I learned how unpredictable this illness can be!

We’ve already introduced you to Anton Gillespie—a future doctor and junior at Harvard University—who came to Moscow for an internship at the Federal Center for Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology. With help from Podari Zhizn and Podari Life, Anton had the chance to experience firsthand what it’s like to work in one of Russia’s leading pediatric hospitals. Now that his internship has ended, Anton shares his reflections on both the clinical work and the joyful moments he experienced with the children.

“I think my time at the hospital was incredibly valuable,” Anton says. “Starting with the medical side — shadowing the doctors —
It was a great learning experience to observe how doctors interact with patients, especially in a hospital setting. Before this summer, I had mostly seen doctors during outpatient appointments, so this was very different. Here, the patients were much sicker—and all of them were children.

I noticed that doctors had very different styles. Some kept their visits short but came across as confident and highly knowledgeable. Others took their time, especially with the younger children, offering warmth and comfort to help ease their fears. Both approaches taught me something about bedside manner and adaptability.

What also stood out to me was how deeply involved the families—especially the mothers—are in their child’s care. They monitor temperature, bodily functions, and everything in between. The emotional weight on them is enormous. It was eye-opening to witness the children's reactions to their illnesses, too. Some were very quiet and serious, as if they understood the gravity of their condition. Others remained cheerful, finding joy in small things.

This firsthand experience helped me better understand the emotional dynamics of a hospital room—from the patients to their families and the medical staff. Sometimes doctors would try to explain diseases and procedures to me, which I appreciated, though I’m not in medical school yet, so much of it was difficult to grasp. Still, just being able to observe so closely was incredibly valuable.

I do wish I had been able to observe more surgeries and rotate through more departments, but I was lucky enough to see at least one operation."

“And then there was the volunteering — getting to know the children just as friends.”
Game nights and movie nights were truly special. Spending time with the kids outside the clinical setting showed me that, no matter what they’re going through, they’re still just kids. They love to play games, goof around, wrestle, tell stories, watch YouTube, and—yes—learn a few bad words in English!

It was especially moving to recognize children at events whom I had previously visited in their hospital rooms. Seeing them recover enough to attend rehab sessions at the guest house was so heartwarming. But at the same time, the reverse could also happen. A child who seemed healthy and cheerful one day could suddenly become seriously ill and be moved back to a private room the next. That unpredictability was a powerful and sobering lesson.

Overall, this was an unforgettable experience, and I’m deeply grateful to Podari Zhizn and Podari Life for making it possible.”