Stories of soldiers who lost limbs, but did not lose their lust for life

After returning from the front, veterans may face other challenges — physical or psychological adaptation to civilian life. This issue can be susceptible for people who lost an arm or a leg because of hostilities. How to prepare for prosthetics, learn to live with a prosthesis, and not lose fighting spirit - people currently going through this path shared with the editors of MEDplus magazine. Someone started to walk on their hands, someone started to play a new sport, and someone motivates others to do sports.

Then there is direct speech:

Vladyslav Zhaivoronok

— My name is Vladyslav Zhaivoronok, I am a veteran of “Azov” (call sign “Wikipedia”), one of the Mariupol defenders, an operator of unmanned aerial vehicles, and a platoon medic. He lost his left leg and vision in one eye in the war.

I received my first wound at the beginning of full-scale military operations. It was quite light – a bullet in the shoulder, but I lost a lot of blood. Performed a combat mission with other guys from the brigade, in the Shyrokyn district. Despite the difficult situation, Mariupol medics brought me back to a more or less normal state, stitched up the wound, and did everything that could be done. A few weeks later, I returned to my platoon back for duty.

I received my second injury on May 16, 2022, which was the day the extraction procedure began. “Azovstal” medics saved me on the “operating” table, and a few hours later I was taken unconscious on a stretcher to captivity. I came to my senses a few days later in Donetsk. This injury was already quite serious — I lost my left lower limb, almost completely lost sight in one eye, and received multiple shrapnel wounds.

In fact, the most difficult thing I encountered was the legal issues regarding the documents. Now it is more difficult to deal with military documentation than the injury itself.

In general, to adapt faster, I immediately started trying to do ordinary everyday things, gradually increasing their complexity for myself. My rehabilitation began in captivity, in Donetsk. Then I tried to just sit on the bed. It was extremely difficult as the wound was critical. Then I learned to crawl to the edge of the bed, later I touched the floor with my foot, and it was an incredible thrill, I could feel the floor.

Then there were already attempts to sit on the wheelchair. It was an overwhelming task for me, moreover, taking into account the conditions of captivity, when, to put it mildly, the surrounding staff didn’t try to improve the situation.

After I was exchanged, I already started working with our doctors. But all my rehabilitation is trying to learn to do things on my own. Because those things that seem primitive to a healthy person are complex to me.

In addition, it was effective that I was learning to do everything on the go. Since my primary prosthesis was in the USA, I tried to use the opportunity and do something for the boys — to seek volunteers, to ask for something, to negotiate something.

I also gave up the cane, although it was easier to walk with it. I learned to get on and off the escalator when there was no way to get to the elevator or time to look for it because the plane was already leaving. I constantly increased the level of difficulty of the tasks and over time I just started doing it better and better.

When something didn’t work out for me, I got angry. From the feeling of rage towards myself, I progress in my rehabilitation.

The only difficulty I am facing now is the steps without handrails. Therefore, if I see that there are no handrails, I am already subconsciously looking for other paths or ramps. Also I can’t walk long distances with the extra weight. This is not critical, as the machine solves this issue.

I think I have already adapted, the next task is to learn to do all these things faster and spend less time. I also want to increase my activity level because I want to move more, have more time.

I recommend everyone who is preparing for prosthetics to find a good prosthetist who has experience working with a similar type of amputation. Also it will not be superfluous to ask for advice from those who have already had prosthetics, moreover, recently. So a person still remembers all the moments he faced at the beginning and will give effective advice.

The general advice is one — you need to get on the prosthesis as soon as possible and walk, of course, with the permission of the doctors, and constantly increasing the difficulty. First, learn to walk without crutches and a cane on a simpler prosthesis, then on a better one, which will be adjusted to the person himself. Exercise over the pain and “I don’t want to”. Over time, it will be possible to return to normal life as much as possible.

Look for things that will motivate you. I can easily raise my spirits within the framework of my work. I work in the youth and sports department at the Invasport utility company. We are engaged in making people with disabilities interested in various sports.

I know people who lost both feet and after that started to do active sports. Before the injury, this person could not do sports due to his certain anthropometric data, but now with well-made prostheses, it is already a matter of motivation and the desire to step over himself. Many discover in themselves new possibilities and a method of achieving new victories.

