Rehabilitation after brain injury

While defending Klitschyivka, Oleksandr received a complex traumatic brain injury and now needs specialized rehabilitation to learn to live anew.

"My name is Oleksandr Stepanenko, I am 46 years old, a sergeant, and I have served since 2019 in the 93rd Brigade "Kholodnyi Yar". My callsign is Moryachok. The full-scale war caught us near Оkhtyrka. We fought for every meter of Ukrainian land: for Trostianets, for Sumy, for Izium, for Bakhmut, for Soledar. For the life of every Ukrainian.

I received my first leg injury in the battles near Bakhmut. But after rehabilitation, I returned. Because there was no other way. We had no right to retreat. Then came Soledar, the Bucha district, where we were waiting for a possible offensive from Belarus.We replenished the unit, gathered our strength, and went east again – to Klishchiivka, where we replaced the 3rd Assault Brigade. That’s where I received my most severe injury.

We had lost our positions, and a few days later went to take them back. I don’t remember exactly how it happened. There was an explosion, pain, and then – nothing. My comrades pulled me out. In Kramatorsk, they stabilized me, then Dnipro, Mechnikov Hospital. The doctors saved my life. I woke up eight days later in intensive care in Ivano-Frankivsk.

I have an open traumatic brain injury, a skull bone defect, paresis of my left arm and leg. I underwent a complex cranial reconstruction surgery in Kharkiv – because such operations are only performed in a few cities in Ukraine.

I am alive. But different. I have a first-degree disability. And every day I learn to be myself again.

I am in great need of rehabilitation at the Western Rehabilitation and Sports Center of the National Sports Committee for the Disabled of Ukraine. It is a specialized facility where they work with people after the most severe combat injuries. They can help me there. But the cost of rehabilitation is unaffordable for me alone.

That’s why I am forced to ask for help to go through this journey.

I didn’t break then. And now I sincerely believe that with the support of caring people and my persistent effort, I will stand on my feet again with confidence. My goal is to live fully, be active, and help others. I will definitely return to an active life".