Every day is a struggle to breathe

Fifteen-year-old Rodion from Dnipro lives each day as a small victory. Despite doctors’ early predictions, he proves that care, faith, and love can create real miracles.

Rodion was born at 32 weeks of pregnancy together with his brothers Arsenii and Heorhii. On his fourth day of life, he stopped breathing. In intensive care, doctors discovered pulmonary and gastric bleeding. They gave no hope – but his tiny heart chose to fight.

At nine months old, Rodion was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. His parents’ dedication brought results: after nine rehabilitation courses at the International Clinic of Koziavkin, he learned to sit and stand with support. It seemed he was on a steady path of progress.

In January 2017, something happened that seemed ordinary at first glance: the little boy was eating yogurt and choked. Rodion turned pale and stopped breathing. While the ambulance was on its way, his mother performed CPR on him the entire time and managed to save her son’s life!

Rodion cannot sit or speak and is fed formula through a tube. He breathes with the help of a ventilator and an oxygen concentrator. Even a simple cold can result in respiratory arrest and emergency resuscitation.

Rodion loves cartoons, the hugs of his parents and brothers, and his soft toy Pluto most of all. His smile looks like sunshine for the whole family.

Our foundation has already purchased a charging station for his ventilator and oxygen concentrator. During prolonged power outages, these devices save Rodion’s life and allow him to stay at home. He spent many months in intensive care, so being together as a family means everything to them.

We now need to raise funds to provide Rodion with filters for his ventilator for daily airway clearance and breathing circuits for his ventilator for the coming year. Rodion’s father is the only one working, while his mother provides round-the-clock care for their son. Let’s support Rodion. Every donation is a chance for him to breathe more freely!