Andrey underwent rehabilitation and was able to recover almost completely.

One evening, while driving, Andrey suddenly felt a sharp pain and a ringing noise in his head. His right hand became strangely clumsy. When he got home, he called an ambulance—but unfortunately, the medics failed to recognize the stroke. Two days later, an MRI scan finally revealed the diagnosis. His condition gradually worsened, and paralysis set in on the left side of his body. Doctors determined that the stroke was caused by a blockage in his carotid artery due to atherosclerosis. To restore blood flow and prevent another stroke, Andrey underwent EC-IC bypass surgery (a cerebral artery bypass). Now, Andrey needs help with recovery and a rehabilitation program. I have a loving, close-knit family — my wife, daughter, son, and loyal dog. I’ve spent my life as a long-haul truck driver, traveling all across Russia. I can’t imagine life without the wheel and dream of returning to the job I love. But my greatest wish is simply to live a little longer: to raise my children, meet my future grandchildren, and cherish every moment. To those who might help me reach this goal, I wish you good health. Only when disaster strikes you do realize how vital it is to take care of yourself — unlike a car, our bodies can’t just be replaced with a new one.