Mykola "Nick" Polishchuk (44) has spent the last nine-and-a-half months fighting to stay alive following an accident in Co Wicklow on January 6.
He was a front seat passenger in their car being driven by his wife Olena, 36, along with their children Mykola, 11, and Vladlien, 4, who were back seat passengers traveling to see Ukrainian friends living close to their current home in Tinahely.
Speaking with the help of interpreter Mariusz Plesniar, Mykola who is due to be discharged from the National Rehabilitation Hospital (NRH) in Dún Laoghaire, Dublin next Thursday back to St. Vincent’s University Hospital, explained that when the car hit ice "life became a big question mark" both for him and his family. All four were wearing seatbelts when the accident occurred.
The Polishchuks lived close to Kyiv and moved to Ireland in April 2022 as Mykola’s sister Inna had been living in Arklow for more than 20 years.
"I had visited her here and I liked Ireland very much," explained Mykola.
Mykola was a major in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) when the war first broke out between Ukraine and pro-Russia separatists in 2014 and served three, three-month tours over a three-year period. He was seriously injured in the war, which resulted in him being honorably discharged in 2019.
When Russian President Vladimir Putin declared "special military operations" in February 2022 against Ukraine, the Polishchuks decided to stay.
But in April of that year, after having to "hide out" in the basement of their home and watching the "deep trauma being inflicted" on their children, Mykola and Olena made the decision to leave.
When they left, the Russian army was a mere five kilometers from their home. They drove, instead of taking the train due to the onslaught of bombings of the railways, to western Ukraine, then on to Romania where they then boarded a flight to Dublin.
"Inna kept willing us to leave and come to Ireland to be with her so we did as we were left with a life or death situation," said Mykola.
"We had become very settled here in our accommodation in Tinahely and were planning our lives around settling here.
"When the car hit ice, it went into a ditch and that changed everything. Thankfully Olena and the children were not injured only myself but even I did not look injured. There was no blood or visible injuries but whatever way the car crashed I hit my head on stones," Mykola said, in broken English and with the help of Mr. Plesniar.
Mykola "Nick" Polishchuk and his family. (iDonate)
As Mykola described what happened next, tears streamed down his face.
"I was taken to St Vincent’s University Hospital by ambulance and then transferred to the Mater Hospital for urgent surgery" due to him sustaining a C4 ASIA spinal cord injury along with damage to his bowel.
For the past three months, he has been receiving rehabilitation in NRH and is now in a powered wheelchair.
Breaking down in tears, Mykola continued: "I’ve been told by doctors here there is no more they can do for me but I’m now able to stand for five minutes with help and I have some small movement in my limbs."
Under the Treatment Abroad Scheme, the HSE is reviewing whether treatment for Mykola in the Anagennisi Recovery and Physical Rehabilitation Centre close to Thessaloniki will be approved.
The couple plans to travel on September 29 to Greece for three months of smart rehabilitation which is multidisciplinary treatment.
"The cost of the treatment is €50,000 and so far we have managed to raise almost €2,000 but our circle of friends is small and those back in Ukraine want to help but are earning very little," explained Olena.
The family has to pay for the treatment upfront, with a €25,000 upfront payment then followed by two payments of €15,000 while Mykola is at the centre.
Their two sons will be looked after by Olena’s mother Valentyna while the couple is in Greece.
Adding to their woes, the couple’s current accommodation will no longer be available in November and then they will be moved to a hotel room "which Is not appropriate for Mykola’s care needs," added Olena.
A fundraising page has now been set up on the website, iDonate, and donations can be made to Olena’s crowdfunding page.
Mykola’s said "I’m not sorry we moved to Ireland after what happened. I will walk again – I’m sure. There are no other options. I’m a fighter and I’m strong and getting stronger."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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