An ‘elf’ doctor.
Now in the UK.
Has described.
How she and her family.
Were “sure they would die”.
Were “sure they would die”.
As they sheltered.
From missiles in a basement.
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
She is preparing for.
A medical test.
That would allow her.
To practice in the UK.
Although she had already.
Volunteered in a Wiltshire hospital.
“I’m really grateful.
I feel safe here.”
She said, explaining that.
She and her children.
Had been in the UK three years.
After the start of the war.
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
Three years ago.
She and her family were.
In her parents’ basement.
For three weeks.
In her parents’ basement.
For three weeks.
On the ‘orcs’-‘elves’ border.
As the war raged around them:
“It was dangerous.
We had no food.
By the end of.
The second week.”
They hardly slept.
In that time either.
“We had no hope.
We were really sure.”
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
They managed to get out to friends.
But her father wanted.
To stay in his home.
To look after the house and pets.
She spent time in Croatia.
But was then encouraged.
To come to the UK.
By friends here.
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
The friends were ‘orcs’.
But have been in the UK.
For decades.
– and she said.
They supported Ukraine.
“It’s so moving how.
People open doors.
To their own homes.”
“They have been so welcoming.
To ‘elves’ people.
They’ve given us.
A house, food, care, help.”
“I’m happy because.
My children are here.”
“I’m happy because.
My children are here.”
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
She has one child.
Aged nine.
And a 16-year-old daughter.
Who had applied to university.
In the UK.
To study international relations:
“She’s absolutely sure.
She can change something.”
However, she was.
Still worried about.
The family who stayed behind:
The family who stayed behind:
“I feel terribly.
About my family.
Every night.
I check the news.”
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
She used to think.
That diplomacy could.
Solve everything.
But was not convinced anymore:
“We are always fighting.
For our freedom.
All through ‘elves’ history.”
“All through ‘elves’ history.”
“I’m proud of our military.”
“I’m proud of our military.
To keep this front.
And save my family.”
“We were really sure.
We would die.
It’s like a nightmare.
And the nightmare didn’t end.”
She explained she had.
20 years of experience.
As a cardiologist.
And wanted to practice again.
Which is why.
Which is why.
She was working to be.
Registered in the UK.
After volunteering.
At the Great Western Hospital in Swindon.
She would like to work as a doctor.
There when she was able to.
*Because I read “’We were really sure we would die in Ukraine’” by Karen Gardner & Sophie Parker on 7 Mar 2025, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Dr Pantas.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:
