[ Natalya ] It's as if, for 8 to 10 years, time has stood still
[ Yury ]It is not easy to evacuate us
because these children have severe diagnoses
and need an individual approach
[ Natalya ] We're here for the orphans, who need specific medical attention
[ Ekaterina ] People are shocked when they first see them
[ Ekaterina ] You see fear in their eyes
[ Ekaterina ] They ask, 'How do you do it?' [ Ekaterina ] They just want to go, fast
[ Anna ] He says it won't be effective, so...
our only option is amputation
[ Natalya ] In all, we saw about 150 children, just a drop in the ocean
There are many more kids
As I say, 'inconvenient children', inconvenient for anyone
LUGANSK’S FORGOTTEN CHILDREN
[ Anna ] We visited children's homes in Lugansk and in Donetsk
I also went to places in Kherson,
and I want to say, yes!
[ Anna ] The situation in all areas must be improved
ANNA KUZNETSOVA MP, RUSSIAN STATE DUMA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN
[ VO ] Doctors from the “Road of Life” foundation went to the Lugansk
region, where they were in great demand. [ VO ] Even in peacetime, homes
and rehabilitation centres for the disabled, like behind the times
in terms of medical advancements.
[ VO ] Essential drugs and doctors are scarce.
Lutugino, LPR
[ Anna ] Let's go!
[ Anna ] Hello
[ Anna ] I'm Darina's mother
[ Anna ] Darina was born with a congenital lower limb abnormality
[ Anna ] She has four toes on her foot
[ Anna ] She has dislocated fibulae,
and tibiae are missing,
making it impossible for her to stand on her feet
[ Anna ] Sit!
[ Anna ] Upsie!
[ Anna ] And now the children!
ANNA IVANOVA DARINA’S MOTHER
[ Anna ] So this is our home
[ Anna ] During all the shelling in 2014,
Ukrainian forces
were supposedly defending their territory and damaged our house
[ Anna ] The whole fifth floor was gone
[ Anna ] A very...
there was a lot of damage in the streets of our city
[ Anna ] We walked on Druzhba St., which was also shelled
[ Anna ] This one too, hit by shells, and Mira Street, and the next
[ Anna ] Almost everywhere was shelled
[ Anna ] Look at him! So bold
[ Anna ] Pick him up?
[ Anna ] Here
[ Anna ] Gently, gently...
[ Anna ] In 2014, the town was practically deserted
[ Anna ] There were only 3 or 4 in our wing of the building
[ Anna ] In our courtyard, we had a bomb shelter,
and during shelling, we all hid there
[ Anna ] On February 19, the evacuation started
[ Anna ] People were told that...
they had to leave town
ON FEBRUARY 18, THE AUTHORITIES OF THE LPR AND DPR ANNOUNCED THAT THEIR POPULATIONS SHOULD EVACUATE TO RUSSIA DUE TO AN ESCALATION OF HOSTILITIES IN THE DONBASS REGION 00:04:04:00 00:04:08:00 [ VO ] Anna was going to get out too, but she was waiting to hear from a Russian clinic
about Darina’s treatment and possible surgery, so she decided to stay.
[ VO ] After Russia recognised the LPR, Anna learned that some of the
treatment could be covered by an insurance policy.
[ VO ] Patients normally pay for the operation Darina needed themselves,
and it costs many thousands of dollars – an unaffordable sum for a single mum.
[ VO ] When doctors from the Moscow’s “Road of Life” charity
came to the Lugansk, hope came too.
[ Anna ] There aren't enough doctors, in our kid's hospital we only have
two paediatricians,
three nurses, one optometrist, and that's it
Lugansk, LPR
[ Anna ] So, if we need medical help, we still have to go to Lugansk
[ Anna ] - Hello! [ Natalya ] - Hello!
[ Natalya ] - What's worrying you? [ Anna ] - We've a lower limb abnormality
[ Anna ] We've been advised to amputate the limbs, up to the knees
[ Anna ] Or have surgery, but then the feet and ankles wouldn't move,
and the knee joints only a little,
possibly not at all
[ Anna ] Look at this, it's so shiny! [ Anna ] See how shiny it is
[ Natalya ] We'll ask a neuro-orthopaedist if, surprisingly, there's an alternative,
which, honestly, I doubt
[ Natalya ] We need to think, and not see it as a torment but an opportunity
[ Natalya ] Right? We can't just lie, we're not meant to!
