By Hannah E. Jones
Through a recent partnership, local nonprofit HelpingUkraine.us aided in connecting $3 million in medical supplies to Ukrainians — both soldiers and civilians — who desperately need it.
Using relationships forged by the nonprofit and Rotary Clubs in Ukraine, the leadership with ProgenaCare Global and PhaseOne recently returned from an on-the-ground trip providing medical supplies and training for local surgeons, medical students and nursing staff.
This is in addition to the $1 million in medical equipment already supplied by HelpingUkraine.us. Emory Morsberger — a former Georgia House Representative and a leader in the creation of CIDs in Atlanta, Tucker, Norcross, Duluth and beyond — founded the nonprofit last summer to provide immediate relief to the war-torn country. The organization focuses on those living in “red zones,” areas along the war front that are most impacted by the war — ranging from Odessa to Kharkiv.
ProgenaCare Global Co-Founder John Daniel and PhaseOne Health Managing Director Kristopher Perkins recently returned from the six-day trip to donate critically important supplies and services. The duo brought PhaseOne, a hypochlorous acid wound cleaning and disinfecting solution, and ProgenaMatrix for wound care.
ProgenaMatrix releases human keratin into the wounds, stimulating them to heal. This is the only human keratin matrix commercially available.
Upon arrival, the two trained local medical professionals on proper storage, use and application. Then, the two products were applied to soldiers with significant battlefield wounds and burns. The patients’ treatment and healing progress is currently being tracked by doctors.
Daniel and Perkins also visited hospital rooms to just talk to patients — no discussion of wounds or treatment, just as a symbol of our shared humanity. Daniel said this was an important gesture of camaraderie for patients who are experiencing severe PTSD.
“A lot of these patients couldn’t smile,” Daniel said during a virtual event. “You could see their eyes smiling. You could see these eyes of despair perk up.”
Now, the two medical companies are discussing ways to further support injured soldiers and civilians caught in the line of fire. To learn more about the efforts at HelpingUkraine.us, click here.
“There’s so much more we can do,” Perkins said. “They have enough challenges, and it’s amazing what they’re doing with what they have. We need to help them every way we can.”
The photos below show a rally in Piedmont Park held on Feb. 25 — one year after Russia invaded Ukraine. Photos by Kelly Jordan.
