He fought for us, now it's our turn to help!

"When, on the third day of the full-scale war, my husband Serhii said to me, "I have to go. If not me, then who?", I knew his decision was final. At home, it was just me, our daughters, and my mother. All women. And he was the only man. No military experience, no prior service – just a heart that wouldn’t let him stand aside. He went to the military enlistment office on his own and was mobilized into the 100th Territorial Defense Brigade. First, he served in the Fire Support Company, then was transferred to a rifle company.

He always said, "I have to protect you".

On January 20, 2024, during a combat mission near the village of Dibrova in Luhansk region, Serhii and his comrades came under heavy mortar fire. Their dugout collapsed. His comrade who was beside him died on the spot… Serhii miraculously survived. He dug himself out from under the rubble, even though he had severe head and chest injuries.

He was quickly evacuated and underwent surgery – first in Sloviansk, then in Dnipro, at the Mechnikov Hospital. From there, he was transferred to Kyiv, where he was placed in intensive care. The battle for his life began: severe brain swelling, another surgery, coma… Then to Ivano-Frankivsk. More intensive care. My heart clenched with fear, but every day was a chance. From January 20 to April 4 – three and a half months in intensive care units.

I was with him the entire time. As soon as I found out, I rushed to be by his side – first to Dnipro, then Kyiv, then Frankivsk… His mother joined us in the capital – we stayed by his side together, never leaving him.

After difficult treatment, we were transferred to Lviv, where Serhii breathed on his own for the first time without a ventilator. It was a small but very important step. Then came Volyn, and later the Recovery rehabilitation center. We completed two state-funded rehabilitation packages. But it’s not nearly enough. After a traumatic brain injury, hematomas, multiple fractures, and a pneumothorax, it takes time, effort, and professional support to return to life.

We turned to the “Agape” center. They have a program that gives us hope. But now everything depends on money. We’ve exhausted all our resources, gone through all the free stages. And the most important part is still ahead – the rehabilitation that could get my Serhii back on his feet. That could give him a chance to hold a fishing rod again like he used to. I’ll put the worm on the hook myself – if only he could hold that rod on his own again…

We’ve met many kind, bright people who supported us throughout this journey. And I truly believe there are more of them out there. That we will be heard – and helped.

Because the war isn’t happening "somewhere over there". It’s here. It’s in every home from which men left to defend – men who didn’t know how to shoot, but knew they had to. Because "If not me, then who?" – isn’t just a phrase. It’s a choice. One for which my husband gave his health.

Support our dream. Support Serhii. Because only together can we bring him back to life".