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Live from LvivOur November surgical mission is underway. Follow along day by day.See updates →

From the missions

Moments from recent surgical missions to Lviv — click any photo to browse the full set.

Dr. Dyrszka examining a young patient's spine in clinic
Examining a young patient’s spine in clinic
Visiting and Ukrainian surgeons standing in front of a world map
Visiting and Ukrainian surgeons together
The surgical team operating in the operating room
The surgical team at work
Two colleagues in traditional embroidered Ukrainian shirts
Colleagues in traditional embroidered shirts
Two surgeons in scrubs standing side by side
Surgeons side by side between cases
Close-up of a surgeon in a gown and mask during an operation
A surgeon during an operation
The team with a patient in a wheelchair in a brightly painted children's ward
With a patient in the children’s ward
Two surgeons operating side by side
Operating together
A young patient and a team member giving thumbs-up
Thumbs up from a young patient
The team gathered around a young patient in a wheelchair
The team with a patient in her wheelchair
A patient in pajamas standing beside a surgeon
A patient and surgeon standing together
A surgeon with a young woman in a wheelchair holding a gift bag
A visit with a young patient
A surgeon and a young patient in front of the hospital's donor wall
In front of the hospital’s donor wall
A surgeon crouching beside a young patient in front of the donor wall
Another patient at the donor wall
A smiling surgeon clasping hands with a teenage patient resting in bed
Checking in on a patient recovering in bed
Two colleagues talking over dinner
Colleagues talking over dinner
The operating room team giving thumbs-up around the patient
The operating room team, thumbs up
A surgeon kneeling to talk with a young patient and her mother
Talking with a young patient and her mother
A surgeon walking a hospital hallway with a patient in pajamas
Walking the hospital hallway together
A young patient hugging a team member in a hospital room
A hug in the hospital room
A surgeon in scrubs sitting beside a child's bed
Sitting beside a child’s bed
A surgeon holding a toddler on an examination table
Holding a toddler during a clinic visit
A surgeon sharing a laugh with a patient in a wheelchair beside a vending machine
A light moment with a patient
Surgeons operating on a patient's spine
At the operating table
Meghan and a colleague in scrubs and masks taking a selfie in the operating room, with two more team members behind them
Meghan and colleagues in the operating room
Close-up of surgeons performing spinal surgery
Close-up of spinal surgery in progress
Surgeons' hands working with instruments during spinal surgery
Skilled hands at work
A young patient sitting with a caregiver in her hospital room
A quiet moment in the hospital room
Meghan, the neurophysiologist, with two anesthesiology doctors in orange and green scrubs, one flashing a peace sign
Meghan, our neurophysiologist, with two anesthesiology colleagues
A smiling young patient in a wheelchair with two members of the team
A smiling patient with two members of the team
The surgical team preparing instruments and operating
The surgical team in the operating room
Team members and friends taking a selfie on a mountain summit
Team members and friends on a mountain summit
Three colleagues in yellow, red and dark grey scrubs in the operating room
Colleagues in the operating room
A team member in lime scrubs flashing a peace sign during a procedure
A peace sign from the team
A heart-shaped mosaic donor display at the hospital
The hospital’s heart-shaped donor display
The surgical team operating under bright lights
Operating under the lights

Stories from the field

In their own words — the surgeons we work alongside, and the families we’ve treated.

“How can we not come to Ukraine, for the children. Ukrainian doctors are always welcoming and warm. I am particularly impressed by what a wonderful team there is at this hospital of orthopedic traumatologists and anesthesiologists. And with each visit I see them improve more and more.”

— Dr. Marc Dyrszka, on returning to Lviv for surgical missions

“Arriving home, the first thing our daughter did was look at her body in the mirror, in profile and full face, and she did not recognize it — it had become symmetrical. I asked her if she was satisfied with the result. Her answer: ‘I didn’t even expect that I could be so straight, and I cried with joy.’”

— From a thank-you letter written by the family of one of our young patients, following surgery at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lviv

From our families

Viktoria, a young patient treated by International Spine Aid
Viktoria

“You give Ukrainian children not only a chance for a healthier spine, but also the opportunity to live a full life and look to the future with hope. We are deeply grateful to you for everything you do.”

— Viktoria’s mother
Roman, a young patient treated by International Spine Aid in Lviv
Roman

“When we learned of his complex diagnosis, our world stopped, but your compassion and readiness to help restored our faith and hope. Thanks to your golden hands and joint efforts, our son was given a chance at life.”

— Roman’s mother
Katya, a patient treated by International Spine Aid
Katya

“A year ago he operated on my daughter. Thank you for coming to Ukraine despite the war to help children and give them a chance at a better life. You will forever remain the person who changed my child’s life.”

— Katya’s mother

Hanna’s story

Hanna's back before surgery, showing the curve of her spine
Before
Hanna's straight back after surgery, with a surgical scar
After

At 13, Hanna was diagnosed with stage 4 idiopathic thoracolumbar scoliosis. Her spinal curvature kept progressing, and we feared that over time our daughter could develop a hump and that her bones might interfere with her heart.

It was not easy for a teenager. Hanna was shy about her body and felt insecure.

In March 2026, Hanna had surgery at St. Nicholas Hospital in Lviv. The international team brought the metal implants and instruments, along with the costly hemostatic glue needed for the operations, so we and the other families receive them free of charge. Within a few days our girl could walk on her own, and in about a week she was moving without any help.

Hanna is 17 now. She feels healthy, has no discomfort, and is confident in her body. Her back is straight, and only a scar remains.

We are sincerely grateful to the foreign doctors who come to Ukraine and help our children even in difficult wartime. Thank you for your professionalism, knowledge and care for the health of our children, our future.

Special thanks to St. Nicholas Hospital for how they treated us, for the chance to receive this treatment, and for the partnership programs that make complex surgeries free for children.

Thank you for giving our Hanna the chance to feel confident again and to live without limits. ❤️

— Olena, Hanna’s mother

Anastasia’s story

Anastasia's back before surgery, showing the curve of her spine and a rib hump
Before
Anastasia's straight back a year after surgery, with a surgical scar
After
Anastasia today, standing outside in an open-back top
Anastasia today

In 2018, we first noticed a slight curvature in our daughter Anastasia’s spine. We did everything we could to stop it from progressing. Anastasia wore a regular brace at first, then a custom-made plastic one. She also had regular courses of massage, went swimming, and worked with a rehabilitation therapist. Unfortunately, despite all our efforts, the curvature kept progressing, a noticeable hump formed, and surgery became necessary.

In 2025, Anastasia had spine surgery, during which a metal implant was placed to correct the curve. Today, a year after the operation, we are so happy to see a wonderful result: her back is straight, the hump is gone, and Anastasia can look to the future with more confidence.

We are sincerely grateful to the doctors and the whole medical team for their professionalism, care, compassion and support. For our family, this is not just a successful operation. It is enormous happiness and a chance at a full life for our daughter.

— Anastasia’s parents