Okhmatdyt Hospital welcomed Maria Byquist and Hunter Swede, who organized an interactive balloon-twisting show for the children. Within seconds, ordinary balloons were transformed into funny animals, flowers, and other creative figures that each child could take home.

A special highlight of the visit was the gifts the children received: plush toys, notebooks, and coloring books featuring Dragons—characters created and illustrated by Maria as symbols of courage and hope, helping young patients face difficult illnesses.

Maria and Hans have made an extraordinary impact through their charitable work. They are strong advocates for Ukraine in Sweden, and over the past two years they have raised more than UAH 15 million to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.⁠

“We believe that supporting children and supporting Ukrainian defenders are equally important. In this way, we care both for Ukraine’s present and its future. It is a great honor for us to bring smiles and a sense of celebration to these children, even if only for a few hours,” said Maria.

We sincerely thank our Swedish guests for their kind hearts, their love for Ukraine, and their support for our young patients.