UK HealthCare nurse heading to Ukraine on medical mission trip

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - In less than a month, a Prestonsburg native and UK HealthCare nurse will set off for Ukraine on a medical mission trip.

Jimmy Williams has spent nearly 20 years in the medical field. He refers to it as his ‘calling.’

Now, he wants to help those in a war-torn country who otherwise may not have access to care.

“I’ve never gone overseas at all, and I’ve never done anything like this, so it’ll be interesting,” said Williams.

Williams is currently a diagnostic radiology nurse at UK HealthCare, but he’s no stranger to packing up and going somewhere new.

“I moved probably more than others because I was a travel nurse for about three years,” Williams said.

Williams says that during the COVID-19 pandemic, he had a realization.

“COVID just kind of really struck the nerve that I’m not doing enough, said Williams. ”There’s still an entire world that is suffering.”

Then, Williams said, he watched the meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month.

“I’m just hoping to show them that it’s not over,” said Williams. “The world has not forgotten about you.”

So, Williams joined Global Care Force. The non-profit organization connects medical and non-medical volunteers with organizations that serve communities in need.

“So far, Global Care Force has served about 10,000 Ukrainians, and they’ve given away almost $230,000 in medication because we don’t expect any Ukrainian to pay for this service,” Williams said. “We’re doing it for free. We’re doing it for them.”

On May 5, Williams and a few other Americans will get on a plane and spend 15 days in Ukraine.

“We pretty much will just stop, hold a clinic for a day or two, and then we’ll move on to the next location,” Williams said.

Williams says many of the patients they’ll care for are suffering from long-term illness.

“A lot of people who maybe haven’t seen physicians or even had an appointment in the last three years during the war, who have chronic care conditions like hypertension and diabetes,” Williams said.

Williams says his fiancé and kids are supporting him every step of the way.

He’s also asking for help from you. Global Care Force asks each person to raise at least $6,500 for not only travel and lodging but also for equipment and medications.

“I’m just hoping that people see me go from here and they hop on board,” Williams said.

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