‘My life is a miracle’

Victor Kirichenko playing his trumpet in a park in Almaty, Kazakhstan. He was exposed to strong doses of radiation following the explosion of the Chernobyl nuclear reactor in Ukraine in 1986. Photo: Norwegian BS/Dag Smemo (KAZ04DJ-103.JPG)

ALMATY, Kazakhstan — There is a park in the centre of Almaty where brides and grooms often go to be photographed amongst the trees and flowers. As they pose, they are likely to hear Victor Kirichenko playing popular hymn tunes on his trumpet. It is difficult for him to earn enough money from busking to meet his family’s needs, but Mr Kirichenko knows that his life could have been much harder.

Back in 1986, he was in a band that was performing in Ukraine. When the Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded, the band happened to be nearby. All its members were exposed to large doses of radiation before the government began evacuating the area. Now, he explains, he thanks God every day that he was among the fortunate survivors of that terrible incident.

“My life is a miracle,” he proclaims. (WR 390/7 - 02.05)