Saying goodbye to Olga and Kristina was not fun but Sergei and I today trekked on to Kyiv by new InterCity train. New and fast. A far cry from the trains here 20 years ago.

Then it was to dinner with Dr. Vitaliy Demyanchuk. I met Vitaliy when he was still in training at Amosov Heart Institute about 15 years ago. Now he is a leading heart surgeon here in Ukraine. He has operated on many people that I have referred to him from Vinnitsa Oblast and whom we have supported. Lately including Pastor Roman Lebedyev of Vinnitsa Nazarene Church.

Now he is going to meet more patients in need that I met while in Vinnitsa.

As you can see he bought me a Ukrainian hockey jersey. With my name on it. Good colors for the Nashville Predators too!!🏒🏒🏒🏒🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦‼️‼️‼️‼️

Our gift exchange included a new watch for him.

Tomorrow after a good morning walk it is off to Sumy.

With Dr. Irina (L) and Ruslan Tkachuk and Pastor Roman of Vinnitsa Nazarene Church and Dr. Sergei (R)

Wonderful lunch with friends and Pastor Roman Lebedyev and his wife Oksana and three of their kids.

Ruslan and Archana Tkachuk are dear friends from way back. They have a Christian Foster Home in Nemia overlooking the Dniester River on the border with Moldova. Arch is at this time in the States visiting. Ruslan and many of their kids joined us on Sunday. I love their ministry “Raising Hope Ukraine”. You might want to see it on the web. Google it. Much love for these precious kids coming from my heart. Their ministry truly one of human rescue.

With Olga and Sergei Bolyukh outside their home on a beautiful Sunday.

With Olga Bolyukh and granddaughter Kristina. She is just finished with 7th grade. Olga was her usual gracious hostess. And wonderful cook.

In Vinnitsa it is always “home”. 36th visit.

Activities included Cardiology Clinic with Dr. Tatiana at which I was able to meet patients we had helped financially get heart surgery and others in need. Also gave her a new Eko stethoscope. Digital with Bluetooth phonocardiogram. Useful and fun to use.

On Saturday it was lunch for many friends.

On Sunday a special service with Pastor Roman at the Vinnitsa Nazarene Church.

My dear friend Dr. Vitaliy Demyanchuk of Kyiv performed a triple bypass on him earlier this year. A big surprise but so grateful to have met Dr. Demyanchuk years ago while he was still in training. Now he is one of the best heart surgeons in Ukraine. He was hosted by Vanderbilt Heart Surgery program and me in 2004.

With Dr. Tatiana (L) and her colleague and patient

At Vinnitsa Hospice with Dr. Sergei and one of the Hospice Nurses and a precious patient; Dr. Sergei a founder and my joy to support this new effort in Vinnitsa Oblast

Saturday lunch with many Vinnitsa friends

With Dr. Kryluk far left; Dr. Ivan Kuzminsky far right; and two ER leaders in Cherkasy, Vladimir and Yuriy

The Dnieper at its widest

Ready for lectures

After a wonderful visit with old and new friends in Poltava it was on to Cherkasy. On the Dnieper River at its widest point. With a 13 km long hydroelectric dam.  Largest in Europe.

Their Hospital and Auditorium were beautiful. The audience was predominantly Emergency Medicine but also a couple Cardiologists and Medical students and PA students.

Included in this post some photos of this pretty area.

This was a first time visit to Poltava. Historic area of battles in the 18th Century. About a 4 hour drive from Kyiv. Similar in size to Vinnitsa a bit less than 400,000 people.

Our accommodations were nice and set in a forest. Few photos of the area attached. One of my translator Dr Ivan Kuzminsky and me at supper table

At the Medical University there were a couple hundred in attendance. It was a joy to make the presentations of Medical Myths in PreHospital Care, EKGs you must Know, STEMI Equivalent EKGs, and Update on Intraosseous Access.

Lots of questions and interactions. Wonderful hosts.

All went smoothly on flights from Nashville to Kyiv.
A joy to see Drs. Sergei Bolyukh, Vitaliy Krylyuk and Ivan Kuzminsky at Borispil Airport.
After a quick refreshing at the Hotel it was out to supper in beautiful Kyiv at a Georgian Restaurant.
After returning to the Hotel I slept until 3 am. Then awakened to watch game 6 in the Nashville Predators versus Anaheim Ducks series. Wow. Back home with Catherine and Mary Ellen and Emerson and Heather in attendance, the Predators won!!‼️‼️🏒🏒🏒🏒🇺🇦🇺🇦
In the morning up for a walk in appropriate regalia.
Then on to Poltava by van with our great driver Sasha.