You may unplug a child from a ventilator or leave him under the shelling. It's a hard choice. The story of Valeria and Luca.

February 26th. Kyiv, Ukraine

"Svyatoshin and Shulyavka districts were bombed; we were given birth. Air raid alerts were one after another. I was exhausted and decided not to go anywhere, to deliver a baby in the maternity ward on the third or fourth floor, not in a basement. I did not want to go there; there was nothing arranged, only a warehouse. It was an emotional decision, but I wanted to give birth in normal conditions, even with the sounds of alerts. We humans did not get used live in war." 

I was introduced to Valeria by my husband. He was helping a deeply pregnant midwife who had moved from Kyiv. When she was told about the Newborns of Ukraine project midwife got introduced me to Valeria. We could not find a time to speak for a week. Now, when we finally met on Telegram, I know why.

This story starts on the first day of the war. Forty-one weeks pregnant Valeria with her husband went on planned examination at a maternity hospital. Doctors sent parents-to-be home to prepare for delivery and took a hospital bag while transport was still running. The next day women got labor injections, and contractions started. In 16 hours, her son was born. Despite the Russian bomb attack on Kyiv, all medical team was participating - doctor, assistant, and midwife. 

On February 26th at 1 am, a ray of light was born - little Luca (Luca is from Latin luce, which means light). "It was some miracle. Joyful fatigue from long-lasting childbirth. But what was born was a wounder."

The couple had made a final decision on a baby name when they finally met their son in the hospital. For this family, their baby boy became a ray of light during the darkest times. So they named him Luca (from the Latin "luce" which means light).

"A child was born during the darkest times, early in the morning - it is a gleam in our life." For the next ten days, the little boy spent in the emergency room with his Mom because of complications during childbirth. He was in need of constant lung ventilation; ventilators and balloons with oxygen were impossible to move to the shelter in the basement.

When air raid alerts started to loud, everyone began to hide in a basement bomb shelter, Moms have stayed near their children on the 7th floor, where it was the only one with access to the oxygen.

"There was a choice - you live your baby on the seventh floor, saving your own life in the bomb shelter. You may unplug a child from a ventilator or leave him under the shelling. It's a hard choice. Moms choose to stay near their children".

Next month Valeria and Luca will spend at the National Children Specialized Hospital Ohmadet, where they have moved from the first district hospital of Kyiv. Bomb shelter in the basement was already echoed with necessary medical stuff. It was the twelfth day of the war.

"Our baby boy needed special medicines; it was impossible to get them in Kyiv. My husband was waiting in the pharmacy for ten hours. Nothing. We have found medicines in Dnipro; it was delivered to Kyiv with military service.”

Those days it was impossible to deliver something to Kyiv - delivery services were out of order in this region. The schedule of the evacuation trains was constantly changing, but little Luca did not have time to wait. In Ohmadet, Mom and son had an action plan on what to do in case of air raid alerts or shelling. The bomb shelter in the basement was equipped with lamps and tables for newborns who needed special treatment. Noone got used to the war, but everyone tried to manage things in new circumstances. 

When shelling in Kyiv started, doctors sent back everyone who could proceed with treatment at home. Only six babies, including Luca left in the emergency room.

Noone shared their stories; everyone knew you couldn't just get into Ohmadet - it's a special place where the hardest cases of childhood diseases are treated. Moms did not have time to share their stories and emotions. Small talks during the descent to the shelter or discussions of the current situation - everyone wanted peace, to bring back normal life as soon as possible. It was a common ground for everyone.

"We were making jokes about our prisoner like routine: 5 minutes meeting, and goodbye".

Valeria's husband visited family every 2-3 days, brought stuff, and took unnecessaries. They've mostly spoken on the phone than in person. During the first month, Valeria hardly managed to bring herself back. It was tough; she was crying at night, and there was no hiding from emotions. Tension and stress broke through the tone and composure. They came out with tears and howl when Valeria was alone.

"You gave birth and want to pet your child. But there is a war; your newborn baby is at the hospital, and everything crumbled. The love level was the same, but if there were no war, everything would be much easier. You feel depressed, baby feels it".

Doctors and little son helped Mom to recover. She knew she couldn't give up. It gave me strength and forced me to pull myself together. Continue to do abnormal things and take despair under control. To those who are pregnant now, Valeria wishes nerves made of steel to overcome challenges and raise children.

"It's much harder than during the peaceful times: different hospital, doctors. Everything has changed, and it is tough".

Hospital discharge occurred in a month. Little Luca was given medicines and prescriptions for regular examination in any ambulant clinic. Luca condition allowed him to leave a specialized hospital. His grandparents, who came to Kyiv before childbirth, finally could see their grandson. All this time, they were living at Valeria's apartment, waiting for a meeting with Luca. Kyiv also has changed; it has become more peaceful inside. Kyiv citizens started to think about returning back.

"He takes all attention; it's impossible to be opposite. I want to rest and sleep, and all this war and horror end. It would be more tranquil, and Luca's rehabilitation would be much more effective. But there is some secret power occurs; it gives energy".

Elementary things became a challenge. Finding a specialized doctor or taking tests or examinations was not a big deal. Now every move is about complications. Doctors left the town; laboratories did not work because they ran out of reagents. The family could not relax even when they reunited at home. 

"While our family is proud of him. Luca was born in such difficult times and made a hard way. He is a fighter".

A message to a son

I wish his hardest times were those he overcame during his first month of life. Happiness, easy fate, good people to meet during his life path, health. It is possible to wish only the best of the best to a baby.