The Department of Paediatrics, Haemathology & Oncology came home

16.06.2021

After an 8-month renovation, the Department of Paediatrics, Haemathology & Oncology of the University Clinical Centre is officially open. The ceremony has been held on the 15th of June 2021 and was attended by representatives of Authorities of the Medical University of Gdańsk: Rector Prof. Marcin Gruchała and Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs Prof. Edyta Szurowska. Due to the support of the Fundacja z Pompą, it was possible to activate and mobilise all people of goodwill, who have supported the enterprise, making it done in a much wider range than originally planned.

- Today we symbolically move into a beautiful building that has been used by patients with oncological problems for 16 years and has already been completely renovated. Our patients, their parents, and medical staff, all will be able to return to normalcy – said Prof. Marcin Gruchała. – I remind you that this beautiful building serves children thanks to a wonderful woman, First Lady Jolanta Kwaśniewska. We are grateful for the support provided 16 years ago, at a crucial moment when the former Department operated in dramatic, unimaginable conditions. Apart from refreshing the building, painting the building, replacing furniture, and introducing new equipment, first of all, works related to ventilation and air conditioning were carried out. They result in much better conditions, increasing both the comfort of the staff and ensuring greater safety of young patients and their parents.

Department of Paediatrics, Haemathology & Oncology of the UCC provides care to children from all over Pomerania. Every year, almost a hundred of the youngest patients fight for their health here. Children with hematopoietic disorders – leukemia, lymphoma and solid tumors are treated here. It is a long-term and burdensome treatment, both for the smallest patients and their parents.

Building number 12, where the Department is located, is called the butterfly hospital and was built 16 years ago. During this time, the needs of patients, staff, and parents who accompany their children on their way to full recovery have changed significantly. After the inspection carried out last year, it turned out that the building required a major renovation.

The works began in October 2020, and their cost was estimated at PLN 4.5 million. Part of this amount (PLN 1.5 million) has been collected by the Fundacja z Pompą, which has been supporting the clinical hospital of the Medical University of Gdańsk for many years. It is thanks to the activity of the Foundation and its donors, as well as the #pomozklinicewrocicdodomu home campaign, that the renovation was carried out quickly and efficiently. The Foundation financed, among others, buildings for oncology wards, new chemotherapy beds, call system, and monitoring.

The Director of the UCC, Jakub Kraszewski, who participated in the ceremony, emphasized that the renovation was expensive, but necessary.

- It turned out that all the installations that have worked for themselves for over 16 years need to be replaced. At that time there were also new achievements of civilization that need to be implemented. Appetite grows with eating, but that’s good because this investment will serve children for years to come. It is necessary and it is money well spent – said Jakub Kraszewski.

The building was closed for the duration of the renovation and the children were transferred to the six other departments of the hospital in different locations. As noted by Dr. Habil. Ninela Irga-Jaworska, who heads the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology & Oncology of the MUG, did not prevent the treatment of the youngest patients.

- They have been and are being treated to the highest standards. No child and no parent heard from us “no, come back later because there are no available dates.” All the chemotherapy treatments were carried out as planned and this is the most important thing. It was possible thanks to the team and cooperation between us – emphasized Dr. Habil. Ninela Irga-Jaworska. – I don’t know how it happened or how managed to do it, but we made it. We survived, it is a wonderful and wonderful day, thank you very much to everyone.

Marta Czyż-Taraszkiewicz, president of the Fundacja z Pompą, which conducted a fundraiser for the renovation of the building, emphasized that the treatment process is tedious and difficult not only for young patients but also for their parents and entire families. She emphasized that the involvement of staff is very important in this case.

- This process would not be so favourable if it were not for the fantastic doctors and the fantastic nurses. I would like to thank everyone very much – added Marta Czyż-Taraszkiewicz. – We would not all be here if 16 years ago her dream of a modern oncology hospital had not been fulfilled by First Lady Jolanta Kwaśniewska.

The construction of the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology & Oncology of the UCC began in 2003, and the building was put into use two years later. The Department was established due to the initiative of the then First Lady and the president of the Foundation Porozumienie Bez Barier (the Communication Without Barriers Foundation), Jolanta Kwaśniewska. As she said, it was then that we managed to gather a group of people who decided to take part in this difficult undertaking.

- We started a long process of collecting funds for the construction of this amazing place. The way the Department was built was not paved with roses, but the foundations slowly began to emerge. In 2005, the moment came when we knew there would be a chance to open the Department. We wanted it to be a “butterfly hospital” and, fortunately, the Academy of Fine Arts came to our aid – seventeen students created their diploma theses, creating a beautiful, fabulous world here – recalled Jolanta Kwaśniewska. – I was sorry to hear that after 16 years, due to flooding and technical problems, a gigantic renovation had to be done. At that moment, the Fundacja z Pompą and the brilliant Marta and all the people who wanted to help her with this renovation appeared. We have a wonderful, technically equipped department and everything that should be in a new generation hospital – added the president of the Foundation Porozumienie bez barier.

Fundacja z Pompą constantly raises money for the Department of Pediatrics, Haematology & Oncology of the UCC. Up to now, almost a million PLN have been collected. Payments can be made directly to the foundation’s account (number at fundacjazpompa.pl) or at siepomaga.pl/remont-kliniki.

Photo: Sylwia Mierzewska/UCC