John, I'm Dr. Oleg Marchenko. I'm a doctor with the International Rescue Committee in Ukraine.

I'm proud to be with the IRC in Kharkiv; sometimes, we are the only team providing people with medical assistance in the region's hard to reach areas.

There's one patient I'll never forget from one of those areas in the region. She lived in a very small village in Ukraine. The war had cut off access to medicine and transportation. She had cancer—and when my mobile medical team arrived, we didn't know if she was going to survive another day.

Her condition was so bad, we couldn't even risk moving her at first. But we started treatment and stabilized her blood pressure. After some time and vital support, she was healthy enough to move to Finland for more specialized care and her health stabilized.

Her story is why I can tell you that your gift to the IRC can be lifesaving.

This Giving Tuesday, when your gift can go 5X as far, I hope you'll donate to help provide emergency medical care and other critical aid in crisis zones like Ukraine and around the world.

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Being a doctor is more than a job to me, it's a calling. As a child, I helped my grandmother who was a nurse care for her patients. I never dreamed of doing anything else—I've always cared for people.

Prior to the war escalating almost four years ago, I worked in a home for elderly and disabled veterans in Mariupol. I ended up staying there for weeks around the clock—my patients really needed me and the bombing made it too dangerous to leave. Once my patients were able to evacuate, I still wanted to help.

I started driving around to see patients that had been displaced by the war. My own car became my clinic.

Eventually I started working with the IRC mobile medical team to see patients who couldn't otherwise be reached.

The war had shut down medical and transit systems in many communities. This meant many people, especially elderly and those too sick to evacuate, had no way to find care unless we came to them.

MAKE 5X THE IMPACT THIS GIVING TUESDAY »
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(PHOTO): Anastasiia, 25, and her son Rinat, 2, at an appointment with Dr. Oleg. Her son had heart problems, and there was no doctor or medical facility where they could get help.

Local doctors and nurses have left the villages where I currently work, some health centres have been destroyed, and locals don't have any access to basic medical help. I'm proud to be with the IRC to deliver our services where we are most needed.

Donate now to send 5X the critical and life-changing aid to Ukraine and crisis zones around the world. »
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I am asking you to support the IRC this Giving Tuesday to enable us to stay and deliver for the people who need it most in Ukraine, and in other crisis and conflict areas around the world.

The first few times our mobile medical team saw new patients we had to explain they could trust us to follow up, that we would not abandon them. It's a promise I'm proud to keep, but it's only possible with your support.

Thank you as always for your kindness and generosity, especially today.

Dr. Oleg

Dr. Oleg Marchenko
Ukraine Mobile Medical Clinic
International Rescue Committee

MAKE 5X THE IMPACT THIS GIVING TUESDAY »
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We are so grateful for the generosity of our supporters today. Our data isn't perfect—so if you have already made a donation, thank you very much! Please know we are grateful for your support. If you haven't, please consider making your gift right now so that it will be 5x-matched»

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