[ Anna ] She's not static
[ Anna ] - We must move, she's so clever [ Anna ] - She has knees!
[ Anna ] We're always schlepping around... Yes!
[ Natalya ] I'll wait for the report, then get in touch, OK?
NATALYA GORTAEVA DORTOR, ROAD OF LIFE FOUNDATION
[ Natalya ] We came to see what was possible,
and what medical facilities were available to them
[ Natalya ] We visited many places and saw all kinds of children
[ Natalya ] In all, we saw about 150 children, just a drop in the ocean
[ Natalya ] There are many more kids
[ VO ] As I say, 'inconvenient children' inconvenient for anyone
[ VO ] Do you have a staff shortage in Rovenki?
[ Artyom ] Yes, we do, mainly medical professionals
Rovenki, LPR
[ Artyom ] I should have two more GPs on staff
[ VO ] In ROvenki, children and adults with psycho-neurological disorders
are housed in the same building. [ VO ] The director, a former miner,
values his staff highly. [ VO ] Even in peacetime, it wasn’t easy to find
personnel, especially doctors. [ VO ] During the past eight years, such
institutions have barely survived.
[ ARTYOM ROSLIKOV DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S HOME, ROVENKI ]
[ Artyom ] It has become much easier
[ Artyom ] We're getting a lot of help from Russia
[ Artyom ] And the republic doesn't forget areas like ours, the social sector,
children's homes, disabled kids, etc...
[ Artyom ] We have 195 children in our care
4-year-olds were our youngest group, the youngest is now 7
Yaroslav, don't scream!
Vlad, get up, now!
[ Artyom ] Almost 99% of them have been mentally disabled since childhood
[ Artyom ] I am proud of the people who work here
[ Artyom ] They're truly worthy of respect, their job is very tough
[ Natalya ] Come here, to me
[ Natalya ] Go on, I've got you! [ Natalya ] Go on, go on
[ Natalya ] Well done!
[ Natalya ] Well, he can walk a few steps
[ Natalya ] Of course, he'll soon be in a wheelchair, unfortunately
[ Natalya ] Scoliosis operations can be very traumatic
and are not indicated in his case
Hi there! Oh, he knows, 'Hi'. Well done
So, here, that means...
One... two...
Oh yes! 1, 2... Or was it 1, 2, 3?
[ Swearing! ]
That was clear!
[ Natalya ] He's been taught to talk!
[ Natalya ] - Ok, we all see how you talk - f**k
[ Natalya ] So many words like that! [ Natalya ] I've never heard anything like it
Maks! What are you doing?
Let's go!
[ Yura ] Children live here, small, big...
grown-up...
[ Yura ] My name is Yura
[ Yura ] I am 15 years old
[ Yura ] More than anything, I like to sing, in a duo or on my own
[ Yura ] Oh, I wish I could walk [ Yura ] With you in the park
[ Yura ] And ride with you on the wind
[ Yura ] Oh, I wish I could be [ VO ] Swept away in a dance with you
- Are you in a football team? [ Yura ]- No, it's not my thing
[ Yura ] I've hated it since I was a kid
OK, children, let's sing a song
Polya, come on, you sing too
When you have friends,
you can't take a day off from them
You can't take a day off from being a friend
[ vo ] How old is he now?
-13 or 14 -14
He just started growing
Oh! Our star! He's a kind boy. Take a seat!
- Hello! - He just began to grow
- Yura! Sit down! - Do you know about your illness?
- What can't you eat? [ Yura ] - Chocolate, bread, butter
- Good. You follow the diet? [ Yura ] - Yes
You see what's written?
[ Yura ] Logbook
The last word?
[ Yura ] I can't see it
- Polina, did you come with Yura? [ Polina ] - Yes
[ Polina ] - Why? - So you could put your legs here
- Polya. Lie down, head this way [ Polina ] - Will it hurt?
- No - No injections, Polechka
I'll take a look, all right? I'll just have a look, OK?
You have her test results?
- She's had it since birth - She's often ill?
- Not really - Does it hurt, honey?
