Doctors saved a 28-year-old mother after she suffered from severe pneumonia
A 28-year-old woman from Volyn nearly died from severe bacterial pneumonia, which destroyed most of her lung. After several days of illness, the woman ended up in intensive care, and her condition became so critical that doctors were searching for her only chance of survival.
Several medical facilities refused to admit the patient. Only specialists at the University Hospital of Lviv National Medical University agreed to help, and they eventually saved her life.
Daryna Voitovych’s story began in late March. At first, it looked like a common flu. The woman developed a fever, a cough, and severe weakness. But as the days passed, her condition only worsened. When Daryna sought medical help in Novovolynsk, tests revealed pneumonia. Moreover, the disease was progressing very rapidly. The doctors decided on immediate hospitalization. But soon the situation became critical.
Daryna herself says she barely remembers the hardest period of her life. “I only remember sitting down on a chair at the clinic because they were going to hospitalize me. And after that—a blank. It turns out I spent 10 days in the ICU before they took me to Lviv,” the woman says.
All that time, the doctors were fighting for her life. A bacterial infection was rapidly destroying her lung tissue. Her body could no longer cope on its own. When the patient’s condition became extremely critical, doctors in Novovolynsk began searching for a medical facility equipped with an ECMO machine.
This is a special system that temporarily takes over the functions of the heart and lungs and is used in the most severe cases. ECMO was the young woman’s only chance of survival at that point. However, finding a hospital proved difficult.
According to the doctors, several facilities that had such equipment were unable to admit the patient. Only the doctors at the University Hospital in Lviv agreed to take her. At the time of her transfer to Lviv, Daryna was in extremely critical condition.
Doctors had to fight not only the effects of pneumonia but also serious complications that arose due to the aggressive course of the disease. Doctors say the infection had effectively destroyed a significant portion of her lung. That is why saving the patient required complex treatment and the work of a large team of specialists.
This situation was a particular ordeal for Daryna’s family. While she was hovering between life and death, her young daughter was waiting for her at home. Her family members were glued to their phones, constantly waiting for news from the doctors. Every day was a struggle for a chance to see the young mother alive.
Despite the grim prognosis, the medical team managed to stabilize her condition. Gradually, her body began to respond to treatment. Daryna has come a long way from the ICU to recovery. Rehabilitation and a return to normal life still lie ahead, but the most important thing has already happened—she survived.
Doctors remind us once again: even the flu, which may seem ordinary at first glance, can lead to serious complications. Bacterial pneumonia is particularly dangerous, as it can develop very quickly and affect even young and previously healthy people. That is why doctors advise against ignoring a high fever, severe cough, shortness of breath, or a sudden deterioration in well-being following viral infections. Daryna Voitovych’s story serves as a reminder of how quickly an illness can change a life and how crucial timely care and the professional work of doctors can be. This was reported by the hospital.
In Ukraine, 115,000 citizens have already undergone free health screenings as part of a state program designed to identify risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and other health issues in their early stages. The government emphasizes that the program serves as a preventive tool and enables people to take care of their health in a timely manner.
