SOLDIER DAN, INTERNATIONAL LEGION OF THE ARMED FORCES
"I am a professional soldier and a citizen of Sweden with over 30 years of military experience, having served in the Swedish Army and the French Foreign Legion. I have participated in various wars, but the complexity of the war in Ukraine is unlike any of my previous experiences.
At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, I voluntarily came to Ukraine to share my useful experience and joined the ranks of the International Legion of the Armed Forces. I am here now so that later my children do not have to fight against our common enemy, russia."
"I prepared my unit for offensive actions in 2022 and commanded assaults. Our unit liberated Ukrainian territories in the Kharkiv region and in the Luhansk direction.
My last assault before being wounded was in the Luhansk region. It involved a hill defended by enemy infantry and tanks. For several days, we attacked the position with two platoons. As a result of enemy tank fire, I was wounded, leading to the amputation of my right limb. Additionally, I sustained many fragment injuries to my head, arm, left leg, and abdomen.
Now, I am going through a long path of treatment and rehabilitation, mastering my first prosthesis. Ahead lies an operation to remove the ventral hernia that appeared after the injury and is preventing full recovery," says Dan.
To master the prosthesis and recover from his injury, soldier Dan needed complex rehabilitation (rehabilitation sessions according to an individual plan, physiotherapy, training in using prostheses and learning to walk with them and exercises to overcome phantom pain) and additional examinations.
As part of the "Rehabilitation of Cyborgs" program, the Citizen Charity Foundation collected and paid UAH 50,131.65.
In addition, to prevent complications from a ventral hernia, which could be provoked by physical exertion during rehabilitation and training for walking on a prosthesis, the Citizen Charity Foundation bought Dan a postoperative bandage "Alcom 2020" (COLLECTED AND PAID UAH 1,086).
UAH 51,217.65 was COLLECTED AND PAID for rehabilitation services and the bandage purchase in May 2024.
After completing rehabilitation, Dan remained in the Foreign Legion of the Armed Forces and now works as an instructor. He trains new soldiers who want to fight for the freedom and independence of a free state. "I have to train the best for the defense of Ukraine!" says Dan.
However, the functionality of the mechanical prosthesis that Dan received through the state program does not meet the demands of his activities, as he often has to move in off-road conditions. There is a need to replace the knee joint with a more functional one—an electric one. Unlike a mechanical knee assembly, the new prosthesis should provide a natural, flexible feel and manoeuvrability during movement, increase activity and comfort in everyday life, reduce the load on the stump, and eventually allow Dan to work without any restrictions.
After consultation with leading Ukrainian prosthetists and orthotics experts, Dan was recommended to install the ALLUX electronic knee joint, which best meets the patient’s functional requirements and, according to his anthropometric data, will restore walking on the prosthesis as physiologically as possible.
Dan’s experience is needed not only by the international division but also by all of Ukraine.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the fundraising for a functional prosthesis for a defender from the international legion.
Dan has received the necessary prosthesis, which will greatly improve his quality of life and mobility.
We would like to extend special thanks to the BLÅGULA BILEN Foundation and Pontus Persson, who made a significant contribution to this fundraising effort. Your help is invaluable, and we are deeply grateful for your support of our warriors who are fighting for Ukraine's independence.
COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 870,544.28