Life without pain: private clinic provides free surgeries to patients from vulnerable groups

In these difficult times, Ukrainians are incredible in their unity, mutual assistance, and selflessness. Everyone who is not at the front is trying to help the army as much as they can. Some raise money to buy birds for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, others give their time by cutting vegetables to make dry rations, others weave 'kikimori' and camouflage nets... But it is not only the frontline that needs help.  We will tell you about the doctors who decided to perform free surgeries for people from vulnerable groups to relieve their pain.

Since the first days of the full-scale invasion, the private medical clinic Into-Sana has been volunteering and contributing to bringing the Victory closer.  The organization sends ambulances to the front, helps medical volunteers with logistics, medicines and supplies, and provides services to the military at a reduced rate. In addition, in the spring, the clinic launched a pilot project called "To Be Healthy!", under which doctors operate free of charge on patients who have already lost hope of a normal life without pain.

Ukrinform correspondents visited the clinic and learned about this important social program.

A PROJECT THAT SAVES PEOPLE FROM DISABILITY

Halyna Usenko, CEO of the Into-Sana clinic chain, said that patients who find themselves in difficult life circumstances and cannot afford quality treatment are invited to participate in the project.

The project selects patients with complex cases whose treatment can save a person and eliminate the risk of disability.

- That is, if a person already has a disability or an incurable concomitant disease, such a candidate is not considered," added Halyna Usenko.

The "To Be Healthy!" program is implemented exclusively at the expense of the clinic without donor support, so the monthly limit is 5 surgeries.  The patient does not pay anything. The surgery performed by the clinic under the charity program is no different from the one under the regular price package.

- If a person is selected, we invite him or her to the clinic for a consultation. There, the doctor conducts a full examination of the patient. If the need for surgery is confirmed, he explains the procedure and possible risks. After the patient's consent, we set a date for hospitalization and, after some preparation, perform the surgical procedure. Medications, anesthesia, the operation itself, food and room are not paid for by the patient. On the third day after the procedure, we discharge the person, then after a certain period of time they come for a follow-up examination," says Halyna Usenko.

Currently, free surgeries are performed in the areas of neurosurgery and gynecology (including oncology). The cost of such procedures according to the price list ranges from UAH 50 to 150,000.

Halyna Usenko explained that neuro and gynecological areas of care were not chosen by chance. First, a large number of people suffer from spinal diseases. Patients experience unbearable pain, limitations in physical activity, and sometimes cannot even walk or work. As for gynecological diseases, the most common ones (cysts, endometriosis and organ prolapse) affect women in middle age, meaning their quality of life deteriorates significantly.

Secondly, surgeries in these areas require almost no additional consumables, as, for example, in orthopedics.

- I would also like to perform traumatology operations. A damaged joint can be replaced, and a person will return to life, be able to walk, work, and even play sports. But the cost of an artificial joint reaches USD 5,000 and it is difficult for the clinic. We are ready to operate for free, but we cannot afford the joint itself. We need partners' involvement," said Halyna Usenko.

According to the CEO, the clinic has already tried to involve charitable foundations in the project, but they prefer government agencies in providing assistance.

- The project is small, but even helping 5 people every month is good. Five people will return to life, be able to work and provide for themselves. In general, I dream that in the future we will add urology and general surgery," says Halyna Usenko.

According to Ms. Usenko, at first Odesa residents were distrustful of the "To Be Healthy!" program, as it is known that free cheese is only in a mousetrap. Only 20 applications were submitted for spinal surgery. Among them, the clinic selected and operated on four patients.

All surgeries were successful, added the CEO of Into-Sana.

The project's operating surgeon, neurosurgeon Serhii Vasyliev, said that two men, aged 35 and 40, and two women, aged 45 and 65, had already been operated on within the project.

- "The older woman had a rather complicated case, she could hardly move and had a large curvature of the spine, so we had to install a stabilizing metal structure that fixes the vertebrae," the doctor said.

A GIFT FOR ALL THE SUFFERING

The woman the doctor told us about is Iryna Serhiivna. She is 65 years old and worked at "Stalkanat" for almost half of them. She "left" her health there when she was winding huge spools of metal wire. She kindly invited us to visit her and told us her 10-year treatment story.

When her back first started to hurt, she didn't even pay attention to it because she was used to leading an active lifestyle.

