MAYWOOD (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Loyola Medicine dispatched one of its ambulances from the western suburbs to the battlefields of Ukraine on Monday.
“I speak for all of our colleagues when I say that we are honored to have an opportunity to donate this ambulance to help save lives in Ukraine,” said Shawn Vincent, president and CEO of Loyola Medicine.
Vincent spoke in front of the ambulance outside Loyola Medical Center in Maywood.
“Loyola Medicine’s ambulance will be the 40th to travel to Ukraine since March 2022, and by the way, it’ll be the first ambulance from the Chicagoland area,” he said.
Among those in attendance on Monday was Serhiy Koledov, Consul General of Ukraine in Chicago. He said the ambulances are sorely needed.
“We see every day now, the enemy is purposely destroying the Ukrainian medical infrastructure and killing our people — our doctors, who, despite everything, continue to save the lives of Ukrainians in extremely difficult conditions.”
Since the start of the war, Koledov said Russia has destroyed 250 ambulances, damaged 103 ambulances, and he added that 125 have been stolen.
Chris Manson, founder of U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine, echoed Koledov’s message.
“Because of the duration and ferocity of the war, from Day One, ambulances have been a target,” he said. “We’ve found used ambulances; we get them donated for free, and then … we send them full of supplies, so when they arrive they can go right into the fight.”
For his work in getting ambulances and medical supplies to Ukraine, Manson was recently honored as Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-Ill.) guest at President Joe Biden’s 2023 State of the Union Address.
Dr. Theresa Kuritza also spoke at Monday’s ceremony.
“I’m in tears, because this is really something they need and [it’s] very emotional,” she said.
Kuritza, a first-generation Ukrainian who works at Loyola Medical Center described the sendoff as exciting and applauded her colleagues for their support.
“I’m glad,” she said. “My colleagues have been supporting me since Day One, when the war broke out, and I think this is great because they’re going to need it and it’s going to be put to good use.”
Following the ceremony, the ambulance was covered with signatures and messages of support from Loyola Medicine colleagues. The ambulance was then sent off with a prayer.
U.S. Ambulances for Ukraine helped facilitate the donation. Since the start of the war they have helped send nearly 40 ambulances from the U.S. to Ukraine.
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