photo by Andrii Zholob
A spoiled birthday
My story begins with the fact that I ruined my wife’s holiday – I joined the army on Yarynka’s birthday. Not that I am a great volunteer hero who will defeat and cure everyone in the world, but the summons came, and if it’s necessary, then it is so.
At first, I was a little depressed and that’s absolutely normal. Every person who has to go closer to military operations feels something like that. I got to Sykhiv [district of Lviv], from there one of the military commissars personally took me to the courses. Me and forty other similar doctors who had to be transformed, reborn. Among us were those with considerable experience: surgeons, urologists, anesthesiologists, and there were also those who had not practiced for 15 years after graduating from the institute. But there is a diploma, there is a duty before the state, a rank of the reserve lieutenant of the medical service – thus, you have to go and join as a doctor. It is the most difficult for those who have been in business for 15-20 years, and now they are reminded that they were once doctors, so they must now work as medics.
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During the month, we prepared and studied what tactical medicine and combat trauma are, how to fill out tons of medical documents on the front line. We learned again, already in adulthood, to find friends, which is obviously not easy, especially after 40 years. The processes once memorized were readjusted this time, because the treatment of combat and domestic injuries is different.
Man plans, God manages
I was already knowledgeable in theory, got to the hospital, operated a little, and assisted. I started thinking that it’s what I would do, but the situation required certain personal changes. I was sent to the medical unit, and here my soul was troubled for the second time. I understood that I was going to other people and needed to make contacts again. We just met, and after a few days, they told us: «Well, guys, it’s time for you to treat those who protect our land.»
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Now that I have been in the theater of war for a month, closer to the demarcation line, I understand that my task isn’t too difficult. I receive wounded of various degrees of severity from the front lines, who are brought to me on heavy armored vehicles. My job is to stabilize them, or, as it’s said in our military medicine, to «close the taps» – that is, to stop the bleeding. This is the most important thing. Next, it is necessary to assess the condition of the patients. And here, the most important is a conversation – as I was personally convinced, it’s the most important tool for a military doctor. If the patient contacts you, speaks, then you understand that he is conscious and you can even control his condition by talking, understand whether he is getting more complicated on the way.
You should always learn
Our drivers do an incredible job. These are guys who, in peaceful life, were average middle-level managers or engaged in something similar. These guys do everything to transport the patient quickly and gently. It doesn’t always work out that way, because sometimes we transport difficult patients, fly up and bump our heads and backs against the ceiling of our ambulance. But the main thing is to deliver them.
We also have a more difficult task: examining and identifying the dead. I don’t want to describe them with numbers – they are people, someone’s children, someone’s parents. Often, they are undocumented and have to be completely examined, from head to toe, to find any data. Sometimes we find tokens and documents in completely unexpected places. The most important thing is that such a patient is not marked with the «unknown» tag, so we try to identify and pass it on as soon as possible.
As for my team, we work around the clock, replacing each other. I will say frankly: despite the fact that I am a polyclinic traumatologist with almost 20 years of experience, I listen to very young paramedics who have been in the war longer than me. I go to see how each patient is treated, even if he is not mine and we are not taking him. People from all over Ukraine work here, with different skill levels: doctors, paramedics, and police officers. Everyone is fantastic and understands exactly why they are needed here.
Confused like children
Our main task is to pay attention to the fighters. The most common injury now is acubarotrauma or, in human terms, a contusion. They do not particularly fight with firearms, mainly artillery and aviation. Thank God, not everyone is hit by shrapnel, but many are hit by sound and pressure waves. Such patients are brought to us at the evacuation point.
Imagine people covered with several days of «armor» of dust, sweat, dirt, being dehydrated and exhausted. The only thing that stands out in their face is their white eyes, which cannot concentrate look at one point. When such patients are unloaded, they behave like children who have to perform in front of their parents for the first time in kindergarten. Recall your own children crowding, bumping into each other. And now, imagine in their place healthy bearded men with guns who behave the same way and don’t know where to turn. In such cases, I use the skills and experience of the presenter. I understood that they should be given clear recommendations like how to shout «free checkout» in fast food restaurants. Accordingly, I shout: «Guys, unload the weapon!», and they politely, really like children, unload it. I say: «Hand over the grenades, because they won’t go with me in the car,» – and they hand over. I continue: «Look, I’m wearing a blue glove. Those who unloaded their weapons and handed over grenades, come to me.» Believe it or not, they approach, almost holding hands, I take them into the car. And when they already feel in a calm atmosphere, I make them drink a lot, I drink water – ordinary, mineral, or salty. Then, I make sure to make some idiotic jokes like «How much time haven’t you seen your wives?» and so on. This atmosphere is incredibly healing. Then, I add my treatment because some have a headache, others have ringing in their ears. When we reach the hospital, I realize that I am passing them there in a condition, sufficient for communication, stabilized, not so dazed – and I realize I’ve already done my job.
There are more difficult patients, in particular those with brain injuries... I really want to save everyone, and although knowing that it is not possible, I will do everything that depends on me. I understand that, in fact, not even 10 per cent of my transformation from a civilian doctor to a military one has taken place yet. But I really hope that I will not have time to become a 100 per cent military doctor before the victory.
You can watch Andrii’s performance in civilian life with his band on Youtube:
A charity event called «Time of Stories: Warriors of Light» took place in Lviv to share the stories of Ukrainians fighting each on their own front. You can speed up the victory of Ukraine by transferring funds for our military:
- banking link: https://send.monobank.ua/jar/3Z2TUZ25ne
- by bank card number: 5375 4112 0195 8589
- by the Qr-code on the screenshot
By Marichka Ilyina, translated by Vitalii Holich
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