Soldier Oleksandr Tymoshchuk, call sign TIOMA

My name is Oleksandr Tymoshchuk. For my brothers-in-arms, I am TIOMA.

I clearly remember how it all began. Back in 2014, when the war first came to our land, I could not stay aside. I went to the ATO together with the first territorial defense battalion of Volyn. After formation, we were sent to Konotop, and later to Debaltseve. We carried out our tasks, held positions, and back then we were lucky — we were replaced by the 128th Brigade, and we all returned home. I came back exhausted, but alive.

At that time, I thought the worst was already behind me.

But on February 24, 2022, it all started again. And once again, I could not stand aside. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, I voluntarily went to defend Ukraine. At first, I was in Kyiv region, in the village of Bazar. Then — Mykolaiv direction, later — Donetsk. We were also in many of the hottest spots in Kharkiv region. Where it was the hardest — that’s where we were.

May 19, 2022, the village of Trypillia, Bakhmut district — the day that divided my life into “before” and “after.” I sustained a blast injury, shrapnel wounds to the back of my neck, an open fracture of the cervical spine with spinal cord damage. At that moment, I lost my sight for a few minutes. I was breathing, but I could not move or speak. My brothers-in-arms — Kozak and Vitalik — saved me. There were many wounded, but they did not leave me.

Then began the fight for my life.

I was taken to Dnipro, to Mechnikov Hospital. There, the first surgeries were performed, and a fragment was removed. I was connected to a ventilator — it breathed for me. Problems with internal organs began, doctors were searching for sources of bleeding in the abdominal cavity. The risks were enormous, but I held on.

Then came Kyiv, a military hospital. There, I fought severe pneumonia. There were moments when I did not even recognize my relatives.

After that, I was transferred to Feofania Hospital. There, another complex surgery was performed — three perforations in my bladder were discovered. I experienced clinical death there, but the doctors brought me back to life. After that, there were severe convulsive seizures, which I also survived.

In total, I underwent 16 surgeries.

Later, I was sent to the Czech Republic, to the city of Olomouc. When I arrived there, I weighed only 40 kilograms. I was extremely weak. I was again connected to a ventilator and put back on IV nutrition. But that is where recovery began. The pressure sore started to heal, and my condition gradually stabilized.

I will never forget the people who helped me — doctors, volunteers, Ukrainians and foreigners who supported me without even knowing me personally. Thanks to them, I endured.

Treatment and rehabilitation abroad brought results. I became much stronger: my arms strengthened, I started to slightly move my thumb. I can speak normally again, without whispering. Panic attacks have become less frequent. I began to communicate more with friends and fellow soldiers who have similar injuries. Now I can shave myself, brush my teeth, eat — if everything I need is prepared for me.

After treatment abroad, I had a choice — to stay there or return to Ukraine for rehabilitation. I chose Ukraine. I chose the Agape rehabilitation center, because I missed my family, my home, my land.

Now I am starting rehabilitation here, and there is still a very long road ahead. Specialists have already begun working with me actively and very attentively. Here, they are teaching me to live in my body again. Every day we practice exercises for my arms and legs to restore strength and control. I am being taught how to properly transfer from the bed to a wheelchair using a special board, how to safely wash in the shower using a special chair, how to eat independently at the table in the dining area. These may seem like simple things, but for me now they are big steps forward. And that is extremely important to me.

Before the war, I was active and athletic. Football, cycling, movement — that was my life.

Now my greatest desire is to feel my body again, to be mobile. I know it is possible. But for this, I need long-term specialized rehabilitation. Its cost is unaffordable for my family, so I am forced to ask for help.

I have gone through pain, surgeries, clinical death and I endured.

Rehabilitation at the “Agape” center is my chance to return to an active life, become self-sufficient, and be independent from outside assistance.

 

COLLECTING: UAH 112,000