Mariana Pospolitak works as a nurse at the Centre for Surgery and Oncology at St Panteleimon’s Hospital of the First Medical Association in Lviv and has been working in medicine for 13 years.
While her husband is defending the country on the front line, she is helping to heal the wounds of Ukrainian defenders here in the rear.
Mariana works in a dressing room and takes care of post-operative patients, including many soldiers with mine and gunshot wounds.
“Every day, I treat wounds, monitor their healing, and make bandages. More than a hundred patients come through our department, which is one of the largest in the hospital, every day,” she says.
Mariana wanted to become a nurse since she was a child. Even though her parents discouraged her from making this career choice. She said: “My mother often said that this job requires too much strength and dedication. Although I understand what my mother said now, I would never give up my job at the hospital.”
When asked what is the hardest part of her job today, Mariana says this: “The worst thing is to see the severe mine-blast injuries our defenders come with. We now have many soldiers with amputated limbs. Every time my heart bleeds. But then I gather my strength and do what I have to do. Because it also depends on me how quickly these defenders will be treated.”
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Mariana has practically lived in the dressing room. She works six days a week. On weekdays she works 11 hours a day and only 9 hours on Saturdays.
“When my husband went to serve in the Armed Forces, I decided that I had to contribute to the victory. We were short of hands in the department, so I volunteered to work more. I want to help our wounded guys as much as possible,” says the nurse.
So now Mariana Pospolitak gives all of herself to her patients. Even though she has a 10-year-old son waiting for her at home.
“Our family’s life has changed. My husband does his duty, and I do mine. Fortunately, our family, and most importantly, my son, understand and support me,” she says.
The most precious moments for Mariana now are when her husband comes to the frontline to talk to her and her son via video.