can donate by clicking on the green DONATE NOW button on the upper right hand of this blog -- here's how your donation helps.  Spread the word by clicking on "email this" or "share on Facebook" at the end of this post.  If you're a blogger, email me and I will send you code for my badge, or tell you how to create your own.

Our children's heart surgery program in Belarus has saved almost 300 lives.  Dr. Novick's surgical team focuses on both operations and training.  Since the start of the Belarus program, the children's waiting list for heart surgery has plunged from 7,000 to 2,400 patients.  The program has direct and measurable results.  I know we can bring this life giving success story to the children of Ukraine.

Click here to read the moving story of how supporter Judy Bevilacqua responded to young heart patients in Belarus.  The "cardiac kids" photo album on the left side of this blog shows some of the kids who have received life saving operations.

chernobyl and getting on with it

This photo is from a series by Don Weber.  It's called Bastard Eden: Chernobyl at Twenty.  His book of photos is due out this spring.

I love these photos, and as I look at them I wonder -- why?  I think because they lack any kind of voyeurism. Instead of being invited to stare, we are invited to understand.  Each subject is their own hero.  They've experienced Chernobyl, and they're getting on with it anyway.

Bill Crandall's photo  of a young Belarusian girl in dance class is another of this uplifting, humanistic type.  Look at her face -- is she thinking about Chernobyl?

It's easy to find a lot of "Chernobyl genre" photos on the Internet.  The blogosphere loves the spooky "ghost town" sort epitomized by Elena Filatova and her motorcycle tour of Pripyat. Another type of photos accentuates  terrible human suffering. Paul Fusco's sensitive work is, in my opinion, the best of this type.  His photo essay brings a tear to my eye no matter how often I watch it.

I've been to these places and met the people featured in these photos, and I can attest with my hand on my heart that it is all true and not exaggerated -- and yet it is only a part of the truth. The most amazing and under reported truth of Chernobyl is that the people who live here really love life.  They enjoy life. They can be fun to be around. They want to move on with their lives. And they do.  If we wish to help them, the best thing we can do is give them that extra bit of support that will keep them moving forward and working towards a better time for themselves and their kids.  (And isn't this the same thing we want in the USA, when disaster punches us?)

We need a new mental image of people living with Chernobyl. I can't approach the artistry of Don and Bill, but I can snap off a family photo, and I have images of my own of Chernobyl people enjoying their lives. Sasha, shown here in his wheelchair, loves to party and flirt with girls.  I've heard he likes the odd beer and is looking forward to the flat we want to build him this spring so that he won't have to move to an adult asylum. Pavel, who lives in an orphanage in Kletsk, is an artist who would not accept my money for his painting.  And you should check out this story about Sasha Levkin -- a boy with cerebral palsy who loves to travel and will not be held back.

I'm in this photo with Misha. He started his life in an asylum for mentally ill kids -- probably misunderstood because of his cleft palate and what I like to call his "accent."  Most kids never make it out of a place like that.  A few years ago, Misha got an operation from American doctors in Minsk. Unfortunately, Misha didn't understand that he wasn't allowed to eat any solids for a week after the operation.  After a few days of being hungry, he ate an apple and split his lip back open. It's a tough break, but it hasn't slowed him down too much. In spite of everything, he is making a modest living as a cobbler, and supporting himself and the woman who adopted him as a teen.  He sees himself as a pretty handsome guy (and as  a result, so do I).  He is big fan of Jean Claude Van Damme movies.  He is not shy and he makes a few bucks re-selling gifts given to him by Chernobyl Children's Project International volunteers.  He never hesitates to ask for more or to pretend that he doesn't remember the previous (re-sold) gifts. He is such a smooth talker, that I question my own memory. 

I have scores of stories like this -- hope and persistence are the untold legacy of Chernobyl and I wish it were more widely recognized.

In April 2006, Chernobyl Children's Project International was invited by the United States Congress and the Helsinki Commission to testify about the ongoing effects of Chernobyl.  At both of these hearings, United Nations representatives cynically portrayed the "real effect" of Chernobyl as "psychological," as if people who live in these regions are simply weak minded and not brave enough. Shame on them for saying this! It's simply not true.  I was heartened, though, to find that the US Congress was not buying any of that talk.  I've been told by the Belarusian Embassy here in Washington DC that he USA is the #1 source of support to Chernobyl regions in Belarus.

