“Let's get up, let's get up!” – entering the ward, the orthopedic traumatologist Ardavazd Vartikyan addresses his patients. “Meet our press service, they would like to talk to you. Do you mind?”
A petite woman with surprisingly kind eyes comes out of the ward. “Of course, I don't mind! My name is Ludmila,” the patient replies.
The heroine of our story is Ludmila Zheltikova. She lives with her husband in Severodonetsk. Her story is an example of fortitude and perseverance, which are integral to overcoming any obstacle.
“I have worked in trade my entire life. At work, I had to spend 12 hours on my feet. I would come home and just collapse from exhaustion. My legs hurt all the time. When I became a storekeeper, in a large warehouse, I felt that I could no longer run or walk normally. I started going to doctors. They put me in the hospital once, then again. Then, the doctors all began hinting that I need to apply for disability. I felt that I wouldn’t make it to 60 at this rate. I applied for disability and found myself an easier job as a seller in industrial goods.”
Her health worsened several years ago when the administrative center of the Lugansk region found itself in the epicenter of the Special Operation. Ludmila and her husband lived in the basement for a year, pulling out the wounded. Then, on top of the problems with her joints, “female” problems began.
“At some point, after lifting something heavy, I began to have uterine prolapse. I went to see my gynecologist. She looked at it and said, ‘Well, there's nothing we can do right now. If you want to operate, you need to leave. Try to become friends with this problem.’ I tried to become “friends” for two years, and then it became completely unbearable. The symptoms became more pronounced, accompanied with severe pain. I wanted to go to the bathroom every minute of every day.”
Perhaps, this unequal “friendship” with her joints and reproductive organs would have continued if not for a relative who noticed Ludmila's limp. It turned out that the woman had already had two joint replacement surgeries in Moscow. Ludmila, on the advice of her relative, turned to the NMRC for Hematology. A few months later, she was invited for surgery.
“And I came to Moscow. Artavazd Arshakovich met me at the NMRC for Hematology and told me that he was ready to perform the surgery the next day. I urgently needed to have several tests, blood and urine labs. And I said, ‘I can't have these labs done.’ After this, I told him about my problem that I had been “friends” with for two years. Artavazd Arshakovich immediately directed me to an office on the opposite side of the hall. The gynecologist, Gennady G. Khodjaev, examined me and said that first we needed to fix the problem with the uterus, and then, with the joints. In that moment, I burst into tears from the realization that my problems, which had not been solved for years, were being solved here and now.”
In the summer of 2024, Ludmila underwent a Manchester operation to eliminate pelvic prolapse. A week later, she was discharged to go home. Before leaving the NMRC for Hematology, the orthopedic traumatologist set a date for the next visit to solve the problem with the joints. A few months later, the patient returned to the NMRC for Hematology.
“According to the patient, the signs of arthrosis began many years ago. During the examination, aseptic necrosis of the condyles of the femur and tibia was diagnosed, which is an indication for surgical intervention. At first, we operated on the left knee joint. We are planning to conduct the second surgery, on the other joint, in the new year. The operation was carried out according to high-tech medical care quota,” said Ardavazd Vartikyan.
The quota for high–tech medical care is the right to free complex treatment or surgery. The state allocates funds for this from the Federal Compulsory Health Insurance Fund.
“After the operation, I was offered to go to a rehabilitation center. I am so grateful to all the doctors and the management of the NMRC for Hematology for this opportunity. When I reached out to doctors previously, I was offered injections and no more. That’s how I lived. Every two or three years, I would come in and get injections. I would get hospitalized for a short period of time and then go back to work, that’s all. Towards the end, the IVs didn’t help at all. Therefore, I can't even find the right words to express my gratitude to the doctors of the NMRC for Hematology. Real professionals and wonderful people work here.”
Despite all the difficulties, Luudmila continues to fight for her health. Every new day is a step towards recovery and a new life.