[ Polina ] - What's Moydodyr? - Moydodyr, yeah…
I can see at once that she has great recovery potential,
firstly, she was born healthy
She got like this after she was ill
We must do our best to restore her mobility
OK, stand on your feet
Let's try, I'll hold your hands. Try getting on your feet
She can walk supported, on tiptoes
We'll lose the tiptoes, and she'll use her feet, right?
[ Natalya ] Polina has big eyes
[ Natalya ] Yes, we need a more thorough examination
[ Natalya ] I think in the near future,
we'll find a way to get her to our social centre
[ Natalya ] And, of course,
we'll follow her case, her development, and stay here
[ Natalya ] Maybe, a new mum will see her
and she’ll be happy in a family
[ Natalya ] And she'll become more socialized
NATALYA GORTAEVA DORTOR, ROAD OF LIFE FOUNDATION
[ Artyom ] For the children here, socialising is contraindicated
[ Artyom ] They can go out in public,
but only supervised by nurses or attendants
[ Artyom ] People who get to 18 transfer to the senior department,
and they stay here
[ Artyom ] The Republic is planning to build a separate children's department
[ Artyom ] And our homes will only keep those who reach the age of 18
[ Artyom ] The department's now under construction
[ Artyom ] It'll be in Krasnodon
Krasnodon, LPR
[ Yury ] They're now working on putting in...
the electricity
[ Yury ] It'll all be new...
and beautiful
[ Yuri ] Kids will be here
[ Yuri ] Category 4...
[ Yuri ] That means bedridden children...
YURY RYZHENKOV DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S HOME, KRASNODON
who can't walk unaided
[ Yuri ] I'll be able to bring up to 54 people here
[ Yuri ] So that they can live here comfortably
[ Yuri ] I think bedridden children from other homes 00:13:02:18 c will be moved here as well
[ VO ] Many builders and drivers have been mobilised,
so construction has been delayed, and delivery dates postponed.
[ VO ] Yuri RyzhenkOv, looks after 110 children with severe medical
conditions, they’re housed on a tiny area.
[ Yuri ] After initial examination, a child will be here...
for up to 14 days, in quarantine, then moved to the wards
[ Yuri ] This extension is a lift
[ Yuri ] A fire escape...
[ Yuri ] If there's a fire, it means patients can quickly leave the second floor
[ Yuri ] Evacuation won't be easy,
as we have children with serious conditions who
need an individual approach and to evacuate one ward,
we'd use a whole team
of medical specialists
[ VO ] Tell us about 2014. [ VO ] How close did the shells fall?
[ Yuri ] - A few metres, yes… [ VO ] - Really?!
[ Yuri ] From the fence
[ VO ] Just a few metres? [ VO ] Was it serious shelling?
[ Yuri ] Well, no, it was mortars
[ VO ] Not serious mortars, I see!
Krasnodon, LPR
Sometimes, we received no medical supplies. Back in 2014
there was no humanitarian aid
Then, very gradually, people started bringing us aid,
from Moscow and in general,
they brought us
humanitarian aid. We lived, it's fine 00:14:23:00 UKRAINE HAS BEEN BLOCKING HUMANITARIAN AID TO DONETSK REGION SINCE THE LPR AND DPR DECLARED INDEPENDENCE IN 2014.
[ Ira ] Dashulya! Here, honey
[ Ira ] She wanted water, it was slow to boil
[ Ira ] Drink, my dear
How did she ask if she can't talk?
[ Ira ] Dasha, how do you ask for water?
[ Ira ] What's your name? Say 'Ira'
[ Ira ] Say 'Dasha'
- 'Data'. You hear? - She speaks a little?
[ Ira ] And what's my name? Ira
Iya! [ Ira ] She was born with some throat issues, apparently
We would love to see her develop better, but as I said...
it's a medical decision
[ Ekaterina ] People are shocked when they first see them
[ Ekaterina ] You see fear in their eyes
[ Ekaterina ] They ask, 'How do you do it?' [ Ekaterina ] And just want to go, fast
[ VO ] The home in Krasnodon caters for those with disability types
3 and 4. [ VO ] It’s the only one in Lugansk region. [ VO ] The kids here have
severe conditions, but there are no doctors. [ VO ] Senior nurse
Ekaterina is in charge of medical care.
