Burned 7-year-old survivor of Russian missile attack on Vinnytsia returns home
A 7-year-old boy who suffered burns over nearly half of his body in a Russian air strike on Vinnytsia has returned home after over a year of treatment in Germany, according to the First Medical Association of Lviv on Sept. 19.
At the time of the attack, doctors could give no guarantee that Roman Oleksiv would survive his injuries.
Read also: Deadly Russian missile strike at Vinnytsia kills 23, wounds more than 117 (UPDATED)
Roman's mother was killed in the attack, and his father was torn between organizing his wife's funeral and saving his son. Roman could not get the necessary medical help in Vinnytsia, so he was taken to Lviv, but even there, doctors were not sure he would survive.
"He arrived in a very serious condition. In fact, he was critical. We did everything we could, especially our ICU and anesthesiologists. We hoped he would survive. But we thought that most likely he would not even survive to be transported abroad," recalls Lesya Strylka, a resident burns specialist.
Doctors had to stabilize his condition and prepare him for transport abroad for specialist treatment. After a week, they were successful, and Roman was subsequently cleared to travel to Dresden.
Read also: Young Ukrainian gymnast wins gold medal after losing leg in Russian missile strike
"In Germany, Roman underwent surgery three times a week. They removed non-viable tissue, glass, and muscle fragments from his leg, replaced his eardrum, and performed numerous skin grafts. Every day, they tried to save him. Then a miracle happened a second time," the First Medical Association of Lviv said in a press release.
"The boy, whose chances of survival were minimal, recovered. In Dresden, for the first time since his injury, he opened his eyes and took his first steps—in front of his father, who had already lost his wife and could not lose his son."
Now, a year later, Roman and his father have returned to Ukraine where the boy is undergoing rehabilitation. His life is no longer in danger, but the child will have to wear a special compression mask to minimize scarring.
Read also: Six-year-old boy killed, brother seriously injured in Russian artillery attack
The First Medical Association of Lviv has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase specialist machinery to ensure that Ukrainian hospitals can help patients during rehabilitation, including Roman.
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
