Medicine Hat nurse heading to Ukraine is asking for help to buy medical supplies

From April through June, Wood was in Lviv and then Cherkasy volunteering at a military hospital. She helped refugees and soldiers alike with issues ranging from primary care and medication to trauma wounds.

“The sad thing about what I saw was a lot of people could not seek medical attention until they got to the clinic,” Wood said of the refugees. “There was strong evidence of torture by the Russians.”

Wood says she treated people who had been burned, others who had been beaten, and most came needing mental health support.

“Many of these refugees showed up with nothing but grocery bags of their belongings,” said Wood.

Wood says during her first trip to Ukraine she made connections with other volunteers that led to her return. She will be going to eastern Ukraine in August to assist with medical evacuations, critical care and medical treatment.

Wood has started a GoFundMe page to help cover some of the costs while she is overseas. She covers all her living expenses while she is in Ukraine, and says the money raised will go to helping those she treats.

“It will go to medications, hygiene products, diapers, food, clean water tablets,” said Wood. “I’ve had some generous donations already and have purchased medical equipment like airways and tourniquets.”

Wood says on her last trip she was buying socks and shoes for those who had to flee their homes.

“It’s for everything and anything and it goes directly to the people,” Wood said.

Wood hopes to convey the continued need to support Ukrainian refugees, both in Canada and overseas. She says it’s the things Canadians take for granted, like being able to get a cup of coffee or a tank of gas, that make a big difference to those she helps.

“These people didn’t ask for this,” said Wood. “They are so grateful, especially when they find out that we are Canadians, that we are over there helping.”

Donations can be made through Wood’s GoFundMe page.

by Meghan Cobb

Medicine Hat nurse heading to Ukraine is asking for help to buy medical supplies

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