We are now doing everything we can for boys who have been disabled as a result of injury, so that they understand that it is worth turning their disadvantages into advantages. And I recommend everyone to do it.

Serhiy Kirichenko

Serhiy Kirichenko, a soldier of the 24th brigade of the assault company, lost his leg during the assault. Serhiy is currently undergoing physical rehabilitation at the NextStep Ukraine center and is preparing for prosthetics:

— In June 2023, an assault took place during which our positions were shelled. A mine exploded in the subway and tore off my leg. I spent 9 months in rehab and recovery. Because I was on the battlefield for 7 hours with a severed limb, it was unfortunately impossible to save the knee.

Currently, I am preparing for prosthetics and this preparation is actually not as easy as it looks from the outside. I actively train, and work with specialists. For me, physical rehabilitation is now extremely important, as it is necessary to prepare the body for new challenges.

I believe that everything depends on the person himself. If a person is strong in spirit and does not want to be a burden to his family, he will recover and adapt to a new life much faster. You have to work hard, don’t give up, you just have to want to.

For example, in addition to rehabilitation, I am currently studying to become a UAV drone operator. My comrades, with whom I served, suggested that I return to the army, so I am preparing.

I immediately accepted the situation, let it go as soon as I saw what happened. I’m moving on! The only thing is, there are two points that I regret. The first thing that failed to save the knee. The second – I would replace the left leg with the right. Because I drive a car and it’s not very convenient for me.

The main thing is that I am alive, I am definitely lucky in this.

Mykola Melnyk

Mykola Melnyk is a senior lieutenant of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a knight of the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, former commander of the 47th mechanized brigade. He is undergoing physical rehabilitation at the NextStep Ukrain center. He told how he lost his leg during the counterattack and how his rehabilitation is going now:

— I stormed positions in the Zaporozhye direction, as part of a company of a tactical group. We managed to capture the positions and gain a foothold with minimal losses among soldiers and equipment. After the company found itself in a semi-encirclement, remote mining by “Petals” was carried out. My right leg was cut off, most likely by a large-caliber machine gun. I started jumping on my left foot and stepped on Petal. And then I fell on another “Petal”. The morning was like that. My soldiers joke that I demined more than the American Wisent tank.

But I was lucky, the soldiers helped me quite quickly – they put on tourniquets and carried out an evacuation.

I advise everyone who has injuries or is preparing for prosthetics to be patient and work every day. Refrain from the desire to drink, smoke. It is necessary to work every day, and then the treatment will really be fast. There is no need to rush, you need to calmly familiarize yourself with all the options and work with internal discipline.

When I was wounded, the first thing I thought about was that if I’m not going to die, I’ll at least get some sleep. In the future, you need to learn to fight with yourself. Not every day you will succeed, not every day you will progress. And sometimes there are some emotional swings, but the main thing is not to resonate with them. It is necessary to be calm that there will not be a result every day. And only patience, hard work and self-belief will bring results. It is clear that what happened is bad, but not critical. For example, the only thing I can’t do right now is run, but I didn’t intend to.

And also remember: unlike “two-legged” people, we are lucky – we now definitely don’t have two knees that will hurt in old age.

Yevhen Berdnyk

Yevhen Berdnyk was in the ATO until 2016. On February 24, 2022, he returned to the front again. Yevgeny lost two legs in the war and is currently undergoing rehabilitation at the RECOVERY rehabilitation center in Kyiv, founded by Viktor and Olena Pinchuk.

— I was wounded in the Zaporozhye direction. I was in the reconnaissance team and we had the task of going to certain positions of the enemy and knocking them out. When we got there, we realized that it was clean and we could move, so we turned back as a group. And the reverse direction began to be mined, even trenches were mined and it was necessary to run a certain distance, only then to jump and hide. Artillery fire started, I got out of the trench to run to another, because shells started flying and jumped on a mine.

It was easy for doctors to work with me psycho-emotionally, because of my energy and positivity. I did not lose his optimism, even during the operation, and joked with the doctors.

I tried to do everything on my own immediately after the operation because I was motivated and interested in getting well faster.

Even now doctors are calling me and asking me to send pictures and support guys who are also injured. In the rehabilitation center, we also try to support and encourage each other.

Now my life is radically changing, I do not know where I will be and what I will do. In this regard, I decided to resume his studies at the law academy. I am also preparing for prosthetics in America, applied for prosthetics three times, knocked on all the doors, and finally they opened to me.

