Freedom is my superpower. Katia's story from Odesa region
August 15, 2025
July 8 was another black date in the lives of Ukrainians. It was on this day that a Russian missile hit one of the buildings of Okhmatdyt, the largest children's hospital in Ukraine, where more than 600 patients were staying at the time of the attack. As a result of the enemy attack, more than 50 people were injured, 2 people were killed, and 6 buildings of the medical institution were destroyed.
That tragic day was a challenge not only for the families of the patients, but also for the medical system. The children who were in Okhmatdyt were promptly evacuated to other hospitals to keep their treatment going. As it turned out later, not all hospitals were ready for new patients in serious conditions. Some lacked the required amount of medicines, while others lacked the necessary equipment. All of this jeopardizes the continuity of treatment, which is essential for children in serious conditions. But the tragedy united people, which helped to provide the children from Okhmatdyt with proper care.
Among the medical institutions that have accepted new patients are Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery. Immediately after the tragedy, the Zaporuka Foundation team focused its attention on the needs of the hospitals where the children were evacuated to improve conditions for patients as soon as possible. Within a week, the foundation raised more than 7.5 million UAH thanks to contributions from Ukrainian businesses, philanthropists and caring people. More than half a million hryvnias were spent on purchasing medicines and equipment for the Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute. This strengthening of the hospital helped to continue the treatment of children. Among them are 9-month-old Sophia, Timur and Maxim. The stories of these children are below.
"I have to fight"
Sofia from Kyiv is only 9 months old, of which she was at home for only 15 days. From the moment she was born, she has been forced to stay in the hospital and fight for her life.
Kateryna's mother says that her daughter was a long-awaited and cherished child. Kateryna has a sister, and her husband has a brother, so they wanted a sister or brother for their older daughter, seven-year-old Polina. At first, Kateryna failed to get pregnant for a long time, and when she stopped hoping and let go of the situation, she saw two cherished stripes.
During her pregnancy, Kateryna was told that the baby had some difficulties and needed an urgent cesarean section. As a result, Sofia was born prematurely. Doctors diagnosed her with hydrocephalus.
Hospital days began for the family. Mom and the baby were sent to Okhmatdyt. There she underwent surgery. But when she returned home a few days later, her mother saw that Sofia was not feeling well. The ambulance took them to another hospital, but Kateryna decided to return to Okhmatdyt because the doctors there already knew the child, they had treated her, so they had more trust in them. The girl was treated, and on July 8, when the Russians fired a missile at the largest children's hospital, she was waiting for another operation.
After the stress, Kateryna and Sophia were transferred to the Institute of Neurosurgery. They are forced to start treatment from the very beginning, because due to the move and stress, the child's condition requires additional attention.
The doctors from Okhmatdyt were constantly in touch with the family and the team of the Institute of Neurosurgery. This is very reassuring for patients, because they know the doctors and trust them.
Sofia cannot do what her peers do, but she now has a completely different task - to fight for life, not for development.
Kateryna says that she misses her eldest daughter the most, because they can only see each other for a brief moment when she comes to visit her mother and sister with her father. The support of her husband, parents, and sister helps her not to give up.
"I have to fight. I have no other way out. If I give up, who will fight for me? I have to move forward.", says Kateryna.
It helps Kateryna a lot to communicate with other women. The feeling that she is not alone, that there is support and understanding from other mothers, keeps her going. Most of all, Kateryna wants her daughter to feel better so that they can return home, where her husband is waiting for her, where her mother will help her, where she can breathe out and rest a little. After all, a long stay in the hospital makes you feel a lack of freedom.
"Sooner or later we will be free" Kateryna jokes bitterly.
After Okhmatdyt resumed its work, the woman and her daughter returned to the hospital, where Sofia had already undergone surgery.
"I want the child to see summer"
Kateryna and her husband live in Petropavlivska Borshchahivka. She is a social pedagogue in a kindergarten, and he is a candidate for master of sports in karate. When they thought about having a new addition to the family, they took it very seriously. They maintained a healthy lifestyle, took vitamins, and underwent the necessary examinations. They were sure that thanks to this responsibility, they would soon become happy parents. In the last months of her pregnancy, when Kateryna was about to go on maternity leave, she wanted to see the baby's face and went for a 3D ultrasound. The woman recalls that the doctors examined her very carefully and for a long time, but did not answer her questions. Only in the conclusion did she read the unknown word "hydrocephalus". After reading what it meant on the Internet, Kateryna was scared. Then her husband supported her a lot.
