"Thank you for a very important rehabilitation": a seriously wounded 17-year-old from Mariupol undergoes a rehabilitation course from Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

In the spring of 2022, Oleksandr, then aged 15, was hit by enemy fire in Mariupol. He received very severe injuries, including to his spine and lungs, and was paralysed in his lower body. He was taken out of Donetsk after the start of treatment, then Georgia, Germany, and his return to Ukraine... The 17-year-old has recently completed a physical and psychological rehabilitation course provided by the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

"I am very grateful to the Foundation for its help with my rehabilitation; it is very necessary now. I have the results of physiotherapy. I am pumping my arms, back, and delta, and I am balancing sitting up in ergotherapy. This is to help me regain my independence," says Oleksandr.
The rehabilitation course brings not only targeted results, but also improves the young man's general condition and has a positive effect on his psyche.

"When Oleksandr arrived, he was quite emotionally broken. But his psycho-emotional state quickly stabilised, and his sleep improved," says Liubov Sheyhetz, a physical and rehabilitation medicine doctor.

According to the doctors, the main task of Oleksandr's rehabilitation programme is to restore the lost functions as much as possible and prevent all possible complications of the injury.

"We need to return him to social activity: studying, hobbies, leisure and, in the future, to his choice of profession," says Oleh Masnyi, chief rehabilitation therapist.

The doctors explain: "Oleksandr clearly understands the consequences of his injury and realises that there is a long way to go and a lot of work ahead. So far, there has been significant progress: the guy is coping with the tasks, has a positive attitude and is optimistic about the future.

As part of the "Rinat Akhmetov to Children. Treatment and Rehabilitation of Injured Children" programme, the Foundation provides assistance to children affected by hostile shelling of residential areas, including treatment, rehabilitation, psychological help and more.

Since 2014, the Foundation has provided treatment and rehabilitation to over 11 thousand Ukrainians.

If you or someone you know needs help, please write to the Foundation's messenger at http://m.me/AkhmetovFDU or call the toll-free hotline at 0 800 509 001 (the line is open Monday through Friday).