Much has been written about ways to help Ukrainians amidst the Russian invasion of their nation, but suggestions usually involve donations of money or medical items. One Manitowoc nurse is donating something even more valuable: her time, her knowledge as a caregiver as well as a risk of her own well-being.
Michelle Peterson, a Nurse Practitioner in the Manitowoc area, is flying to the border village of Medyka, Poland on Saturday to offer assistance to Ukrainian refugees that are fleeing their homeland.
Peterson spoke to Seehafer News about the trip, during which she expects to not only offer medical assistance but also emotional support to a group of people who need it now more than ever before.
She views this gesture as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she has, thus far, lacked the window of opportunity to act on. As a mother of two sons, her window finally opening is what ultimately made this trip possible.
“Ultimately, I’ve wanted to do a mission trip since I’ve been involved in health care but I was a single mom with two kids, so the honest truth is that when they were young, it’s never something that was really an option for me to do. Now that they’re older and in college, I feel that I have the opportunity.”
Inspiring her sons is another hope of Peterson, who says she plans to “… also, be setting, I’m hoping, a good example for them.”
Peterson will spend a week in Poland before making her way back home to Manitowoc. She expressed excitement about how this trip will offer a new perspective on the world and humanity, but ultimately, one factor that she cannot ignore is that there is no guarantee of her safety.
“We’re protected, being on the NATO side of the border. It’s unlikely that Putin would bomb us or direct any targets that we would be a target [of] …” She followed with acceptance, “… but that is also part of the risk. There’s no guarantee of that.”
Seehafer News will be following up with Peterson after she returns home to share the impact and lessons adopted while helping people escaping war-torn Ukraine.
