Feature Photo: A typical hospital room has beds for six patients. Here we are visiting with some of the patients who were wounded in the war’s evil.
Several weeks ago, we were invited to visit the Kalush Hospital/Rehabilitation Center and our schedule just now allowed us to accept the invitation. This facility has one of the only aquatic rehabilitation programs in Ukraine. The city is located about 30 kilometers from Ivano-Frankivsk. It is a nice location and those who are able choose to go to medical services in Kalush rather than Ivano-Frankivsk. Their reason is the smaller community atmosphere which offers a more individualized service than one will find in the larger population centers.
The Administration said they would send a car for me and Bogdana drove to pick me up and took me to Kalush where I met with the Director of the Hospital and his staff. We discussed the urgent needs of rehabilitation, prosthetics and mental health issues that are multiplying because of Russia’s evil. As we discussed the critical needs for physical and mental rehabilitation, I echoed the most pressing need for a spiritual “rehabilitation.” I was able to provide documented successes we have established in setting up the Bible studies in Ivano-Frankivsk clinics and the start-up of the children of war “Galaxy Center” also in Ivano-Frankivsk. Being able to provide a tangible reference, instead of some “dream,” helps to communicate the mission. My observations were well-received and met with encouraging words. All in the meeting agreed that if we help to rehab the physical body but do not do anything to the spiritual body, then it is a useless task. Now the means to accomplish this were not specified but the invitation and eagerness for such rehabilitation was electric! Future visits and faithful workers will help communicate the details of the spiritual rehabilitation that God is offering.
I was encouraged by the current actions and capabilities of this hospital. They are currently involved in a broad spectrum of physical therapies and have just begun a vocational therapy clinic. They have experience with patients suffering emotional traumas as well.
The aquatic rehabilitation building was separate from the Hospital’s complex. They have two pools that are used to help patients. One pool is heated to 45C so patients will not have complications from colder temp water. During the visit a PTA was working with a 10-month-old Down’s baby. The baby’s family were sitting as they could view the therapy. A larger pool is used to help stroke victims, amputees, cardiac patients, and other patients. One pressing need is a lift that will take patients from the pool’s side in a wheelchair and lower them into the water for their therapy.
It was a good visit and my notes regarding this facility will be added to the other places visited so we can discern the appropriate locations for actions. It was encouraging to hear Bogdana want to discuss the Church as we drove. She said, “You mentioned that you work through a Church. Can you tell me something about this Church?” I believe that this is a good location to focus energy and efforts. Not only did we discover facilities in place treating the rehabilitation efforts, but we also discovered some good soil for the Gospel’s seed!
Note: No photos were approved for posting.
Please continue praying for our efforts! The trip is winding down and I anticipate only a few more reports will be published.
John L. Kachelman, Jr, Ukraine Missions, Dalraida Church of Christ, P.O. Box 3085, Montgomery, AL 36109
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