Angel in the night

Because the expected help did not come and the suffering of those around her intensified every day, Olga moved in with her mother and made her own home and her sister's apartment available to refugees. "I was very impressed by people, right from the first days. The courage and the way people helped each other were extraordinary. My nephew and son-in-law were digging trenches, some of my clients had voluntarily joined the army, while others were helping evacuate civilians from Kharkiv. The community responded with responsibility and solidarity to the situation, instead of being overwhelmed by panic.I answered calls from hospitals and fulfilled all the tasks assigned to me, from cleaning floors to serving tea or providing moral support for the wounded. I helped with their personal hygiene - cutting their nails and shaving them - seemingly mundane activities but impossible for those in a serious condition.” Sometimes she sat beside them, held their hands, or shared stories with them. "The hardest part was when teenagers and women whose legs had been amputated arrived. I felt helpless and distressed. For the first 6 months after the invasion, I couldn't cry."

I asked her if there were beautiful moments amid the suffering. Her face lit up and she began to tell me about Oleksandr, the soldier who ended up in the hospital with both arms severely injured and his face full of cuts and bruises. "I fed him every day because he couldn't use his hands, and we had a lot of time to talk. He couldn't sleep because of nightmares, so I tried to help him by diverting his attention from those terrible memories." Gradually, their friendship took a new turn, and his efforts to win Olga's heart became evident. Even after discharge, when Oleksandr was in recovery, he didn't give up, continuing to call and write to her, and after 3 months, he came to the hospital with a ring and asked her to marry him.

The entire atmosphere in the room changes quickly. There are moments when we forget about the war. But it does not back down.

"One day, I saw a man sleeping in a car with 3 dogs. I went to him, and he told me he wasn't welcomed anywhere because of the dogs, which he refused to abandon. His love moved me, so I called my mother and got her approval to shelter the dogs with us. Later, a pregnant woman named Vika was brought to the hospital in very serious condition. Her house had been hit by a rocket. Her last wish was the rescue of her 6 children, and the owner of the dogs took care of the children. Vika died knowing her children were safe.”

And then Olga switched to the story about the fate of the "Spider". This is the call sign of a wounded soldier who had been on the verge of life and death for a long time. "Every time I was there I rushed to the ward to make sure that he was alive. I provided care to ease his suffering. Then he went to be treated in Kyiv and, after a while - went somewhere else in Europe. I constantly supported him, wrote letters, and called him. Later he started sharing achievements and happy moments. We became friends. A year later, during my short vacation, we met abroad and admired the ocean together."

The travels of the past few months have not been through exotic locations but through destinies and souls where Olga has left her mark. "My heart is with Andriy, who, at only 38 years old, had both legs amputated entirely. He is an example of moral strength and inspiration for many. While he was in the hospital, he made plans to help other soldiers in his situation. My heart is with the team of our volunteer women who come to the hospital despite everything and support the wounded. My faith is in the Victory of Ukraine."

Olga’s life after the 24th of February 2022 is a set of stories about suffering, love, and friendship. This beautiful woman believes that goodness will ultimately triumph. That sacrifices will be rewarded and evil will be justly punished.