PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – A local group in Florida has been traveling back and forth to Ukraine for weeks to help evacuate orphans and teach life-saving skills to fighters.
Dr. Alison Thompson and her non-profit, Third Wave Volunteers have been on the ground in Ukraine and their focus is evacuating special needs orphans stuck in the war-torn country.
“We went over there with a mission with 20 U.S. nurses and doctors to get 23 of these orphans out,” Thompson said.
The mission has been tough since they got started, but now several children have been rescued and are in bordering countries before they make it to their adopted families in the U.S.
The volunteer group is also working with the Ukrainian military.
“We are training the military and civilians in really basic life-saving skills like CPR, tourniquet, and wound care,” Thompson said.
Thompson says the number one need is tourniquets.
Thompson’s group is bringing tourniquets to the front lines -- a crucial need as the war with Russia rages on.
“It reminds me of the beginning of the pandemic -- the n95 masks, nobody could get them, everyone was wheeling and dealing. It’s the same with the tourniquets,” said Thompson.
The team is also teaching life-saving skills like CPR.
While signs of war are everywhere, there are signs of hope.
“Ukraine people are really seeing the aid flooding in from around the world -- it is working so keep it up,” Thompson said.
Thompson plans to return to Ukraine on Friday, with her she is bringing more tourniquets and first aid.
Thompson says they are still working to rescue the remaining of those 23 special needs orphans still stuck in Ukraine.
Anyone who would like to send tourniquets to Third Wave Volunteers can mail them to:
Attn. Albert Gomez
2250 NW 102 Ave.
Doral, Fl 33172
Click here to donate and click here to sign up to be a volunteer.