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I Felt It Was My Duty to Help 

Written by steve.boles on . Posted in Disability Services.

Right after I gave birth to my little girl, I had a visit from the hospital psychologist. She said quite bluntly:

“You can leave her here … if you want.”

 Mothers who give birth to children with disabilities still hear this kind of advice quite often from the medical community.

Fast forward two years:  Tonya came to MTU with Vera, her precious little daughter with Down Syndrome.  And she had lots of questions in her mind.

MTU Christmas Party For Preschoolers 2012

MTU Christmas Party For Preschoolers 2012

 “We visited Mission To Ukraine with Vera when she was 2 years old. I was very confused. I couldn’t imagine what our lives would look like going forward. My husband and I both were shocked – it was our first experience with Down syndrome. First question: Why did it happen to us? Why did our family have to face it? Second: What did we do wrong? Third: Was it a curse from God?”

“As soon as we entered Mission To Ukraine’s office the people working there welcomed us and embraced our child.  They didn’t know me.  I didn’t know them.  But my child was accepted with love.  And Vera responded in the same manner. This is when the question of my child’s future, that for two years had tortured my husband and me, disappeared. I realized that there is a future for her.”

 Little Vera needed help from the rehabilitation team.

 “They provided physical therapy, occupational therapy, social rehabilitation, massages, and sensory room experiences. Vera started walking! She started to understand the world she lived in.”

Tonya and Vera at the MTU Overnight Summer CampTonya and Vera at the MTU Overnight Summer Camp

It was the warm welcome and much needed rehabilitation that helped Tonya and her husband see the world with a new perspective.

“I realized: ‘Hey, Tonya, for two years you just abused yourself (if I may say so) and stormed yourself psychologically.’  I viewed myself as miserable and unfortunate. But then I saw there were families that faced harder challenges; their children had much more severe disabilities.   I felt it was my duty to help them.”

Being a journalist, Tonya uses every opportunity to highlight the success of children with disabilities, to attract attention to the challenges their families face, and to cover charitable initiatives in support of people with disabilities. 

Highlighting Services for Children With Severe Disabilities in 2019Highlighting Services for Children With Severe Disabilities in 2019

“I will never forget a young man in a wheelchair by the name of Vanya. He dreamt of going to the sea – and we saw his dream come true in just 30 minutes. We made a video of that experience – and he watches it literally every day. He says it gives him joy and encouragement. And, to top it all off, when other people watched that video, they got inspired to do good and help others. One family bought a specialized bed for an MTU client, while another brought dozens of jars of honey to distribute to families in need at MTU.”

Featuring Zhitomir Paraolympic Champion Katya KudriavtsevaFeaturing Zhitomir Paraolympic Champion Katya Kudriavtseva

“Today I work as a journalist at Suspilne.ua.  I see myself as a successful mother and a journalist – thanks to my family, the staff at Mission To Ukraine who helped me understand that Vera has a future, and the school where Vera studies in her 3rd grade.

And my biggest achievement, I would say:

“I have learned to love. I realized that it is better to give than to receive.”

Thanks to your support of Mission To Ukraine, dear friends, not only do children with disabilities receive critical help they need, but their parents receive power to give back to their communities.