**Life-Saving Transplant Amid Russian Strikes**
As Russia’s missile attacks pounded Kyiv, Ukrainian doctors performed a historic organ transplant from a deceased 4-year-old girl. The courageous medical team at Ukraine’s largest children’s hospital, Okhmatdyt, saved the lives of three critically ill children in a daring operation that lasted over 13 hours.
In a statement, the National Specialized Children’s Hospital Okhmatdyt revealed that the young donor had been declared brain-dead on July 10. With her parents’ consent, she donated her heart, liver, and kidneys to those in desperate need of transplants. This was the first time such a posthumous transplant had taken place at Okhmatdyt.
The process involved a massive effort from multiple medical teams, all working under intense pressure from ongoing air raids and missile strikes. A 16-year-old girl with Wilson’s disease received a liver transplant, while a 14-year-old boy who had been on dialysis for over seven months was given the kidneys. The third recipient, a 12-year-old girl, received the heart at the Health Ministry’s Heart Institute.
**Commentary from Dr. Oleh Hodyk**
Dr. Oleh Hodyk, a transplant surgeon at Okhmatdyt, emphasized that this historic operation marked the hospital’s first full cycle of brain death diagnosis, organ retrieval, and transplantation. “This was a remarkable achievement by our team under extremely challenging circumstances,” he said.
**The Human Cost of War**
Tragically, Okhmatdyt itself had been struck directly by a Russian Kh-101 cruise missile just three days earlier, killing 33 people and injuring 121 others. The devastating attack on the hospital caused international outrage, with many condemning Russia’s intentional targeting of a medical facility.
**Conclusion**
Amidst the chaos of war, Ukrainian doctors demonstrated remarkable bravery and dedication to their patients’ lives. This historic organ transplant serves as a testament to the human spirit and the unwavering commitment of healthcare professionals in Ukraine.
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