Missiles and drones flew, hundreds of them, when Porsurov decided that his mission could not be fought by one of Russia’s biggest attacks
Kiev was burning when Porsurov crossed the city in an ambulance, without being intimidated by the deep noise of the explosions and the terrado sounds of the russian drones that flew over the city.
He was determined to deliver his precious load: a human heart.
Todurov’s patient – a child – was severely sick in a hospital. He had hours to act.
The child had suffered from heart disease for several years, but his health was worsened earlier this week and Todurov knew that a new heart was his only hypothesis.
Therefore, when a donor of children on the opposite side of the city provided one, he did not wait for the Russians to stop attacking.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its air attacks against Ukraine. He fired over 400 drones and 18 missiles, including eight ballistic missiles and six cruise missiles during Thursday night.
While the Ukrainian authorities appealed to the population to hide in anti-bombs and cellars, Todurov and their team ran 16 kilometers from Okhmatdyt Pediatric Hospital in the western part of Kiev to the Oriental River Institute, while missiles and drones flew.
Although the Ukrainian Air Force managed to slaughter or disable the vast majority of drones and missiles, two people died and dozens of others were injured in the attack.
The heart is working
Kiev’s massive attack was just the last of a series of deadly Russian attacks. The day before, Moscow launched over 700 drones – a new record – against Ukraine in a single night.
Todurov, the director of the Heart Institute, and his team worked nonstop during the two nights.
After undergoing cardiac surgery at the institute on Wednesday, he crossed the city to Okhmatdyt, where he removed the heart of the donor’s body.
Then he personally accompanied the organ through the city.
Crossing the Dniepre River by a bridge is extremely dangerous during an attack on Kiev, because the vehicles are exposed and the Anitas Ukrainian air defenses attack drones and Russian missiles when they are above the river to minimize the impact of the fall of wreckage.
A video recorded during the frantic trip shows a big fire near the road, while Todurov advances. “We are carrying a heart,” he says calmly.
The Russian attack on the capital was still underway when Todurov entered the Heart Institute’s operations room, heading a large medical team and transplanting his heart to his patient’s body.
In an impressive moment captured by the cameras and shared with CNN, the new heart is seen beating inside the patient’s chest, a few hours after being led through Kiev, while drones and Russian missiles rain over the city.
“The heart is working and the pressure is stable. We hope … [a paciente] Recover and have a long and full life, “said the doctor.
The Ukrainian Transplant Coordination Center stated in a statement that the donor was a four -year -old girl who was declared in brain death by medical advice after suffering serious injuries.
The girl’s mother, also medical, accepted the donation of her daughter’s organs.
Thus, as Todurov transplanted the girl’s heart to her patient’s body at the heart institute, her kidneys were being transplanted to a 14 -year -old and liver to a 16 -year -old girl, the center said. The two other patients were at OkhmatDyt Hospital, so there was no transportation to get their organs.
The coordination center said two of the three receivers were in critical condition and that if they had not received the transplants, they would only have days or weeks of life.
“May the little donor rest in peace. Our condolences to her family and our gratitude for her difficult but important decision,” the center said.