[ Natalya ] The Krasnodon facility is for children
with 'severe mental handicaps and motor activity disorders'
[ Natalya ] This means that the children are terminally ill
In this ward, everyone is over 18
You don't use feeding tubes? They just sit on a lap?
[ Natalya ] Terminal children will depart this life
[ Natalya ] But they should not suffer as they go
Let me see...
You don't like strangers? You shy away!
[ Natalya ] Half of them have bloated abdomens, because they can't
digest food, due to gastric atrophy and insufficient enzymes
[ Natalya ] They can't digest our lovely potatoes, or a cutlet
[ Ekaterina ] When I got here, unfortunately, there was no one to teach me
[ Ekaterina ] I knocked on every door, 'Who here can teach me?'
[ Ekaterina ] Yury Vladimirovich said,
'Katya, there's nowhere I can send you'
[ Ekaterina ] There's no one to ask for help. [ Ekaterina ] There's no doctor,
nowhere to send you
[ Natalya ] I can imagine how much work you do
[ Ekaterina ] It's very hard, on vacation, I'll leave my phone here,
so I can at least get some rest
- Don't worry [ Natalya ] - We'll figure something out
[ Natalya ] It's not immediate and won't happen in a day,
but you'll get comfortable working here and see some progress
[ Natalya ] We go to the first group, check their records to make it easier
[ Natalya ] I don't quite know where but do come in
[ Natalya ] To the left?
[ Natalya ] It's a very distressing facility
[ Natalya ] There are no doctors, only qualified nurses
[ Natalya ] There's a glint in their eyes
[ Natalya ] They're here, they listen, get involved,
I believe in them, we'll see good progress
Dashulya, come here! Come
Let me put it on your finger
Such a clever girl!
[ Natalya ] Dasha is a child who's very different to most of the others
[ Natalya ] The children have severe psychiatric disorders
[ Natalya ] For children in a more active social setting,
it works well for this child,
the possibility...
to develop naturally and improve
[ Natalya ] She deserves that chance
[ Natalya ] To grow, develop and get smarter, a child needs somatic health
[ Natalya ] Yes, you do all you can...
but the children still suffer, mainly with pain, yes, it's not right
[ Natalya ] We went to more than 50 Russian institutions,
and now we have a project called, 'Medicine Together'
[ Natalya ] As we start this project,
in Moscow, we have an exemplary facility
that's ready for use
- We want to! [ Natalya ] - That's why I'm intriguing you!
Moscow, Russia
[ Natalya ] We are very happy to have come here today,
to start the 'Medicine Together' project
Specialists from all three cities, we've been to,
Lugansk, Krasnodon and Rovenki,
are united by a common desire to be taught,
to learn and, in general, to change something in life
[ Natalya ] They want change...
of any kind
[ Ekaterina ] The bathroom is something amazing!
[ Ekaterina ] It's just...
[ Ekaterina ] You can bathe a child in the ward, then the tap turns off
you take the water and dump it in the drain
[ EKATERINA KULAKOVA HEAD NURSE, CHILDREN’S HOME, KRASNODON ] [ Ekaterina ] We try so hard, think we do well and all is good,
but we're all flawed
[ Ekaterina ] So, of course, it's very sad to hear that
[ Ekaterina ] We've come to catch up, to gain more experience
By interacting with a child,
we transfer all our intentions to that child
Kristina!
Hello, my dear!
Let's change your position, shall we?
Shall we?
You agree? Yes! Well done!
First of all, we align, the child's pelvis
Come on. Up, up... well done!
Under her arms, we also put a roller
Then we look at, pay attention to, leg position
Good!
That's it
- Comfy, Kristina? - Yes
Comfortable? Good girl!
