August 2020 Newsletter:

Note from Jeff: The story this month about 13-year-old Dana Bondarchuk simply reflects events that happen in the lives of our sponsored families. As our media focuses on COVID-19 and social issues in America, families in Ukraine continue to serve and trust Christ. Summer camps are restricted by the government, but our staff and missionaries minister to families as much as possible. I hope you will join us in praying for and supporting Dana’s family and many others like them.

Last month we shared a letter from Lena at the Hearts of Love Center for special needs children. Please remember her in your prayers as she is leading a group of parents and autistic children to the Black Sea. She is also bringing children from a war torn village in Eastern Ukraine. This will be their first time on a major group outing. Keep them in your prayers! Thank you. We hope to have a report from her in the next month or two.
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Dana Bondarchuk’s Medical Emergency

The evening of April 27th was a normal one for the Bondarchuk family. This close knit family had enjoyed a good time together. Mom and dad, former drug addicts before finding Christ, played with their three kids in their small apartment. They appreciate the help they receive through sponsorship and they feel like they have hope for the future. The night of April 27th however, rocked their hopes and dreams.

At one o’clock in the morning, while everyone was sleeping, the mother, Katya woke up suddenly to hear groaning sounds coming from the children’s bedroom. She ran into the room to see her daughter, Dana, lying on the floor with blood pooling around her ear.

“Mama, my head hurts. My ear hurts,” Dana kept saying.

“I lifted Dana from the floor and hugged her,” Katya said. “I felt something wet and saw blood pouring out from Dana’s ear and nose. She started vomiting blood.”

Dana Had A Nightmare

After playing with her family that night, Dana went to bed and began reading her school assignment, “Alice in Wonderland.”

“Before going to sleep Dana was reading ‘Alice in the Wonderland.’ I think it disturbed her so much that in her sleep she was trying to run away from something scary,” Katya said.

As they found out later, Dana had a nightmare and fell off the top bunk bed.  They called an ambulance at once. The ambulance took them to the department of cranial injuries in a Kyiv area hospital.

After an examination and CT scan of Dana’s brain, she was diagnosed with open temporal bone fractures, severe cerebral contusion, and hematoma. Cerebrospinal fluid was leaking through the ear.

“Those first few nights were sleepless,” Katya said.

Their local church was notified and began to pray. Christian Hope Church is well known in Kyiv and they prayed for Dana’s healing night and day for 4 weeks.

Dana Spent a Month in the Hospital

Dana suffered from severe brain trauma, and both she and her mother Katya were totally exhausted. Her mom stayed with her in the room for the first two weeks. Multiple CT scans were performed the following days and weeks to monitor the growth of the hematoma and internal bleeding.

“We praise God that her hematoma stopped growing and the doctors decided on the non-surgical treatment,” Katya said.

Today Dana Is Stable But Her Family Needs Our Help

Today, Dana is at home and her condition is stable. The hematoma has not increased, and the fluid stopped leaking out of the ear. However, she remains under a doctor’s care and is taking antibiotics, IV fluids and other medications.

Valya, MP childcare worker for Dana’s family stays in touch with the mother, Katya. It is difficult for us to understand what a support this is for the Bondarchuk family.

Valya shared that, looking at Dana, you might think that she is totally recovered, but her earaches and headaches continue. “We are worried that this contusion could later cause epilepsy or other brain problems,” she said.

The Bondarchuks Depend Completely On God

Both parents are former drug addicts who came to Christ and have been sober for several years. They regularly minister to other drug addicts. Due to her past drug use, Katya is HIV positive, as well as her youngest son who she was pregnant with at the time. They are depending on God for all of their needs. The treatment is very expensive for them, but they have experienced miracles before. Today they just need another one.

Requests For Help

We receive many requests for help in our Kyiv office. Support donated to MP is used to help families like the Bondarchuks and others. Thank you for your trust and ongoing support during these uncertain times.