Local

‘We have not forgotten them:’ Fernandina Beach doctor helping Ukrainian refugees

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — A local doctor is heading to Poland for a week of medical volunteering aimed at helping Ukrainian refugees.

Dr. Diana Twiggs is a medical doctor at Baptist Primary Care in Fernandina Beach. In about one week, she is headed back to Poland for the third time, helping Ukrainian refugees in need of medical care and shelter.

“The people are so kind, so gentle every time I’m trying with language,” said Twiggs. “They are just so gentle with me, and they are extremely grateful.”

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She said her heart never left the Ukrainians.

Back in September of 2021, she traveled to Poland for the first time, helping give school physicals to children.

Diana’s second trip in February of last year, was aimed to help Ukrainian refugees in need of medical care and shelter just after the war began in Ukraine. In eight days, she will return, volunteering for the third time.

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“What I’m hearing right now is the big ask is working on anxiety,” said Twiggs. “I think right now that is the major crisis is there is no end in sight, and some of these people have been living there for months and I think the sense of hopelessness is growing.”

She said she’s grateful for the way in which she can help.

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“There’s no time constraints, there’s no billing, there is very little documentation,” said Twiggs. “We are just there to help, and it feels to me like real family medicine, and it really helps me kind of live to fight another day.”

Until the community rebuild, she said she’ll continue to go back.

“To remind people here that it’s still happening, and to remind people there that we know, and we have not forgotten them, and the world loves them, and we are trying to do what we can,” said Twiggs.

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