| For any of us, meeting a famous person is always an important and memorable event. This is even more true for a gravely ill child, who sees only hospital walls and the same faces for a long, long time...
A famous person arriving at a hospital ward is a miracle for a child, a dream come true. Such a visit can help this child to summon courage and strength, can make his or her even more resolute to conquer the disease and to return to the wonderful world outside...
 A talented 14-year-old violinist Kolya Altynov received a visit from Mstislav Rostropovich. A world-famous musician entered the ward of a boy who was fighting against a fatal disease. Just came to him and said a lot of warm and supporting words. Kolya was more than happy; he was enraptured. When Rostropovich left (after giving a lot of expensive medications to the children), we understood that a real VIP is a person who can give VIP relationships. Because the best medicine for Kolya was the great musician Rostropovich himself.
After the tragedy in Beslan, dozens of seriously injured children were taken to our hospital. They had not only grave shrapnel wounds but also a terrible psychic trauma. Their relatives and friends died before their eyes. The children were so shocked that some of them couldn't even speak.
In these terrible days, the extremely popular Star Factory TV team first visited the hospital. And it a miracle happened: the girls started to smile, first shyly, then happily. Since then, this team and its leader Sati Kazanova became our good friends. They just phone and visit kids at the departments of oncology, oncohematology, kidney transplantation...
Alan Kastuev from Beslan had a serious head wound. All his family was gravely injured: his father, his mother, his brother. The boy was in deep depression: he just lay with his face to the wall and didn't answer any questions. Day after day passed, but his condition did not improve. He did not respond to treatment.
Somebody from Beslan told us that Alan is a football fan and a talented football player himself. And then Dmitri Alenichev, a famous Russian football player, decided to visit Alan. He brought wonderful presents, including a ball with his autograph.
And Alan's eyes suddenly brightened. This day was the turning point in his treatment: his condition began to improve.
Yet another wonderful story: Garry Kasparov, the chess champion, phoned Dima Zemlyanski, a young and talented
chess player from the Department of Oncohematology-27. He promised Dima a chess game. Dima's thoughts were now all occupied with preparing for this game; his depression ended, and he summoned the strength to endure the difficult and exhausting treatment.
Kasparov fulfilled his promise and played a game of chess with Dima.
Although such VIP-medicine does not cost anything financially, it is actually very valuable...
On the basis of this experience, we announce our program entitled "VIPs, please remain on the line". Its idea seemed very simple: a famous person visits the hospital on the request of a gravely ill child.
But who are the real VIPs? The persons who visit the children or the children who wait for these visits?
For us, members of the volunteer group, the answer is evident. The children who suffer from terrible diseases and endure their pain with wonderful courage, who share their love and spiritual strength with those around them. Visits of famous, talented, successful people to the hospital are a mutually beneficial experience, very important not only for the children but also for their famous guests, who are often very far from such problems...
They come to our children without TV cameras and without security guards. None of them have ever refused. Just imagine, not a single refusal!
Moreover, afterwards they cannot forget the hospital. Some come again, some send medications and presents. Among internationally famous visitors, we can name not only Mstislav Rostropovich and Garry Kasparov but also foreign guests, such as singer Natalia Oreiro and the beautiful Miss World 2004. VIPs remain on the line. Let them all remain this way: the famous persons will be on the line of connection with the children, and the children will stay on the line of life. Oleg Dusaev |