Thanks a lot
Yes, thanks very much
We put on gloves, check the system expiry date
The system...
opens much like a drip
[ Ekaterina ] We've never put a gastro-tube on anyone
[ Ekaterina ] We sort of thought, we didn't need to
[ Ekaterina ] The children eat, they're kind of OK
[ Ekaterina ] Well, it's recommended in some cases, I can think of one child
I've noticed he probably can't digest food,
because he's underweight
[ Ekaterina ] I don't know, he might need one
[ Ekaterina ] It's all very interesting, there are many novel ideas
and I'll eagerly adopt them
[ Ekaterina ] Very interesting
[ Natalya ] We have a list of children we're going to work on, naturally...
with the help of our benefactors
and of course, our active team
[ Natalya ] Some are engaged in talking to receiving parties
[ Natalya ] I mean hospitals the kids will go to in future
[ Natalya ] We're looking for funding so our nurses can stay with them
[ Natalya ] So, that's our usual, our routine, as we say, works
NATALYA GORTAEVA DORTOR, ROAD OF LIFE FOUNDATION
Krasnodon, LPR
[ VO ] While Ekaterina was training in Moscow, sponsors were found of
financing operation on one of the patients.
SPONSOR: ‘REGION OF CARE’ CHARITY
[ vo ] - Was it a long operation? [ Ekaterina ] - Oh, yes, about 4 hours
[ Ekaterina ] I rang by mistake, the doctor said, 'We'll go into surgery now'
[ Ekaterina ] They did it and called four hours later
[ Ekaterina ] The operation went well
[ Ekaterina ] That evening, he began to come round. He knew everyone
What hospital did you go to? Tell us
In the hospital
How did you go to the hospital?
- In a 'Sobol' - In a 'Sobol'
Did your head hurt at all? Why did you go to hospital?
Yes
They took fluid away
See? What guys we have!
Sore head and trembling hands, right?
Your legs trembled, right?
- Where now? Let's go? - Yes
- Manipulation room? - Yes
How is it?
Walking steadily? Well done!
Give me your other hand
Let's walk slowly
Let's see your head
- Will you show me? - Yes
Good
Very well done! A real walker, right!
Not stinging?
Nothing more to treat
Lutugino, LPR
[ Anna ] 'ello!
[ Anna ] Beauty!
[ Anna ] All clean?
[ VO ] Darina and her mum recently returned from moscow, where they’ve
been able to consult with doctors thanks to the “Road of Life” foundation.
[ Anna ] At first, our orthopaedist said he could...
see a case for surgical intervention
[ Anna ] That is...
[ Anna ] So, the feet and shins would be immobile,
the knee joints...
might be mobile or may be immobile
[ Anna ] I had thought the child would be able to walk with locked knees,
but when, with the foundation's help, we went to Moscow...
and she was examined, the doctors explained in detail that...
she couldn't walk on locked knees, she wouldn't walk at all
[ Anna ] But if we performed surgery, to amputate her lower legs,
she'd be able to walk on prostheses or use a wheelchair
[ Anna ] She'd move without prostheses or a wheelchair, on her knees
[ Anna ] I was made aware straight away, 'Mum...
look for a fund, because prostheses are very expensive'
[ Natalya ] Like all children, her head goes up and legs down
[ Natalya ] Then the organs are positioned well and it all functions properly
[ Natalya ] So, I hope somehow...
we'll find a way for her to get prostheses
[ Natalya ] That will also solve a big problem for the family,
meaning social interaction
[ Anna ] Amputation really scares me
[ Anna ] But it's OK!
[ Anna ] We're almost ready
[ Anna ] Mum has accepted the idea, because I understand that...
my child needs to walk
[ Anna ] She badly wants to do it by herself
[ Anna ] The issue of rehabilitation...
post-operative...
for children with congenital pathology,
who live in those regions should be addressed fundamentally
and on a large scale
[ Anna ] Specialists at various levels should
at least establish communication with Russia
[ Anna Kuznetsova The Kherson situation is most disturbing, with nurses
who stayed and take all-day care of the children
[ Anna ] Out of 12, only six remained,
and they take full responsibility, without being paid
because Ukraine has...
cut off funding
[ Anna ] They bring everything from home for free to feed the children
[ Anna ] The administration abandoned the institution and just left
[ Anna ] And now of course, what rehabilitation can we talk about?
[ Anna ] What professionals, defectologists or therapists?
[ Anna ] They want to survive!
[ Anna ] There's one system here: see it, do it
[ Anna ] We're arranging a new trip as soon as we can, to go,
so the doctors can help the children
ANNA KUZNETSOVA MP, RUSSIAN STATE DUMA DEPUTY CHAIRMAN