Soldier Serhii Obmaniuk

My name is Svitlana. I am the wife of defender Serhii Obmaniuk.

I never thought that one day I would be writing such words and asking for help. For almost a year and a half we tried to manage on our own. We believed, we fought, we searched for strength, and did not want to burden anyone.

But today I am compelled to ask for help for my husband.

My Serhii is a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From January 2024 he served in military unit 4942 in the company for changing the directions of unmanned aerial vehicle movement and covering strategic and civilian objects. He worked throughout all of Ukraine, including in Kharkiv Oblast, where it was particularly dangerous.

After one of his night combat duties, returning from service, Serhii was involved in a terrible road traffic accident. A severe traumatic brain injury. The doctors gave little chance of survival.

I remember that day down to the smallest details. Intensive care. Machines. Sleepless nights. The fear of hearing the worst. Long weeks of coma, when the only thing you can do is hold your loved one’s hand and beg them to come back.

Then came extremely complex surgeries, the installation of a large titanium plate, endless hospitals, rehabilitations, and a fight for every movement.

We were told that there was almost no chance of independent movement.

But Serhii did not give up.

Today, after a year and a half of fighting, he has already restored his memory, regained his speech, and can move independently with the help of a cane. We have left the wheelchair behind. Every one of his steps is a small miracle that we fought for every day.

Throughout all this time we never once opened a fundraiser. We did not ask for help. All treatment, surgeries, and rehabilitation were paid for on our own. There were periods when Serhii was off the payroll. At the same time, our family is also fighting for the life of my father, who has a stage four oncological illness.

Today I can say honestly: we can no longer manage on our own. Ahead of Serhii lies specialized rehabilitation at the “AGAPE” rehabilitation center. It is this that offers a chance for further recovery, for new steps, for even greater independence, and for a return to a full life.

It is very difficult for me to ask for help. But it would be even harder to stop now, when we have already come such a long way and can see the results.
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Serhii completed a recovery course at the “AGAPE UKRAINE” rehabilitation complex, within the framework of the project “Support for Families of Veterans with Disabilities. Recovery and Rehabilitation,” implemented by the Citizen Charity Foundation within the “Capable and Strong” program, carried out by the East Europe Foundation with the assistance of Switzerland.

During the initial assessment he was able to walk approximately 10 meters with a quad cane and accompaniment. Impairments in coordination, balance, memory, attention, and speech were also observed.

After the rehabilitation course, Serhii learned to walk short distances within an indoor space without additional devices, and longer distances — up to 800 meters — independently, using a single-point cane. He is also able to manage stairs, and has improved his endurance, balance, and walking speed.

There is also important progress in speech: Serhii demonstrates full comprehension of addressed speech, and his speech has become clear and grammatically correct. Cognitive functions have improved: the MoCA test score increased from 21 to 26 points, and the Barthel Index from 70 to 85 points.

These results are confirmation that rehabilitation works. And that the continuation of specialized recovery for Serhii was not merely desirable, but truly necessary.

 

COLLECTED AND TRANSFERRED: UAH 78,500