Meet the “Fire-Hearted Assistant” – the latest addition to the City Clinical Children’s Hospital No. 16 in Kharkiv. This extraordinary assistant is not your typical hospital staff member. In fact, it’s a little, fluffy, yellow salamander that was discovered one September day in a box. The story of this remarkable creature is spreading like wildfire on social media.
The salamander was found in a distressing condition – refusing to eat, drink, or interact with anyone. In fact, it even attempted to escape the hospital grounds at night. Concerned for its well-being, the hospital staff posted about it on Facebook, and when no one claimed it, they decided to adopt it as their own.
The little salamander quickly found a home in the hospital’s psychologist’s office, and from there, it embarked on a journey throughout the facility, even making appearances at various hospital events. This unique addition to the hospital is a collaborative project between the 16th Children’s Hospital in Kharkiv and the NGO “Global 2000 Children of Ukraine.”
The salamander’s name comes from the Persian words “sām” meaning fire and “andarūn” meaning inside. Symbolizing courage, bravery, and resilience.
Marina Kucherenko, the hospital director, shared her excitement about the new hospital resident, saying, “This ‘toy’ should become a part of our hospital’s social media presence. It will actively participate in all events related to our hospital’s life, capturing the attention and interest of our online audience. Why a salamander, you might ask? Well, it’s a small creature with an inner fire, a warmth it’s eager to share with everyone – our staff, our young patients, and everyone following our Facebook page. It’s a symbol of support for all of us.”
The impact of the salamander has been profound. It has already taken part in hibuki therapy sessions led by Vlada Yevseyeva, head of the hospital’s psychological service. The little creature has also attended events featuring hospital clowns and joined in the celebration of Preschool Day at the “School of Superheroes.”
In a creative move, the hospital ordered three salamander toys, each with a different facial expression – one happy, one sad, and one content. These charming toys were handcrafted by an artisan from Pavlohrad.
The director explained the thoughtful process behind these toys: “We selected a few ‘painted’ images of the salamander, studied its real ‘living’ image ‘in the aquarium,’ and concluded what our helper should be like – to evoke only positive emotions. We conveyed all of this to the craftswoman, discussed materials, shape, and color with her extensively. She sent us samples of threads, and, in the end, we are very pleased with the collaboration.”
Vlada Yevseyeva, the head of the hospital’s psychological service, noticed the positive impact of this mini-project during its early stages. She shared her own experience, saying that the presence of the salamander brought a newfound energy to the hospital.
“During play and moments of humor, both children and adults are in a resourceful state of mind. This contributes to recovery after stressful situations. Therefore, our salamander is equally beneficial to both the employees taking care of the little ones and to everyone who reads our social media posts,” she emphasized.
While the little salamander has been given a name, it’s being kept a secret for now. You can follow this yellow, fluffy creature’s adventures on the hospital’s Facebook page. The hospital team is excited to share many more intriguing updates about their new “Fire-Hearted Assistant.”
Photo: City Clinical Children’s Hospital No. 16.