Vitya’s Story

Vitya loves to walk while holding his mom’s or dad’s hand. In his playpen, he tries to let go of their support and take steps. So far, he hasn’t been able to walk on his own: he loses his balance, falls, and gets frustrated. But then he gets back up and tries again. Vitya's parents see how much their son wants to move around, and they help him learn new skills. Vitya is the youngest child in the family. His birth was full-term, and at first, there were no signs of trouble. But on the third day, his condition took a sharp turn for the worse. The boy was admitted to the intensive care unit with pneumonia and spent two weeks on a ventilator. When he was five months old, Vitya began to lose the skills he had acquired; he stopped speaking, and episodes of freezing began to occur. Examination revealed significant epileptic activity. This was followed by hospitalization, treatment, and a search for an effective therapy. Doctors later diagnosed him with epilepsy. The prescribed medications helped manage the outward symptoms of the seizures, but the child still requires specialist monitoring and ongoing treatment. Vitya has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy, organic damage to the central nervous system, and delayed psycholinguistic development. Much of what he had learned, he had to relearn. In spite of the difficulties, the sessions are yielding results. After one of the courses, Vitya began to roll over more easily and move more actively. Following rehabilitation in Penza, he learned to stand up in his playpen, sit more confidently, and show greater interest in toys. Now he’s learning to crawl and loves music and games. Doctors have approved physical rehabilitation. Every new movement is a milestone for his parents. They rejoice when their son holds his body more steadily, reaches for a toy, or pulls himself up against a support. These changes, which may seem small at first glance, add up to the skills Vitya needs every day: while playing, interacting with loved ones, and exploring the world around him. The Rodnik Center in Moscow has developed a personalized program for the boy. However, the family cannot afford to pay for the course. Only his father works; his mother cares for Vitya, and his older brother is in school. A significant portion of their budget goes toward medication, medical tests, and visits to the epileptologist. Please help Vitya continue his rehabilitation. With your support, we can pay for the necessary sessions with specialists so that the boy can reinforce the skills he has learned, learn new movements, and become more independent.