Pavlyk wants to speak: support him! 2

This is Pavlyk, who is almost six years old. He is lively, curious, intelligent, and full of energy. He is interested in almost everything: toy cars, figures of heroes from cartoons and fairy tales, books, and building sets. He can create his own games from any objects around him, forming his own little special world. Most of all, Pavlyk loves playing with other children — laughing, copying their movements, and exploring the world together.

But there is something that sets him apart from other children. He is not yet able to speak.

He understands everything: requests, jokes, stories, and games. He “reads” books in his own unique way – turning pages and recalling the plot almost by heart. When he wants to communicate, he uses gestures instead of words – his own language, which we have learned to understand. Yet, we long to hear his voice, his words, and the little stories that live inside him.

Pavlyk’s life began with challenges. His birth was complicated, and his first days were spent in a neonatal incubator, receiving IV fluids and special nutrition. Although he avoided a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the consequences of asphyxia have left a lasting impact on his development.

Today, Pavlyk is a little miracle. He has become calmer, more attentive, and able to focus on tasks. He is learning letters, counting, holding a pencil correctly, assembling puzzles, doing crafts, and drawing his favorite suns and clouds. Every new sound, word, or skill is a significant step forward. Each of these small achievements makes him happier and more confident.

His daily sessions with rehabilitation specialists, speech therapists, defectologists, and psychologists help Pavlyk grow and develop. Each day brings new discoveries: a new sound, a first word, a new skill. All of this brings him closer to the moment when he will be able to tell a story, share his thoughts, and simply speak – not with gestures, but with words.

Although this journey is not easy, Pavlyk is moving forward, and his smile, with dimples on his cheeks, is the sincerest thank-you to everyone supporting him along the way. Every small step toward his dream of speaking is already made possible thanks to those who believe in him.