...	Наша Мета Вилікування Серця Дітей LAST UPDATED Nov 04, 2003

"We will never forget our new extended family, " said 3-year old Artur’s mother as they departed for home after his very difficult but successful heart surgery in America.

 Operation CHILD CARDI©-CARE US (OpCCCareUS) is the Ukrainian Gift of Life, Inc. (UGoL) program to arrange heart surgeries for children with certain heart defects that currently cannot be repaired within Ukraine. Since June 1997, when required surgeries are not feasible because of financial or technological factors, UGoL has arranged for and supported the surgeries for nearly 100 children in America. This has been possible through an alliance with Rotary District 7490 and Montefiore Hospital in New York City, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, New Jersey and HOPE Childrens Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. The hospital stipend of $5000 and host families, in most instances, are provided through Rotary’s Gift of Life program. UGoL raises $2000 required for transportation of each child and a parent and other support expenses through individual donations, memorials, corporate matching fund programs and grants. 

SUPPORTING A CHILD’S SURGERY IN AMERICA: UGoL volunteers become part of the extended family supporting the parent and child requiring surgery who come to America.  UGoL also provides the administrative support necessary for this life-saving opportunity. 

·         Coordinating case evaluation, visa, transportation, host family, translator, etc.

·         Welcoming mother and child at airport

·         Hospital and home visitations

·         Translation at hospital (i.e. admission, medical authorization for surgery, day of catherization, during surgery and post-operative appointments)

·         Translation for non-Ukrainian host families

·         Hosting mother and child before and after surgery, when necessary

·         Transportation to Ukrainian worship services, hospital, etc., when requested

·         Laundry service for mother while in hospital with child, if needed

·         Providing support supplies/activities, i.e. dictionaries, toys/games, Ukrainian books/videos, embroidery, crocheting or knitting for attending parent; toiletries and clothes as needed

·         Shopping and even some sightseeing

·         Confirming return flights and being at airport for departure

·         Translation of correspondence from family after return to Ukraine

For more information about OpCCCareUS, read 3-year old Artur’s story in Press Releases.

To make a donation to support surgeries in America or to volunteer, contact us.

Since 1997, over 90 children from Ukraine have been brought to the US to be treated for their congenital heart defects. Some of their stories and pictures appear in the CHILDREN’S ALBUM.