- "I have three children and five grandchildren, I'm used to moving around. But the situation was getting worse, the pain was getting worse, and I had to quit my job.

Iryna went to a doctor at a municipal hospital, where she heard a long, incomprehensible diagnosis that she did not even remember. But she did remember the cost of the proposed surgery - more than 150,000 UAH.

- This is an unbearable amount for me. Where does an ordinary pensioner get that kind of money? At that time I decided that I would go and endure as long as God had measured it," says Iryna.

As time passed, the symptoms became more and more acute: Iryna Serhiivna could hardly get out of bed, and she was constantly taking painkillers.  Her small garden, which she had planted on her own windowsill, was in decline, and she had a hard time taking care of her three cats. Ms. Iryna devoted all her free time to her hobbies - beading and embroidery, which do not require physical effort. Her cell phone also came in handy - lying down, she watched life through social media.

- I could not sleep because of the unbearable pain. No matter where you lie down, it hurts. You roll around, looking for a comfortable position. So I was lying there at night and browsing Facebook. Suddenly I saw information about a free surgery. I did not believe in this possibility and turned the page further, but I still had doubts," says Iryna.

A day later, she decided to consult her daughters about the offer from Into-Sana.

The eldest was immediately skeptical about this "adventure," while the younger, although she did not believe it, advised Ms. Iryna to fill out an application.

- I filled it out and forgot about it. But a few days later, the girls from the clinic called me and invited me to a consultation with a doctor. He examined me and scheduled the day of the operation. Everything was done very quickly, I easily recovered from anesthesia. I was discharged home on the third day," says Iryna.

Now Iryna Serhiivna is slowly returning to normal life. She walks briskly and even tries to take care of her favorite flowers. But the other day, in a hurry to hide in the corridor during the air raid, she tripped over a threshold and broke her arm. According to doctors, the fracture is not severe and will fuse up quickly. So the pensioner will have to wear a cast for a while before postoperative rehabilitation.

- The arm is not a big deal. In three weeks the cast will be removed. But what they did at Into-Sana is a real miracle.  The pain still reminds me a little bit, but it will go away. I am very grateful to the clinic and personally to surgeon Serhii Viktorovych.  It's just a gift for all my suffering," says Iryna Serhiivna.

PAIN IS LIKE AN ELECTRIC SHOCK

The second patient who received free medical care from the clinic is Oleksandr. The man is 40 years old, has a wife and a small child. Low back pain began to bother Oleksandr 13 years ago, but he was not treated.

- Work, family - why should I whine about some pain? It will hurt and stop," he thought when he heard the first signs of the disease.

Oleksandr had always worked physically - he was a warehouse worker, so he had to lift heavy things. It is not surprising that the man's intervertebral hernia almost doubled in size and began to compress the nerve endings.

- I started pulling my leg. I could even fall on the street. When you walk, your body suddenly feels like an electric shock and you can't move, the pain increases, you try to take a step and nothing happens. This state lasts for several minutes, but it is impossible to prepare for it in advance. And how hard it is to get out of bed! I used to roll over from back to side, then lean on a chair, and that's the only way I could get to my feet. This process takes time.  I lost my job, who needs such a worker. I felt terrible physically and mentally - only my wife worked in the family, and I couldn't even peel potatoes," says Oleksandr.

It was his wife who told her husband about the clinic's social program. Oleksandr, like other patients, did not believe in the possibility of free surgery at first. But he thought that he was not risking anything if he filled out the questionnaire. Unexpectedly for him, he was selected and soon underwent surgery.

- I am grateful for this second chance. I feel as if I was born again. For many years I have been falling asleep and waking up without pain. Now I can help my wife with household chores, and in 2 weeks Serhii Viktorovych allowed me to start working. I feel needed and useful again. I am very grateful to the doctor and the clinic," says Oleksandr.

For reference. The Into-Sana clinic chain was founded in 1995. It employs about 1500 healthcare professionals. Its head office is located in Kyiv. There are 3 medical and 4 diagnostic centers, 5 ambulance substations and a 100-bed hospital in Odesa and the region. It is in the Odesa hospital that free surgeries are performed.

Kyiv's medical centers currently only perform same-day surgeries.

Hanna Bodrova, Odesa

Photo by Nina Liashonok