Vlad is an orphan with a serious illness; he needs rehabilitation so he can walk!

Vlad was born tiny—just 940 grams. His mother passed away, and the little boy ended up in an orphanage. Doctors and caregivers did everything they could, but by the age of five, he still hadn't started talking or walking. We met Vladik during a trip to Omsk. That's when his treatment began: we organized a trip to Moscow for an examination. First, there was a course of botulinum therapy—it helped relax his muscles and give Vlad the ability to move. Then came surgery, which reduced his spasticity. And then came numerous rehabilitation courses. Nanny Tanya recalls that it wasn't an easy journey: "We've been through a lot together—surgeries, rehabilitation. Here at the foundation's Social Center, we worked every day: we'd sit in the gym and do the exercises prescribed by the doctors. Step by step, he began to move more confidently." First, Vladik learned to maintain his balance better, then he learned to move, and eventually he took his first steps. To consolidate and expand on the results achieved, it's important to keep moving forward. This summer, Vladik is expected at the Rodnik rehabilitation center, where he will have a comprehensive program: daily physical therapy, swimming, and sessions with a speech therapist and psychologist. This will help him strengthen his muscles, develop his coordination, and maintain all his achievements. He won't be able to cope without support.