Ivan ID:18452628
Mother Anna shares: I am Anna, a single mother raising my son Ivan, born in 2017, who lives with multiple disabilities.
Ivan was born prematurely at just 30 weeks, weighing only 1,300 grams. Due to his early birth, he developed serious health complications — including cerebral palsy (CP) and stage 5 retinopathy. He has already undergone five eye surgeries at the “Okhmatdyt” hospital in Kyiv.
When Ivan was only 10 months old, his father passed away suddenly. Since then, I have been raising him on my own with the support of my parents. I started working to be able to afford Ivan’s treatment and rehabilitation.
Before the full-scale invasion, we lived in Drobysheve, near the town of Lyman, Donetsk region. When the war intensified, we were forced to flee with our neighbors to Lebedyn, Sumy region. Our home in Donetsk was completely destroyed, and my father passed away shortly after. Now, my son and I live in a small house with wood-burning heating.
Ivan cannot walk, but we regularly visit doctors and pay for therapy sessions. He urgently needs a walking aid (walker), which we cannot afford. Heating is also a serious issue — during harsh winter months, water freezes in our kitchen, and I must use electric heaters near Ivan’s bed.
Ivan requires expensive medication on a regular basis and uses diapers daily, as he still doesn’t understand when to use the toilet.
I truly hope that this war ends soon so we can return home. My dream is to take Ivan to a proper rehabilitation center, where he can finally begin to walk on his own. I believe in his strength.
Despite all challenges, Ivan is a bright and joyful boy. He loves listening to music, playing with educational toys, knows many poems by heart, and can count.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you peace, inspiration, and strength. Thank you for bringing hope and support to families like ours in this difficult time.
