The linguist’s story – May ’25
Every month, we get to know a bit more about one of our linguists. This month we meet Valeriia Davies an interpreter working in Ukrainian and Russian.
Tell us about the work you do for TLS.
In my role with TLS, I mostly complete bookings via our on-demand telephone service and pre-booked video calls.
What has been your biggest challenge?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was during a call where I had to interpret the news that a patient from Ukraine — a beloved family member – had just passed away in a UK hospital. In that moment, the greatest difficulty was balancing the need to stay professionally accurate while also being sensitive to the deep emotional pain the family was experiencing.
I had to deliver devastating news in a way that was clear, respectful and compassionate, even though my instinct as a human being was to comfort them. I also had to manage my own emotions to remain professional for both the medical team and the family, ensuring that nothing was lost in translation at such a critical time. It was a reminder that as interpreters, we are not just conveying words — we are carrying emotions, and we must do so with great care.
Can you tell us about a time your work has made a difference to someone’s life?
Every time I hear “thank you” from the clients or service users, it makes my day.
One experience that stands out is when I interpreted for a Ukrainian patient during an emergency call where the client was experiencing signs of a stroke. The client spoke very limited English and was extremely frightened. I worked closely with the medical team, ensuring that every symptom and response was accurately and immediately communicated. Because time is critical in stroke cases, being able to quickly and clearly interpret both the patient’s words and the medical team’s questions helped speed up diagnosis and treatment. The doctors later told me that our rapid communication helped them administer life-saving care in the crucial window. It was an emotionally exhausting call for me, but at the same time I felt relieved that I helped a lot to save this patient’s life.
One of the other most impactful moments in my work with TLS was during a call where I interpreted for a client in severe emotional distress who was experiencing suicidal thoughts. They spoke no English, just Ukrainian, and it was clear they felt isolated and overwhelmed. Throughout the call, I focused not only on translating words accurately but also on conveying the emotion behind them and making sure the mental health crisis team could fully understand the urgency and pain the caller was expressing.
At the same time, I stayed calm and steady to help the caller feel heard and supported. Knowing that my role helped bridge the gap between someone in crisis and the help they needed is something I will always remember. Moments like that remind me how vital clear, compassionate interpretation can be — not just for understanding, but for saving lives.
Tell us something interesting about you
Originally from Kharkiv, Ukraine. I’m very passionate about linguistics, fluent in 5 languages, learning 2 new languages and working on my PHD. I’m very lucky to say that I love my job being a self-employed interpreter/translator and working for one of the leading UK translating agencies, TLS. I’m blessed with the opportunity to be able to help people daily and make a difference in other people’s lives.