Our defenders continue to demonstrate strength, endurance, and a thirst for life while undergoing rehabilitation in the United States. Ivan Bolohov and Serhii Kovalskyi are already completing the final stages of rehabilitation and enjoy new opportunities with functional prostheses.
This week they were also joined by Dmytro Kolesnyk, a Ukrainian National Guard serviceman who lost both legs in April this year. He is just beginning his journey under the supervision of the MCOP clinic's specialists but has already taken his first steps on prostheses. Read more about it in our digest.
12-13.10 Weekend
New experiences and positive emotions are the key to a quick recovery. Serhii Kovalskyi and Ivan Bolohov with representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora and the FFU team, visited an amusement park and spent the weekend in nature — in an American camper.
16.10 Kayaking
Every day the defenders prove to everyone that life after amputation can be active and full of experiences! Ivan and Serhii tried open-water kayaking. It is not only a pleasant way of spending time alone with nature, but also a great rehabilitation practice of maintaining balance and training muscles.
17.10 Meeting Dmytro
In October, Ivan and Serhii were joined by Dmytro Kolesnyk, a Ukrainian National Guard serviceman who lost both legs in April this year.
Dmytro has also become the main character of the ICTV channel documentary “Stalevi”, a story about the resilience of Ukraine's defenders and the strength of their spirit. In the documentary, viewers will see all the stages of a soldier's adaptation to civilian life and the rehabilitation process that thousands of defenders are going through.
18.10 Dmytro's first steps
While Ivan and Serhii are in the final stages of rehabilitation, Dmytro Kolesnyk is just beginning his journey. The defender has met the specialists of the MCOP clinic, received an individual rehabilitation program, and even managed to take his first steps on prostheses! We are grateful to everyone who supports the program Prosthetic of Ukrainians, especially to the Pfizer Foundation.
18-19.10 Cultural Program
In between sessions with physiotherapists and rehabilitation, our defenders always have an interesting cultural program. This week the men attended a concert by Lyapis Trubetskoy and an American football game at the invitation of Colin Potts, a member of the FFU Foundation Board in the United States.
Colin, who has also lost his limb, knows exactly what our defenders go through. We thank him for his warm welcome, support, and motivation!
21.10 New experiences
You can never have too many new experiences. Our brave defenders learned to fly an airplane (and some even overcame their fear of heights!) and admired the awe-inspiring Great Falls waterfalls.
24.10 Embassy of Ukraine in the USA
The defenders visited the Embassy of Ukraine in the United States, where they had an opportunity to talk with Military Attaché Borys Kremenetskyi about the current situation on the frontline and the importance of American support for Ukraine.
25-26.10 The road home
Ivan and Serhii are finishing their rehabilitation in the USA. The last sessions with physiotherapists and final adjustments of prostheses are behind. The happy defenders are packing to return home. Now — on their own two.
We are grateful to everyone who has been helping us to bring back to active life our defenders, who have lost their limbs due to amputation!
