The warmth of our affairs: how female medics save soldiers in a special operation zone
Pour hot tea in time, smile and wrap up in a warm blanket — sometimes even such a small thing saves the wounded, gives them extra strength. Human warmth can be stronger than the most powerful drugs. And it will never be forgotten — the saved will recognize you even by your voice years later. On the eve of March 8, the Izvestia correspondent visited medical units, points and hospitals of the Center group of forces, where they heard stories about what led women to join the army and what they had to go through during the special operation.
The Voice of Salvation
The moment of evacuation from the front line is difficult. The wounded are transported not only by motor transport. Every second is precious, and helicopters are often involved. They are used to rescue the heavy ones — those who need help as quickly as possible.
The head of the medical center, senior warrant officer Snezhana Khanina
The service record of the head of the medical center, senior warrant Officer Snezhana Khanina, includes more than one such air flight. And they are all memorable.
One day, she evacuated several seriously wounded soldiers — almost all of them were wearing bandages over their damaged eyes, and they reacted only to their voices.
Snezhana took care of them during the flight, tried to help and support them, and all the children were taken.
Much later, at the point of permanent deployment, a serviceman whom she did not recognize greeted her. She asked me to remind her where they might know each other from.
The fighter said that he remembers how Snezhana gave him water during the flight and did not let him lose consciousness, but he recognized her by her voice.
— It was very touching! — She says. — The fact that the serviceman turned out to be alive and well, walking on his own feet, remembered me when he heard and saw me, was a very memorable moment for me.
She remembers, then she realized for the rest of her life: our brave and brave men need support at a time when they are afraid and in pain.
Snezhana joined the army in the late noughties, already having a medical degree and work experience. She graduated from medical school and got a specialty, started working, and then developed into a profession, received higher education.
She grew up in a military family, and then married an officer.
"Over time, I began to realize that I also wanted to serve," Snezhana says. — I signed the contract in 2006, it will soon be 20 years since I have been serving the Motherland, and I really love my job.
During her service, military medicine changed. Prior to the SVR, the main focus was on disease prevention and training personnel to behave safely in case of disease outbreaks, this was during the period of the fight against coronavirus.
Since the beginning of his career, his main work has been focused on providing assistance for injuries and injuries.
"We will do everything to save a person's life," she says. — And it's a pleasure to realize that you really helped, you were in the right place, and you saved a person's life with your knowledge and skills.
It is also very important to relieve the pain of the wounded.
— When a doctor is around, it becomes much easier for them, — says Snezhana Khanina.
The right job
Olga Koleryeva has been in the special operation area for only 5 months. I have long wanted to join the current department and have been waiting for a vacancy in my specialty.
"I wanted to help wounded soldiers in my profession, gain experience," she says.
Olga Koleryeva
In civilian life, Olga was a senior nurse in the department, and then in the intensive care unit for newborns.
She is now caring for and supporting the convalescents. Olga always asks the wounded how they feel.
We are standing in the ward, the patients are smiling behind the nurse. They fully confirm her words: Olga's work and attitude are a great support for them.
In the future, she says, she wants to transfer closer to the front line, but she notes with a smile that she doesn't know if her fighters will let her go.
Second wind
In another department of the Center group, we meet with Ekaterina Evisheva, an anesthesiologist nurse. She has been in the special operation zone since 2023. She joined the army as a volunteer, having learned from friends from law enforcement agencies about how professional doctors were needed at that time, ready to work near the line of combat contact.
Nurse-anesthesiologist Ekaterina Evisheva
She is currently receiving groups of wounded, who are being evacuated directly from the front line.
"I like what I do, that's what I studied for, my specialty is intensive care anesthesiology," she says.
There's plenty of work, but she doesn't complain about the workload.
— Even when it seems that I am tired, when there are seriously wounded and fighting for my life, I get a second wind, — says Olga.
Right before our conversation, an 80-year—old woman from the recently liberated territories came to military doctors - she had a stroke.
The doctors of the Center group were able to stabilize her condition and transfer her to civilian doctors. According to Olga, this is a very rare case in her practice and will definitely be remembered.
"There are times when wounded soldiers need just a little bit," she says. — They need to be wrapped in a blanket, bring a hot water bottle. After anesthesia, when they can drink, the girls bring them hot tea. Not much, but it makes them feel much better.
"The wounded become softer, kinder, and even forget about their pain — that's what we're working for," Olga says.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
