I won't be defeated. 4

Valik, a boy with an unchildish look, is seventeen. For ten years he receives treatment for cerebral palsy at Bersenev Medical Center. Except for mother, the boy doesn’t have anyone else; grandparents died many years ago, father deserted his family when heard about his son’s illness. Every day is for mother and her kid a gift and miracle at the same time, also a constant struggle for life.Don’t you know how different childish suffering from cerebral palsy can be? When Valik was little, his mother carried him in her arms and in a pram. Legs and arms were in a bad state, twisted in different sides. The boy underwent two surgeries, his muscles were cut, but nothing helped. And only Doctor Bersenev metameric injections were effective; after the first course, miracles took place. Valik began to hold on a wall and walk slowly, started to speak. His mother cried with joy, as myoclonus didn’t let the boy earlier to utter any word…

Each new course of treatment did new benefits. Now Valik walks with his mother’s assistance or with a walker; he couldn’t even sit or just stand up on his own earlier. Now he does many things with his mother’s help, or even himself. Everything its normal course, caring people helped to raise funds for the next course, when suddenly... Six years ago, in the Donbas, Valik’s birthplace, a war broke out. He and his mother became refugees. And this means rental housing, which is especially difficult with a sick child and a constant lack of money.

And now, when the child urgently needs the next course of treatment as his body began to grow rapidly, fingers and toes are twisted and hurt so much, his mother became completely short of money. And only the ray of hope of good people’s help enables mother and son to hold on despite everything, enjoy life and thank God and people for their interest and non-indifference to the destiny of this unique child.

Name: Gatilov Valentyn, 11.11.2002

City: Makiivka, Donetsk region

Diagnosis: cerebral palsy, spastic diplegia, pseudobulbar syndrome, dysarthria, behavioral disorders