From Struggle to Hope: Transforming a Children's Hospital

Dreams give us something to strive for – a reason to hope and persevere, even when the odds feel insurmountable. Though every dream is unique, they all hold a special place in the hearts of those who dare to dream. And often, they come true in the most unexpected ways.

Tatiana Prykhodko’s dream was one she pursued with true dedication.  

As the director of Kharkiv’s #5 City Children's Hospital, Tatiana leads a dedicated team caring for over 200 children. This is no ordinary hospital – it’s a palliative care centre, offering critical support to children of all ages with diverse medical conditions. For many, it becomes a temporary home, with stays lasting up to six months depending on their needs. Together, Tatiana and her staff work tirelessly to nurture the well-being and joy of every child in their care.

When conflict erupted in 2022, the #5 City Children's Hospital refused to close its doors. Amid the chaos, it remained a sanctuary for children, providing critical healthcare despite immense danger to staff and patients alike. Yet, the challenges were overwhelming. For two years, Tatiana and her team fought an uphill battle to keep the hospital running, improvising solutions in the face of constant uncertainty. From this struggle, Tatiana’s dream emerged: to create a haven where children could experience the joys of normal life, even in the midst of war and suffering.

One of the greatest challenges Tatiana faced was securing water – a lifeline for any hospital. Power outages, a constant reality since the start of the war, often cut off the hospital’s water supply, jeopardising critical medical care. Desperate to keep operations going, Tatiana and her team resorted to extreme measures. They replaced all reusable plates, cups, and cutlery with disposable items to conserve water. Meanwhile, the hospital’s driver made countless trips to his home, where he had an independent water source, ferrying jerrycans and buckets back to the hospital. Yet despite their ingenuity, the situation was unsustainable – and Tatiana made it her mission to secure an independent water source for the hospital.

For almost two years, she knocked on every door she could find, pleading for help. Again and again, she was met with the same response: it was impossible – especially within the hospital's limited budget. Even water trucking, a temporary fix, was denied. Running out of options, Tatiana made one final attempt, reaching out to a professor of hydrology. To her surprise, he agreed to visit the hospital. After assessing the situation, he offered a lifeline: ‘Contact Medair,’ he suggested. Clinging to hope, Tatiana did just that. Medair responded swiftly, sending a team to assess the needs and develop a solution. Together, they installed a borehole and water system, securing a steady supply of clean, technical water. With Medair’s support, Tatiana inched closer to realising her dream.

Today, the hospital stands as a beacon of hope for hundreds of children. Beyond providing life-saving healthcare, it offers in-person schooling, giving children a sense of normalcy amid extraordinary challenges. But Tatiana’s dream continues. She hopes to create a vibrant garden on the hospital grounds – one that will yield fresh produce and double as a joyful, therapeutic activity to strengthen the children’s motor skills. Step by step, against all odds, Tatiana is turning her dream into a reality, proving that even in the darkest times, hope can flourish.  

Medair services in [Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine] are funded by IndoSuez Foundation and is part of a broader project supported by SwissSolidarity.

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.  

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