I am convinced: the main thing is for a person to have a goal, a desire, and then everything will work out.

The support of relatives is crucial so that there are no family problems, many military personnel go into depression precisely because of this. A feeling of “uselessness” in society can also lead to this state. Because it is usually believed that if a person has defects, he is no longer interesting to anyone.

The way of life a person had before the injury also matters. If a person has desires and goals in these directions, then he will be motivated to recover and do his favorite thing faster. If you were passive, it is much easier to fall into a depressive state. I had an active life before the injury, full of various hobbies – tennis, table tennis, volleyball, soccer, spearfishing, water skiing, swimming. And even now I try to be active – walk on my hands, play table tennis.

Life is interesting, full of adventures, so let’s move on.

When I first got up after the surgery I couldn’t hold my body upright, now I can walk on my hands. I am confident in my physical strength, I can even climb stairs on my hands.

I also motivate the boys to do physical activity, I say you need it, it’s your life. The better and harder you practice, the greater the result you will get.

How to get a prosthesis from the state for free?

In Ukraine, there is a state program of limb prosthetics. It sets maximum costs for prostheses depending on the level of amputation, for both military personnel and civilians.

To get a prosthesis, you need to go through several stages:

Stage 1 — application submission

The application for prosthetics must be submitted 30 days before the scheduled date of the procedure.

Stage 2 — familiarization

The employees of the Social Protection Agency or the National Social Security Administration must familiarize the veteran, or they must do it themselves if they apply through the electronic cabinet.

Stage 3 — confirmation of the application

The veteran receives a notification from the Social Protection Fund for People with Disabilities about the decision made on the possible need for additional documents (if any) and sends the generated electronic referral.

Stage 4 – contact to the prosthetics workshop

The veteran must apply to the selected workshop with a request for prosthetics, using a form approved by the Ministry of Social Policy. This can be done in person in writing or through an electronic cabinet.

Stage 5 – selection and ordering of a prosthesis

In the workshop, a prosthesis is selected, then an order or questionnaire is formed, which must be reviewed and signed. After trying on the prosthesis and making sure that it fits, the veteran again signs the order and questionnaire, and also draws up the act of acceptance and handover of works.

Stage 6 – getting a prosthesis

The veteran receives the prosthesis, along with information on its operation and a warranty card for repairs.

You can find more details and apply here.

Serhiy Soshynsky

the initiator of the #ВрятуйКінцівку (#SaveTtheLimb) program

• the president of the Health of the Ukrainian People IBF
• former adviser to the Minister of Health

Serhiy Soshynskyi is the initiator of the #ВрятуйКінцівку (#SaveTtheLimb) program, the president of the Health of the Ukrainian People IBF, former adviser to the Minister of Health. Then direct speech:

We cannot say exactly how many people lost their limbs in the war. The National Health Service of Ukraine collects statistics, but due to security issues, it is closed, which leads to significant discrepancies in the indicated figures. The openness of these statistics could contribute to an increase in funding and a more open attitude of society to the problem.

The #ВрятуйКінцівку program is aimed at complex internal prosthetics (endoprosthetics). Our task is not to lead to amputation but to ensure that a person remains with his limb. This is what makes us different from other programs.

Not all internal prostheses purchased by the Ministry of Health are suitable for patients, due to quality or specific application. That is why we are developing this direction in our program.

People who are at risk of amputation, who have a major limb injury or long-term and unsuccessful treatment, as well as those who refuse to be treated due to unexplained infections or other reasons can apply for the #ВрятуйКінцівку program. We have also now begun to invite applications from the Military Medical Commission (MMC) to submit military personnel to the program.

To do this, you should fill out the questionnaire on the fund’s website. Within three days, our service processes the questionnaires and submits them to the commission, where a decision is made on whether we will help this wounded person. We are talking about such selection criteria as the age of the victim, we help the elderly to a very limited extent because the preference goes to younger guys. Others are concomitant diseases that complicate the treatment process, the presence of alcohol or drug addiction.

In addition, we are beginning to perform psychological testing before deciding on the provision of care, since a large number of patients we treated last year returned to the front too early, when the rehabilitation period is not yet over. After that, we start working with the patient and install the necessary exoprostheses.

Our main goal is to save limbs in such a way that it is not necessary to put an external prosthesis.