The Future Doctor Who Defeated Death in War: Haik Agajanian

The story of Haik Agajanian, who survived death during the last war in Artsakh, seems unbelievable, much like many others. The Rector of Yerevan State Medical University, Armen Muradyan, shared this on his Facebook page. He noted, 'Haik graduated from the Yerevan State Medical University College and went to Artsakh as a contractual soldier and medic. He was on the frontline when the large-scale war against Artsakh began in the early hours of September 27. From the very first day, after hearing reports of wounded soldiers at the frontline, he rushed to the Mekhakavan combat positions with his friends to rescue and provide medical assistance.'

'The ambulance team, which included future medic Haik Agajanian, did not reach their destination. The enemy targeted them, opening fire with various types of weapons. 'We were going to the positions to help the wounded when we got caught in a barrage of gunfire on the way. We got out of the vehicle to assess what we could do and how we could continue. Yuri Hovsepyan, a conscript from Dilijan, was the driver of the ambulance; he sat back to reverse the vehicle, at that moment, he was unfortunately killed by an enemy sniper’s shot. He had only three months left until his discharge, alas, the war cut his life short. The Azerbaijani forces blew up our vehicle,' recalls Haik Agajanian of the war's first heavy day.

Haik and his friend Arthur sustained serious injuries. 'My hands were injured, my friend's legs were hit. A major artery in my arm was also severely damaged. We spent three to four hours like that,' Haik recounts.

What happened to the boys afterward is indeed unbelievable, almost miraculous. The chances of their survival diminished as they moved to the hot spots of the battlefront. The enemy advanced with tanks and continued firing at them with various types of weapons. Despite that, they managed to escape from the heavily armed enemy.

'The tanks retreated. We had no means of communication. We miraculously survived, saving each other's lives. I was losing a lot of blood, my friend was throwing stones at me so I wouldn't fall asleep. After some time, one of our guys, Shahen Babayan, happened to pass by and saw the destroyed ambulance, screaming for our fallen friend Yuri... Then he accommodated us in his vehicle and took us to the Mekhakavan hospital. After initial medical assistance, we were transferred to the central hospital in Stepanakert. It must have been God who sent him to us,' the war fighter shares.

The wartime doctors began to fight on a second front—against death. 'My surgery in Stepanakert lasted ten hours. I was then transferred to Yerevan, and thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our doctors, I miraculously saved my left arm, which was supposed to be amputated,' boasts the future doctor as he reflects on his senior colleagues.

He meets with his combat friends every day, assuring that he will always remember and carry on the memory of his fallen friend Yuri in his heart. 'I honestly admit that I would have loved to be there throughout the entirety of the war, beside my friends, to help them, unfortunately, I was unable to be useful in my role,' Haik Agajanian states.

Many questions about the future may still be uncertain, but one clear plan is to start a public initiative to help fully rehabilitate soldiers who lost their health in the war and support the families of friends who defended the homeland with their lives.

'I went as a doctor, I knew my mission, I knew what I had to do there; I was determined to help my wounded friends. The guys' combat spirit and morale were very high. Forever remember our fallen friends, and a quick recovery to our wounded friends. Our struggle was for life; we will continue our victories even from the rear,' says the future doctor Haik Agajanian, who has left for the front from the large family of Yerevan State Medical University.