‘Life is very precious’: wounded mother of Lisa, who was killed by a rocket in Vinnytsia, has undergone rehabilitation from Rinat Akhmetov Foundation

On July 14, 2022, a russian missile attack on Vinnytsia killed 27 people. Among them was 4-year-old Liza, who was returning from a speech therapist with her mother, Iryna. Iryna was seriously injured. Since then, neither her mental pain nor her physical pain has gone away... Iryna has recently completed a physical and psychological rehabilitation course provided by Rinat Akhmetov Foundation.

‘A friend sent me a message saying that the Foundation helps people affected by the war. And they offered me to go to the health resort,' says the woman.

Iryna and her daughter lived in Kyiv, but in February 2022, they moved back to their native Vinnytsia, where they rebuilt their lives. Iryna paid a lot of attention to Liza's development. That day, they were returning from class.

‘We were walking to the bus stop when we heard something very loud. We looked up and saw a rocket flying low and low right above our heads. I realised then that this was probably it. It was already going down. We were right in the middle of it,’ the woman recalls.

After the explosion, Iryna did not feel any pain due to her shock, despite her injuries. She received first aid and was taken to hospital.

'I asked where Lisa was. I was told that everything was fine; they were transporting her to the children's hospital after me..." says Iryna.

The woman had more than 20 pieces of shrapnel in her body. She still has partial loss of feeling in her fingers and foot. She has undergone several surgeries. She says that the injuries are still evident, but rehabilitation is helpful. 

‘The patient receives a range of physiotherapy treatments, notes a significant improvement in her general condition, and is satisfied with the results of her recovery,’ says Snizhana Tchebotaryova, the health resort's head physician.

‘My family and friends support me. Life is very valuable, although sometimes it is difficult to recognise this,' says Iryna.

As part of the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Wounded Adults programme, Rinat Akhmetov Foundation provides assistance to Ukrainians who have suffered from hostile shelling of residential areas: treatment, rehabilitation, psychological help, etc.

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 (http://m.me/AkhmetovFDU) or call the toll-free hotline 0 800 509 001 (the line is open from Monday to Friday).