Chernobyl Children
back to Ramblings

Isn’t funny how you never know what the people living right next to you might be involved in?  In my case, the people “right next to me” means someone ½ mile away, at the very least.  In the case of Tina, I’m talking 2 ½ miles away, if you go by way of the winding country road.  If I could go as the crow flies, it would be more like a mere mile. 

I met Tina last winter, when we were both volunteering at our town’s Christmas Basket Program.  We would show up at the Armory Building on the fairgrounds and spend the morning sorting donated canned and boxed foods.  This was all in preparation for the big give-away that took place 2 weeks prior to Christmas to 550 or so local needy families.  They were given enough food to get them through the holidays, as well as gifts for their children.  You can imagine the muscles we built (and the aching backs we acquired).

In her spare time, Tina is also involved in another local charity called the Nevada County Chernobyl Children’s Project.  To quote from their website:

“The Nevada County Chernobyl Children's Project  (NCCCP) is a not-for-profit California corporation comprised of volunteers from all walks of life. We are a community-based organization dedicated to providing humanitarian relief to children whose health has been affected by the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. Our primary focus is on providing young children of Chernobyl with a six-week recuperative home stay which allows them to strengthen their weakened immune systems.”

Tina has been taking in a little girl, Krystina, since 2001, when she was 8 years old.  Krystina, from Mozyr, Belarus, is now 14 (no longer so little) and quite the young lady.  You can imagine how she looks forward to her summer visit with Mama Tina and Papa Steve!  Some years her cousin, Angelina, comes with her.  They are only 5 days apart in age and consider themselves sisters.

The program pays the $1700 travel fee the first year for each child (8 is the youngest age, up to age 17), but the fostering parents must pay the fee for the subsequent years.  The children receive dental care while they are here, which is provided pro bono by local dentists working with the program.  Krystina has been dreading her visits to the dentist (she has some cavities). Although dental care at home is free (and substandard), any Novocain and anesthesia must be paid for by the Belarusians, which most can not afford.  Therefore her experiences with the dentists at home have not been the most pleasant.   You can bet Mama Tina won’t be leaving the treatment room!

Tina tells me that these children are fascinated by absolutely everything here in the United States.  Krystina’s family, for example, has no car.  Just the experience of riding in a car is a novelty.  Tina took her through a car wash the other day and for Krystina, it was almost as much fun as a ride at Disneyland, for a fraction of the price!  Water splashing, soap bubbles, and wind blowing!  And Tina came away with a clean car!  A heck of a deal …

The other morning, Tina and Krystina joined us for a hike up Big Hill. 

Tina & Krystina

Krystina really enjoyed all the dogs.  She wasn’t quite so crazy about Big Hill itself, but once she conquered the climb, she did just fine.  She was game to extend the hike by adding a loop to take the dogs past a stinky stock pond so they could ruin their clean coats from their recent baths. 

Crazy Mayday swims in the gunk

 I was impressed with her gumption and the fact that she never complained.  She eagerly inspected every bug along the way. 

Super ant!

We stopped to watch a trail of ants and spotted this might guy carrying a dead bug.  She even picked up a dead blue-belly lizard (it had been run over) and admired it.  My kinda kid!

A family that hikes together ...

Once we got back to our house, there was another new adventure waiting for her.  Fifinella and Maverick had brought their Wii, with which she, of course, had no experience.  It was great fun watching her play tennis, golf, bowl and then attempt Guitar Hero.  She laughed and laughed and had a wonderful time.  It didn’t matter to her that she got booed off the stage because she couldn’t get the hang of playing a guitar and knew none of the songs!  She just tried and tried again!  She was unflappable.

What a wonderful six weeks for both Tina and Krystina.  Please visit the website www.ncccp.nccn.net and read more about the wonderful program that makes it possible.  Sometimes you’ll be surprised (pleasantly so) to find out what your neighbors are up to.