On the eve of Kateryna's birthday, a boy was born, named Timur. The mother admits that this name suits the dark-eyed and dark-haired boy very well. And although the baby has lightened up now, his mother still likes the name.
After Timur was born, Kateryna and her baby were sent to Okhmatdyt. Although only one adult is allowed to stay in the hospital, they were lucky enough to get permission for their father to be with the family. This helped Kateryna to survive and return to life..
"I was very depressed, crying all the time. But my husband was very supportive. No matter what terrible things they said to us, he was not afraid and said: "We will treat our child. We will do everything for our baby."" Kateryna recalls.
The boy underwent surgery, but later a complication was discovered. When they were preparing for another surgery, a Russian missile hit the hospital.
Timur and his mother stayed at the Institute of Neurosurgery for about 2 weeks before returning to Okhmatdyt. Kateryna says that no one is immune to illness. But she believes that thanks to the professionalism of the doctors and the support of her family, everything will be fine.
Timur is now 5 months old. He is very emotional. He smiles and speaks to his mom in his own way. He likes to watch colored toys and has learned to roll over on his barrel to get them.
"I just want to go outside so that the child can see the summer and admire nature. I have never liked the zoo, but now for some reason I want to take my son to the zoo" - Timur's mother shared her dreams.
"I dream of opening a farm"
Eleven-year-old Maksym is from the village of Maryanivka, Bila Tserkva district. The boy is in the sixth grade and loves to play football. There are several teams of different ages in their village, so the kids have the opportunity to kick the ball around and learn how to do it professionally.
He also loves farming. Ducks, geese, chickens, a little black pig - everyone is waiting for his attention. He not only feeds the birds, but also watches them sit on the eggs and hatch their young.
One day Maksym felt sick. He was hospitalized with suspected poisoning. Valentyn's grandmother says that they immediately suspected that it was not related to digestion. A more thorough examination revealed a tumor. Then he was sent to Okhmatdyt, where he underwent surgery. They were going to do another one, but the hospital was bombed and they were transferred to Institute of Neurosurgery.
His grandmother is always by his side. She says Maksym is very patient. He endures all the procedures. He understands that it is necessary to recover and return home. His mom and dad and seven brothers and sisters are waiting for him there.
He is very worried about his farm and misses it. He is only comforted by the thought that his parents will buy more ducklings and goslings when he recovers. That was their promise. He will have someone to herd and feed.
In the meantime, he communicates with his wardmate and receives messages with supportive words from his friends in the village. He dreams that when he recovers and grows up, he will study and open a real farm.
Support of others is important - the opinion of the Foundation's psychologist
One of the first people to meet the children at the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery was a psychologist of the charity foundation "Zaporuka" Alla Antonova. She says that at the time of the first meeting, the emotional state of children and parents was different, because it depends on the level of stress resistance.
"I was impressed that most parents and children took everything that happened to them quite calmly. There were more worries about further treatment and recovery of the children", - Alla Antonova recalls.
The psychologist explains that those who are used to living their feelings and sharing their experiences endure stress "more easily." This means that they experience them literally, take this experience for themselves and move on. Those who suppress feelings, do not share them, or have had difficult life circumstances in the background or before may experience stress longer and more difficult. In some cases, they may develop chronic stress - distress.
Timely crisis psychological assistance is very important. Alla Antonova recalls that she first established contact with parents and children. Then they began to work on recognizing problems rather than minimizing or rationalizing them. Later, they tried to stabilize the condition with breathing and sensory exercises, as well as to draw emotions through art therapy techniques. The expert says that support from others is very important for people under stress.
"People in such situations have questions: does someone need me, someone who is mentally and physically wounded like this, is there someone nearby, will someone listen to my feelings, will they be there for me for a while, will they help me in a difficult situation? The fact that the issue of where the children would receive further treatment was resolved in time gave the parents a sense of support. This means that life goes on, together we can do a lot and survive even such a difficult event," summarized Alla Antonova.
As of July 29, all departments of the Okhmatdyt hospital, except for bone marrow transplantation and chronic dialysis, have resumed their work. Many patients have returned, but some continue their treatment in other medical facilities. Zaporuka Foundation continues to collect to support patients so that all children receive the proper level of treatment while the reconstruction of the largest children's hospital in Ukraine continues.
The text was prepared by: Olena Kushchenko. Photo: Dmytro Sokolovsky.