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the little ears and what I learned

I have a memory of a child I met at  the Vesnova Asylum in a Chernobyl affected region of rural Belarus.  His photo is to the left.  He was in terrible discomfort. At the base of each earlobe, he had a bloody tear, as if the earlobes themselves were ripping from the sides of his head.  (The pink color you see in the photo is mecurichrome. If you're over 45, you will remember being painted with this wound disinfectant.)

I had never seen anything like it this, and couldn't imagine the cause. I pointed it out to Marie Cox, our medical program director.  Marie was a  Chernobyl Children's Project International volunteer for years before joining the staff.  She had seen cases like this before.  It was indeed a tear -- a tear caused by a (hurried and overworked) orphanage caregiver repeatedly and roughly pulling a too-tight shirt over the boy's head. 

I was so stunned by this it took me a while to really take it in. I thought about the playful and giggle-y times I've had with my kids getting them undressed for the bath.  Then I tried to imagine someone pulling their jersey up so hard that their earlobes tore . . . and then having it happen to them over and over again.

We deal with a lot of big, complex issues every day in this work . . . child abandonment, serious illness, disability, poverty.  Complex problems don't have quick-fix solutions.

The huge establishment aid organizations like UN and unicef are good about reminding smaller organizations (like us) that we need to focus on the Big Picture -- on helping whole communities over the long term.  And of course they are right!  But I hope we never get so big that we can't care about one child's little ears. 

Last week, we brought in 7 new caregivers to assist nurses at Vesnova, and to do better by these kids.  It's not a quick fix. We will still need to work on training, more training, and procedures and process.  We won't ignore the important "big picture" -- giving families alternatives to putting their children in orphanages. But we believe you also also want us to think small. 

100+ chernobyl volunteers set to return home today

Over 100 Irish, Australian and American volunteers will return home today after spending three weeks in Chernobyl affected regions of Belarus. 

We employ about 20 local staff in Belarus, have partnerships with a number of local organizations, and at any given time we usually have volunteers and program directors "in the field."  This trip, however, was a large scale effort many months in the planning. 

Most of the volunteers on this trip were were builders -- carpenters, plumbers, masons, and the like who gave up their vacation time to come and complete work on the Vesnova Asylum in Belarus.  (Here's more about how we help.)  Nurses and therapeutic staff joined the teams in Vesnova, where they trained local caretakers in proper techniques and followed up on care plans for the children, who have a wide range of physical and intellectual abilities.  About 50 very serious ill children live in the facility's "high dependency unit" and require extraordinary care.   

As this work was happening, a management team led by CCPI founder Adi Roche visited projects across the country and met with employees, local partners, and government officials.  Key areas for evaluation were our foster care program and community care program in Minsk.  Adi, joined by Jim Clarken -- our new general manager in Ireland -- and Marie Cox, our medical care program  director, also examined the effectiveness of a new "aid direct" program that provides year round deliveries of necessary supplies for our community centers.  This program improves upon our  annual aid convoy.  Now, we are able to deliver good and supplies as needed, and we are purchasing locally, which puts aid dollars back into the local community to raise the standard of living for all.  Now that certain supplies are readily available in Belarus -- which was not the case when we first started our work in the country -- we are seeing huge cost efficiencies in purchasing locally rather than trucking across Europe! 

The management team visited our completed community centers in Zhitkovichy and Petrikov, and surveyed potential new sites in Glutsk and Buda-Kachalova.  Our community centers and programs target the most under served and at risk communities.  The centers serve a wide variety of community needs . . . therapeutic services for disabled children, child care classes, vocational training and employment services, homework help, computer centers, and more.  Our objective is to give communities the means they need to become self sufficient and avoid the downward spiral of poverty and hopelessness that leads families to place their children in institutions.

We also spent time examining our hospice program in Gomel, to ensure that the needs of families with the most seriously ill children are being properly met by our team of local nurses and psychologists. Meeting these families face to face allows us to hear directly from them whet