February 18, 2000
In a telephone conversation and a FAX from Dr. Vasil Pasechnik a few days ago we learned that the container that so many had worked on arrived in Chernihev, Ukraine on Thursday, February 10, 2000. It was unloaded at the Ukraine "Revival" Center for Medical/Social Rehabilitation for Handicapped Children. They were very happy. And so are we that this finally done. Along with medicine shipped separately and an almost $12,000 donation from the International Chernobyl Children's Trust in the United Kingdom, these people will have something to go on.
In a FAX, Dr. Pasechnik writes the following to me:
I am happy to notify you that we received your container from the Odessa Port. We still have to obtain certain permissions from the Cabinet of Ministers and local control agencies and fill out more paper work to satisfy the customs requirements. This is a process that will take a month to a month and a half.
We have also received the cash donation from Maurice Frohn through LifeNets.
All this sacrifice on your part helps us very much! Right now you are the only source of help for the Center. For what you have donated we will be able to take care of 156 children. After this we will no doubt go into hard times again because the Budget for the nation of Ukraine has not been approved yet and that leaves out for the time being (hopefully) funding for children that are classified with the status of those affected by the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Right now we are working at full capacity, every day we are caring for 60 children.
Victor, I am hopeful that you can come and visit the Center sometime this spring. I hope that you can bring Beverly with you.
Warmest greetings from Natalie, Anna and me to you, Beverly and Michael."
Until we meet....
Vasil Pasechnik