Ukrainian teacher blinded in a Russian missile strike will undergo a potentially sight-saving surgery in Britain
- Horrific images of Olena Kurylo’s injuries sent shockwaves around the world
- A missile destroyed her apartment on the first day of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
- The mother, 52, will undergo treatment with eye surgeon Tom Williamson
- The operation in January aims to restore her vision by up to 50 per cent
A Ukrainian teacher blinded in a Russian missile attack has been given the green light for an operation in Britain which could help to restore her sight.
Horrifying images of Olena Kurylo’s bloodied and bandaged face sent shockwaves around the world when a missile destroyed her apartment on the first day of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Mail on Sunday helped the mother, 52, flee the warzone and undergo treatment in Poland to save the sight in her right eye.
When the Polish doctors concluded they could do no more for Olena, the MoS secured £10,000 of Mail Force donations to fund specialist treatment with consultant eye surgeon Tom Williamson at Centre for Sight, a world-leading clinic based in London, Surrey and Sussex.
Horrifying images of Olena Kurylo’s bloodied and bandaged face sent shockwaves around the world when a missile destroyed her apartment on the first day of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
Prof Williamson first examined Olena in Britain in August and said he was confident he could operate in January – but only if tests conducted two months later showed that the eye had remained stable.
Last week Olena returned to London for her second appointment.
‘It’s good news, she’s doing really well,’ said Prof Williamson. ‘There is a lot of scar tissue, but everything in the eye has stayed where it is supposed to.’
The surgeon gave the go-ahead for the operation in January, which aims to restore her vision by up to 50 per cent.
‘I am so happy. Thank you for giving me hope,’ said Olena, who was so delighted she jumped up and hugged Prof Williamson.
‘I am incredibly grateful to each and every Mail reader who has donated money. People in Britain have such big hearts,’ she added.
Olena was left with glass lodged inside her right eye following the assault on her home in the city of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, in February.
Olena was left with glass lodged inside her right eye following the assault on her home in the city of Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine, in February
After the MoS helped her escape the besieged city, surgeons in Poland managed to save Olena’s vision by filling her damaged eye with silicone oil in a gruelling three-and-a-half-hour operation.
But complications developed – leading the MoS to swing into action and secure Olena a visa to travel to Britain to get private treatment funded by generous Mail Force donations for the Ukraine Appeal, the fastest newspaper fundraiser in history.
‘I am very grateful to the MoS. There were so many others who wanted to interview me, but no one else offered me help,’ she said.
Olena has been offered a paid job in Poland teaching theatre and dance to Ukrainian children after her operation.
To inspire her, the MoS took Olena to see the West End musical Mary Poppins, which she described as ‘the most incredible opportunity of her life’.
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