Support for Ukraine

I made a decision to travel to Kiev, Ukraine and offer some Pediatric care to refugee children in the Kiev region. After calling the Deputy Minister of Health in Ukraine, I arranged to fly to Lublin, Poland and travel to Kiev by train. I spent my time in Kiev with a translator and several Pediatric Doctors doing regular Physical examinations and some acute care visits. 

I also met two OB/GYN Residents, who one day took me to another hospital where I met their Medical Director for OB/GYN in the entire Kiev region. He, in turn, introduced me to the Medical Director for the Kiev Neonatal ICU and we all talked about raising money for some needed equipment and some educational opportunities for their staff.

When I returned to Laramie, I decided to develop a project to raise money for the refugee center in Lublin and connect the Neonate ICU with Denver Children's Hospital Staff from their NICU and lay the groundwork for education and communication between the two medical staffs. 

During my time in Kiev, I met some of the most wonderful and appreciative people you can imagine. They are grateful for the help and assistance the US has given them, but also to anyone doing anything to help them. The Ukrainians I met are the most kind and gentle people I have ever seen. They just want Peace and to get on with their lives.

Kent "Klep" Kleppinger, MD

We have set up a way of helping support several children related groups in Ukraine. I met with these groups on my trip to Ukraine 9/23 to 10/8. They have asked us for very modest help and assistance to help children in Ukraine. You can donate and help these two organizations assist families and children during this war with Russia

I Spent 10 hours in the Lublin train station waiting for my train to Kiev. While there, I met and talked with Agata Kasiewicz, director of the Ukranian Refugee Center in the Lublin Train station facility. During the first months of the war, they assisted 2,000 refugees a day helping them with housing, food, education and counseling support. While it has slowed considerably, they still have 200 refugees (mostly mothers and children) each day come through to find help with resettlement, food, sleep, a chance to play with some toys or color a picture. All in a safe, supportive location.

Most of the time I spent in Kiev Ukraine was with medical visits for children in one of the children's Hospitals in Kiev. The clinic in the Okhmatdyt Children's Hospital was the setting for seeing acute illnesses and well visits and Physicals for children from infancy through age 16. No pictures were allowed of the Patients or facilities for security reasons. Trust me that the children are the most beautiful children in this world, the families love and adore these children, and are some of the most grateful families I have ever met. 

The experience was moving every day with children very polite and respectful being told by their families that a special "American Doctor" came to see and examine them. 

While seeing clinic patients one day, an OB/GYN Resident came and talked to me about coming to meet his professor. After seeing our last patient, he drove us to another hospital and after going up to the 7th floor and through several hallways, entered into a room to meet Dr. Golyanovskiy Oleg Vladimirovich, Head of the OB/GYN Department for the Kiev District. He, in turn introduced me to Dr Anastassia Kondratenko, director for the Kiev Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. 

They spent time touring the facility and Dr Kondratenko said they need help catching up to the west. She asked to get current care protocols we use in the US, help setting up education seminars between Kiev and US counterparts, and for some basic equipment for caring for premature infants. 

We are starting two opportunities to help the people in Ukraine who are really making a big difference in the comfort and care of children and their immediate families. The refugee center in Lublin has asked if we can help them get 30 pillows, sheets and blankets. Perhaps as many medium stuffed toys and coloring books and coloring pencils. 

 I have promised Agata we would help out....BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEND THEM 3-4 TIMES WHAT THEY HAVE ASKED FOR. You can bring coloring books, boxes of colored pencils (not crayons, please) or a small pillow no more than 12 x 24 inches, single bed sheets, and blankets to the Laramie Pediatrics Office. When we get a good supply of the donations we will send them to the Lublin, Poland Refugee center. You can also donate cash and we will use it to help purchase items and with shipping these items to Poland.

I will be working with the director of the Children's Hospital NICU to help set up educational seminars for pediatric doctors in the Kiev region. We are also going to do a fundraising for some high flow Neonatal Nasal Cannulas to help keep preterm infants off ventilators. In addition, there is a good chance of taking half a dozen doctors back over to the Kiev region and do some clinic work and teaching seminars for all of their Pediatric doctors. Share our expertise with the doctors in the country