Help Vikulia undergo rehabilitation

Six-year-old Vika from Dnipro loves drawing and fixing things around the house together with her dad. The girl has Down syndrome and urgently needs regular sessions with specialists.

Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. In Viktoriia’s case, it manifested in congenital heart defects, delayed speech development, and muscle weakness.

Immediately after birth, doctors suspected the syndrome. At one month of age, the diagnosis was confirmed by genetic specialists at a specialized center in Kryvyi Rih.

For a long time, the oval window in Vika’s heart did not close. If it had not closed on its own, surgery would have been necessary. Her cardiologist allows only one type of sport – swimming. Viktoriia has been swimming almost since birth. With each session, she feels more confident in the water and enjoys it immensely.

Vika is a cheerful, active, and curious girl. She loves drawing, listening to fairy tales, dancing, playing with educational toys, and happily helps her dad with household tasks, confidently using a screwdriver and a hammer. Viktoriia  adores horses, attends hippotherapy sessions, and in the summer she even swam with dolphins.

In October, Vika started kindergarten, where she works with a speech therapist and a special education teacher. Her speech is gradually improving, and her vocabulary is expanding. Specialists recommend developing fine motor skills, as this stimulates brain activity and supports speech development.

Her parents do everything they can for their daughter, but only the father works in the family, and most of the income goes toward rent. 

In order for Vika to undergo a course of rehabilitation at the Ioannovo Center in February, including massage, exercise therapy, and sensory integration, we need your support. This is an important step toward her development and independence. Please support Viktoria!