A Russian projectile hit the house: the story of a heart surgeon from Kharkiv who moved to Cherkasy

Maxym Konodyuk has been living in Cherkasy for a little over a year. He is a first-year intern at the regional cardiology center. He moved from Kharkiv, where he lived and studied until the full-scale invasion began. In two weeks, in March 2022, he decided that he needed to relocate. Later, he found out that a Russian missile had struck directly into the room where he lived in the dormitory.

Currently, Maxym works as a medical intern, saving the lives of both wounded servicemen and civilians. Journalists from Sуспільне talked to Maxym about how he adapted to his new environment. "At first, I moved to Poltava. I was there for just one day. Then Oleg Oleksandrovych Zhurba (Editor's note: head of cardiovascular surgery at the regional cardiology center) called me. I was already familiar with him, and he offered me the opportunity to move to Cherkasy," Maxym shared.

Oleg Zhurba himself remembers the talented student who had previously done an internship with him. That's why he offered to help Maxym and another doctor relocate. "Circumstances forced these people to change their place of residence. Seeing their potential, I understood that we should help and support them. In 3-5 years, they will be the future cardiothoracic surgeons capable of providing assistance," added Oleg Zhurba.

Maxym believes that only full immersion in the profession can yield professional results. For him, every surgery is an event for which he thoroughly prepares and then carefully analyzes every move. One of the most memorable surgeries was performed on a serviceman: "There were shell fragments in the pericardial sac, almost reaching his heart. I had to save him, remove those fragments from the cavity."

Maxym Konodyuk cares deeply for his patients. He recently assisted in the surgery of Viktor Brusnyk. "The patient had a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. This procedure is performed at our center on a beating heart. We removed a large subcutaneous vein from the left leg and an internal mammary artery from the left. Using these vessels, we created bypass routes. We sutured it behind the aorta so that the blood could bypass and supply the myocardial wall properly," explained the doctor.

Maxym Konodyuk is currently satisfied with the patient's condition, as he is recovering.

Maxym decided to become a cardiologist during his school years. He now understands even more keenly the importance of that childhood choice. "For me, cardiothoracic surgery is not just a profession; it's a way of life. I live through it. I spend 90% of my time at work," Maxym confessed.