War of Ukraine Doctor Kariantti Kallio leaves for Ukraine to help the wounded – In such conditions, people are working in the middle of the war

Anesthesia and intensive care specialist Cariant Rock to spend a rare busy weekend.

He may be leaving for Ukraine as early as a week through Doctors Without Borders.

“I’m probably looking for goods in the store in a panic just before I leave,” Kallio describes.

At least the phone’s spare charger and yoga mat are included. Yoga is a good workout because it can be practiced within four walls.

Out may not be the case.

Rock The actual workplace is at the Children’s Hospital of Helsinki University Central Hospital. Leaving Ukraine did not need a lottery. The help must be taken to where it is most needed, Kallio says.

“I’m really proud of all the humanitarian organizations that don’t go where the fence is the lowest.”

In Ukraine, the fence will really be high.

Kallio is part of a surgical team sent to Ukraine by Doctors Without Borders. The aim is to perform surgeries and provide treatment to everyone who needs it – both Ukrainians and Russians.

“I don’t know yet where or under what circumstances I’m going. The organization is currently negotiating with the parties to the war, as is customary in these situations. When we get approved, I leave ”

The anesthesiologist’s work time lasts 5 to 6 weeks, and the working days sometimes stretch around the clock. A short period of time makes it easier to position yourself: Kallio knows he’s burning a candle from both ends – but only for a moment.

“The work in the field is intense. It often happens that the mind would still want to continue but the body says the limit came up. Then I go to sleep for a moment. ”

Rock left his previous yoga mat in Burundi, where he last worked as an aid worker. He has a total of five business trips in Burundi, Yemen and the Central African Republic.

The travels have left an indelible mark. Kallio always manages to marvel at the goodness of people in the midst of all fear and sorrow.

“Locals are always ready to help each other, even if it threatens their own safety,” Kallio says.

“After all, they take care of us. Local workers are constantly worried about how much we control and try to give us moments of rest. ”

The main reminder of travel is simple: we humans are the same everywhere. We dream, we fear and we laugh at the same jokes. We want to put our children in school with confidence.

“That’s the engine why I want to leave again and again.”

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“If we were to paralyze fear and prevent us from helping those in need, we would be a bit lost.”

Especially caring for children has a profound effect on the Rock. In Burundi, for example, he cared for a five-year-old boy whose legs had been badly burned. Even though the boy went through painful treatments, he was still always happy to see the doctors.

The boy smiled, bounced a balloon made of a rubber glove and threw upballs at Kallio.

“Children’s thirst for life and affection for life are quite different from that of a middle-aged former grunge bunker. Children are really encouraging individuals. ”

Armed conflict is hitting children and women hardly able to access health services. Innocent and defenseless people often suffer the most, Kallio says.

“Of course, the injured soldiers are equally in need of help. I am proud to help everyone. ”

Rock is constantly faced with the big questions of life in relief work. The death of a patient causes him anger, self-blame, sadness, and helplessness. In Finnish conditions, man might have been saved.

The dead and wounded in the conflict are not just figures on paper, Kallio says.

“They are someone’s mothers, fathers and children.”

Patients should be fed with a continuous feed, which is why Kallion has to work almost mechanically. The time of sorrow and sorrow comes in a quiet moment as the dust descends. After a day of work, the body has a cocktail of fatigue and adrenaline.

“Fortunately, people have good machinery. The body forces itself to sleep at some point. ”

Part patients can be saved, which makes the work extremely valuable to Kallio. The life of an African mother was saved when Kallio and his colleague made a blood transfusion for the woman with her own blood.

In the city of Bangui, the O negative blood a woman needed was not available.

Kallio and his colleague recovered as much of the shed blood as possible, filtered it, and gave it back to the woman. Hyksin’s equipment would have succeeded easily, but not in the Central African Republic.

However, the woman survived. The rock could only smile broadly and sigh with relief.

“The happy rest reminds me that this is exactly the job I want to do.”

When Rock was a child, he watched on television as an aid worker gave an interview in the midst of a dangerous conflict.

“I was wondering who this person really was. As others fled the threat, the workers of the organizations ran towards the threat and helped those who were left behind. That’s where the idea came from. ”

Work in Yemen, Burundi and the Central African Republic has been united by one thing: Kallio would not have wanted to return to Finland. The journey to the airport has made me want to cry and run back because the real need for help is there.

“Leaving feels almost like a betrayal. That feeling is also acceptable, ”says Kallio.

“It helps the most that I know my family needs me at home. They hope to return mentally and physically in one piece. Family support is paramount. ”

In Ukraine A rock awaits the rock, which may expand and become even gloomier.

It would be strange if the trip did not scare and worry, Kallio says. However, he relies on Doctors Without Borders, which constantly assesses risks and does its best for the safety of its employees.

“If we were to paralyze fear and prevent us from helping those in need, we would be a bit lost.”

Kallio has experienced how the fighting comes all the way to the hospital door. As ammunition spread across the same block in the Central African Republic, Kallio had to eat a quick lunch – french fries and fried chicken – lying on the floor.

Eventually, workers had to leave the hospital momentarily due to fighting.

Difficult returning home from the conditions is always a stopping moment for Kallio. Then you can be grateful for how privileged living in Finland is.

“It’s a big deal that when you go to work in the morning, you can walk down the street safely and know you can see your family in the evening.”

Over time, however, everyday routines return to their infancy. Kallio regrets that he forgets what he experienced too much and too quickly. The counters, laundry and slush are starting to fox as before.

“However, it is good to remember that even though things are really bad elsewhere in the world, it does not give a reason to close one’s eyes to Finland’s grievances.”

Rock does not consider himself any superhero with superpowers. He is just ordinary Matti Meikäläinen where the others are.

“The real superheroes are my wife and son. They can watch from the side when I leave the field. ”

Kallio also thanks all Finns for their unity and strength in helping the victims of the war. Many crisis work organizations have raised grants exceptionally and quickly.

“It gives us faith in the future. I hope that once the conflict in Ukraine calms down, a similar humanitarian spirit and unity could continue in other conflicts in the world. ”

All the gestures of help are now important, Kallio ponders. It is also very valuable to help your relatives in Finland to cope by listening, even cooking or going to the store.

Every act of love creates hope.

Doctors Without Borders collect donations online to secure medical care in Ukraine.