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Wife has treatment in Akron after cancer diagnosis in Ukraine
By Bill Lilley
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Thursday, Nov 26, 2009
COPLEY TWP.: Pastor Vitaly Sorokun and his wife, Anna, didn't grow up in their native Ukraine with stories of pilgrims and Indians breaking bread together.
But nobody is more giving of thanks today for what the American culture is and how health care in America has progressed than these temporary Copley Township residents.
Anna Sorokun's health problems began when she suffered persistent bleeding after the birth of her daughter, Veronica, in September 2004. Visits and treatments by nearly a dozen doctors over five years were fruitless.
Her nightmare grew this summer when she was diagnosed with cancer by doctors in Kharkiv, the Ukraine's second-largest city.
The cancer specialists in the Ukraine were going to perform a hysterectomy to remove the cancer.
''I was desperate,'' said Sorokun. ''I
was living in depression. I hadn't been able to function normally for five years, and it was killing me for so long not knowing what was wrong with me.
''And then when they diagnosed me with cancer in the Ukraine, to find out that I would have to have these operations, it almost was hopeless.''
Sorokun, 34, credited her religious faith for giving her a new life.
The path to that new life began in 1999, when the Sorokuns met Jonathan Burnham, the grandson of Carl Burnham, the founder of The Chapel in Akron, and son of David Burnham, president of Burnham Ministries International.
Jonathan Burnham was in the Ukraine at a pastors training conference, where the Sorokuns were working as translators.
The Sorokuns had met while graduate students at the Kharkiv National University, where they studied to be translators and interpreters. Anna became fluent in four languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English and German. Her husband also studied law.
''Our dream at the time was for me to come to America to practice law,'' said Vitaly Sorokun, 34.
But the meeting with Burnham ''completely changed our lives,'' he said.
''I was a lukewarm Christian at the time,'' he said. ''But Jonathan was such a strong leader and Christian that he boosted my spiritual awareness.''
Vitaly Sorokun trained with the Burnham family to be a minister. He was ordained in 2002 and started his own church, New Hope Baptist Church, in Kharkiv.
The church thrived — growing to 150 members in eight years.
The onset of Anna Sorokun's health problems, following the birth of their child in 2004, clouded the family's future for the next several years.
''They didn't know what to do for me even though there were times the doctors were pale because they thought I was going to die,'' she said.
Finally, in mid-July, doctors at the cancer center in Kharkiv said she needed immediate — and invasive — surgery.
Anna Sorokun said she was terrified at the news.
''You have to understand that medical information in the Ukraine is way behind,'' she said. ''They are still using books from the 1960s to train their doctors. The hospitals have 10 to 20 patients in metal beds in one room all jammed together and the hospitals are falling apart and are desperately in need of major repairs.''
That's when Vitaly Sorokun said the ''hand of God'' intervened.
David Burnham and his wife, Sue, offered their help. The Burnhams knew what the Sorokuns were going through. Their daughter, Summit County Judge Brenda Burnham Unruh, also is battling cancer.
David Burnham called Dr. Kisa Weeman, an oncologist who lives in Wooster. Her parents, retired orthopedic surgeon J. Whit Ewing and his wife, Sandy, of West Akron, also got involved.
''I could tell when I talked to Anna and Vitaly that they were extremely frustrated,'' Weeman said. ''They appeared to be at the point of desperation.''
Weeman contacted Dr. Eric Jenison, chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Akron General Medical Center since 1999.
Jenison agreed to take Anna Sorokun as a patient.
The Sorokuns traveled 38 hours, arriving in Akron on Oct. 19.
Anna and Vitaly Sorokun met Jenison the next morning, and he scheduled surgery for Oct. 28.
''The hospital also agreed to take my wife as a charity case,'' Vitaly Sorokun said. ''We were so happy, we cried.''
Vitaly Sorokun said Burnham Ministries International took care of the family's travel expenses and living expenses while they were in the Akron area for five weeks. The Sorokuns lived at the Residence Inn. Veronica has attended preschool at Resnick Community Learning Center.
In addition to Akron General Medical Center, Jenison said the anesthesiologist and the laboratory also agreed to take Anna Sorokun as a charity case.
''It was really great how all these people came together to help Anna out,'' he said. ''We have to take care of the people who have cancer. The Sorokuns and many others don't have insurance.''
The surgery went better than anyone hoped. Jenison said he didn't have to remove any organs and used a minimally invasive laparoscopy procedure.
And best of all, none of the growths removed was cancerous.
''Everything is going to be fine — she can even have more children,'' Jenison said.
The Sorokuns are celebrating Thanksgiving dinner today at the house of a friend of the Burnhams. They begin their journey back to the Ukraine on Friday.
Anna Sorokun said she never will be able to give adequate thanks to all who helped her.
''All the doctors were wonderful and the equipment was incredible,'' she said. ''And Dr. Jenison was unbelievable.''
''We are all so thankful to BMI and the hospital and everybody who helped to make our miracle come true.
''We will be giving thanks for this forever.''
Bill Lilley can be reached at 330-996-3811 or blilley@thebeaconjournal.com.
COPLEY TWP.: Pastor Vitaly Sorokun and his wife, Anna, didn't grow up in their native Ukraine with stories of pilgrims and Indians breaking bread together.
Get the full article here.
Comments
Click here to post your comments
Posted 08:41 AM, 11/26/2009
Let's hope our government does not destroy our unbelievable health care system. It is up to the Senate now to stop the implementation of it being eventually government controlled, which will surely decrease availability and research. And it it goes the same way as social security, medicaire/medicaid, Fannie Mae and Mac, it will be bankrupt even before I get old enough to need it.
Akron, OH
Posted 09:03 AM, 11/26/2009
Let us hope that ALL citizens will be given access to affordable health care, via a single payer system that does not deny coverage for anybody.
mogadore, oh
Posted 09:41 AM, 11/26/2009
We are the ONLY civilized ( or are we?? ) in the indusrialized world that DOES NOT provide health care to its citizens. This is criminal. Single payer....NOW!!!!
Posted 10:20 AM, 11/26/2009
Yes Truth Sought, make the youthful pay for the Boomers health care, NOW! We need more everything from the gov't, I don't want to pay for anything ever again! NOW!!!
AKRON, ohio
Posted 10:46 AM, 11/26/2009
Don't we have enough "charity cases" right here in Akron without importing more?
Norton, Oh
Posted 11:50 AM, 11/26/2009
Amazing... My wife has a growth on her cervix and is having a laproscopy done in two weeks. She is an American citizen, but the Drs and hospitals aren't treating her for free. I guess you have to be from a 3rd world country to get charity in America.
Orrville, Oh
Posted 04:47 PM, 11/26/2009
Reality demands: Every corporation, farmer, business, outsourcer sweatshop, and nonprofit, tax-exempt, organization and Church; markets the cost; in the wholesale and retail price of his or her product and service; Of every Human Being paying healthcare insurance premium or pay healthcare provider with money derived from wages or independent business profit!
Posted 07:50 PM, 11/28/2009
WOW! THANK YOU FOR SUCH AN UPLIFTING ARTICLE!
