Finished the show. Binged it across two days with my partner and only left the room a couple times to wipe away tears. I thought it was fantastic.
On April 26, 1986 my parents were living in Kiev with their young son and infant daughter. My mother was 7 months pregnant with me. They heard about an explosion at the Chernobyl plant but details were scarce. Rumors spread like wildfire and it became impossible to separate fact from fiction. By the 28th, the official party line is that the problem is contained.
My maternal grandfather was a Hero of the Soviet Union. This afforded him special privileges. He got news directly from the party and was reassured that Kiev was in no danger. He spent his days calming my suspicious father and sick mother, and laughed at the growing rumors.
On the 29th my father gets a call from a friend in Kiev. This friend was a janitor at a government research facility. Last night they were visited by party officials who demanded he open up the supply closet and turn over their advanced dosimeter. This janitor had heard about the explosion at Chernobyl but knew better than to ask any questions. But this man liked my father and his own pregnant wife felt sympathy for my mother so they made the call.
For the next week most of my family stays indoors, with the windows and blinds tightly shut. My father continues going to work. My grandfather is still convinced nothing is wrong.
At first life goes on in Kiev like normal, but a little bit quieter. My parents' house was next to a large elementary school so their street was usually bustling with children. Not anymore. Eventually my brother fakes an illness and stayed home, too.
The rumors got louder. Eventually everyone in Kiev but the oldest, staunchest Communists knew that their lives were hanging in the balance. Many people were convinced they were about to die and every day was treated as if it could be their last. The streets got loud again. Iodine and red wine was shipped in from every corner of the Soviet Union to combat the effects of the radiation. Vodka flowed like a river. People partied and sucked and ****ed like it was the end of the world because it really was.
The first week of May was a blur. My mom got very sick and they ripped out a lot of her teeth. She lost her voice. Doctors weren't sure why. My brother was detained by men with radiation meters who took his shoes and he walked home barefoot. My dad and my grandfather fought, a lot. Government officials visited our home to suggest my mother get an abortion. When she refused they left but returned a couple of days later.
Eventually the trains start running but tickets are impossible to get. Thankfully my grandfather's status afforded him certain privileges - including first dibs at train tickets. After days of fighting he is finally convinced to buy three tickets for my mother, my brother and sister. They packed up a few belongings and on the second week of May the three of them headed to Poltava to stay with my grandfather's niece.
My birth was a difficult one. It appeared that I had a few health issues. My development was delayed. The doctors weren't hopeful that I would ever lead a normal life. For the most part they were wrong. I used to get my thyroid checked a lot but everything has always come back perfectly fine. I constantly worry about cancer but I'm an old fart now so hey lucky me.
My parents are two episodes deep into the series. They are very impressed by the accuracy. About halfway through episode 2 my dad calls me and says [maybe huge spoiler?]:
which obv turns out to be correct.