Irish nurse aids in 'Christmas miracle' as Irish charity saves newborn's life in Ukraine

IN THE midst of war-torn Ukraine, a beacon of hope shines bright this Christmas as a three-day-old baby, Khrystina, defies the odds and survives a life-threatening heart condition, thanks to the efforts of an international Cardiac Surgical Team funded by Adi Roche's Chernobyl Children International (CCI) charity.

Baby Khrystina, born on the front line in a city gripped by conflict, faced a grim fate with a deadly heart condition that would have claimed her life within weeks. Complicating matters further, she developed neonatal pneumonia in the critical hours after birth, bringing her perilously close to certain death.

In a twist of fate, an international Cardiac Surgical Team, backed by the compassionate generosity of the Irish people through CCI, arrived in the nearby city of Lviv.

This team, specialising in treating the third generation of Chernobyl victims, turned what seemed an inevitable tragedy into what is now being hailed as a "Christmas miracle."

The seven-hour complex surgery, carried out on Tuesday, was made possible by the financial support from the Irish public. Adi Roche, the Voluntary CEO of CCI, expressed her gratitude, describing the team's work as a miracle and emphasising the vital role of Irish generosity: "Khrystina owes her life to the kindness and generosity of the Irish people who funded this mission."

Khrystina's parents, overwhelmed with fear at the prospect of losing their newborn, shared their relief after the successful surgery: "Our daughter was born into war, and then we learned that she might not survive the week. Thanks to Irish people and the doctors, we can now breathe a sigh of relief."

Dublin nurse Karen Kelly, a member of the surgical team, reflected the spirit of selflessness, having volunteered her expertise and collected thousands of euros worth of medical humanitarian aid for the Lviv hospital.

Dr Igor Polivinok, the Ukrainian lead for the mission, underlined the determination of the surgical team in the face of adversity: "Explosions can be heard in the distance, and you can't tell how close it is. We are determined to save as many lives as possible."

The ongoing war has forced CCI's Cardiac Missions to relocate from Kharkiv to Lviv, the last remaining hospital in Ukraine with the capability to safely conduct complex pediatric cardiac surgery. Before the war, over 50% of children with congenital heart defects went untreated due to a lack of facilities and training. Now, with the exodus of medical personnel and the deliberate targeting of medical facilities, the need for these life-saving interventions is more critical than ever.