Ed's Friends Ukraine

At dinner in Ukraine, the American and Australian doctor team discusses the surgeries from the day. Dr. Dave Russell, a former U.S. Navy physician, traveled from Northern California to Ukraine, to join the LEAP surgeons for the Spring 2024 Reconstructive Surgery mission. He shows me photos from his phone and says he removed a 2.5 cm piece of metal shrapnel from a man’s eyeball. Judging by the age of the man’s other injuries, Dave estimated the shrapnel had been lodged in the eye for 6 months. I couldn’t imagine having a piece of shrapnel protruding from an eye for that long, and asked why the metal wasn’t removed earlier. Dave guessed that probably there are not enough ocular surgeons available to perform the removal procedure. Dave admitted that even though he does this work in Ukraine for free, helping these Ukrainians is purpose driven and meaningful. So he wants to figure out how he can manage his career and life to continue returning to Ukraine and perform needed surgeries for Ukrainians. Thank you Dave. And much appreciation to LEAP Global Missions, Christian Medical Association of Ukraine, Razom For Ukraine, for making this project possible. Слaва Укра?н? ???? Ed's Friends Ukraine #edsfriendsukraine

Our team of 16 surgeons has arrived in Ukraine from the U.S. Reconstructive surgeries on wounded defenders, children and other Ukrainians are commencing. Слaва Укра?н? ???? Ed's Friends Ukraine #edsfriendsukraine

Started my 10th humanitarian trip traveling from U.S. to Ukraine since Feb 2022. Ed's Friends Ukraine is supporting our next mission to help bring 16 surgeons from U.S. and Australia to Ukraine to perform surgeries on wounded defenders, civilians and children. Together with the The Endurance Foundation, we raised money with our Wine Tasting fundraiser in Los Angeles to help sponsor this project. Thanks to great partners in this initiative, LEAP Global Missions, Christian Medical Association of Ukraine, and Razom For Ukraine. Your contributions and work are helping to save lives. This project is made possible by our friends Rudi Myhovych, Dr Craig Hobar,and Steve Orten and other doctors. Coming off the heels of the last #ukraineactionsummitUkraine trip to Washington DC advocating for the $61 Bn U.S. aid package for Ukraine which was just passed. Together we can make a difference. Слава Укра?н? ???? www.edsfriends.org #edsfriendsukraine #volunteerukraine #peacecorpsukraine #rpcv

The $61 Bn Ukraine aid bill passed the U.S. House vote just now. As did the REPO Act (Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians) to transfer russian frozen state assets to rebuild Ukraine. This is the reason why we were in Washington D.C. last week for the #ukraineactionsummit. We are 1/3 the way there now. The bills must pass the Senate vote, and get approved by the President. We need to make calls to our respective U.S. Senate offices now. Leave voice mails. Send emails. Need to ask for a swift passage of Ukraine aid in the Senate. Can cite the passage of House resolutions HR 8035 and HR 8038. Critical moment for the victory of our Ukrainian friends right now. Слaва Укра?н? ???? Ed's Friends Ukraine #edsfriendsukraine

I’m honored that Forbes featured me, along with those whom I respect for their impressive ability to help Ukraine, including Nick Bilogorskiy ???? founder of NOVA Ukraine Foundation, Jonathan L. Lippert director of Ukraine Aid Operations, and other individuals who voluntarily traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate for Ukraine at #UkraineActionSummit which was organized by the American Coalition for Ukraine and held on April 12-16, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gesTe8Mx I am pleased that my following quote was included in the coverage: “Edward Ma, the founder and president of Ed's Friends Ukraine (https://edsfriends.org/), came from Texas. “Previous summits were effective,” Ma says. During the second summit, he says, “We pressured Ted Cruz and then he actually became a [cosponsor] of the Repo Act.” He thinks that so many concerned citizens arriving from all around the country to apply pressure on their congressmen and senators is making an impression in Washington.” Слaва Укра?н? ???? #edsfriendsukraine #ArmUkraineNow Katya Soldak

I am glad that House Speaker Mike Johnson suddenly shows support for getting Ukraine Supplemental Aid passed. 500 delegates including myself have been in Washington DC the past several days, meeting with Congressmen and Senators to push for this aid. On Monday April 15th, I saw Johnson and the Representatives in person, from the House Gallery balcony, watching them on the floor voting on other resolutions, but the Ukraine aid bill was not put to vote that day. Hope to see it put to vote by this Saturday April 20th. Слaва Укра?н? ???? Ed's Friends Ukraine #edsfriendsukraine #ukraineactionsummit https://lnkd.in/gZd2Pwr5

My friend Mariia Hlyten’s article titled “Time Is Running Out for Ukraine” was published yesterday in The Atlantic. I recommend reading this. https://lnkd.in/gwAnfge8 Слaава Укра?н? ????