Lost Mother in Russian Airstrike, 45% Total Body Burns
Returns to School After 31 Major Surgeries
Ukrainian boy Roman Oleksiyu (8) overcoming injury and returning to perform the tango dance Photo by Reuters - Yonhap News
An 8-year-old boy who suffered burns on half of his body from a Russian airstrike and was fighting for his life has successfully undergone what seemed like an impossible rehabilitation and has returned to school, inspiring many.
On the 5th (local time), major foreign media reported that Roman Oleksiy, who sustained severe injuries to his entire body in a Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Vinnytsia last July, has returned to school. Roman suffered burns on more than 45% of his body, including his face, had shrapnel embedded in his head, and his arm was broken. His mother, who was with him during the airstrike, died.
After receiving emergency treatment at a hospital in Lviv, Roman was transferred to a specialized burn hospital in Dresden, Germany. Over the course of about a year, he underwent 31 surgeries and rehabilitation treatments, and recently returned to daily life and resumed attending school.
To protect his burn wounds, Roman had to wear blue compression bandages on his face, head, and hands while attending school, but he actively participates in class, raising his hand to answer questions.
On the 2nd, he also participated in a dance competition held in a large auditorium near his school. Wearing a white shirt and a bow tie, Roman led his partner in performing the tango and Charleston, a type of social dance. He also played the bayan, a type of accordion keyboard instrument. Enthusiastic cheers erupted as he received a participation certificate and medal.
Roman will need to regularly travel to Dresden for ongoing treatment and will require several more years of difficult procedures, including hair transplantation and ear correction.
Nevertheless, Roman’s father said, "If we solve things step by step, everything will turn out well," adding, "Roman is a fantastic boy. What matters is not what he has been through, but how he moves forward." He also expressed hope that Roman will continue to grow and develop himself with the strength he has now, asking for support for his son’s future.
Meanwhile, last year, 2,985 children were reported dead in 24 countries experiencing war and conflict, including Ukraine. The damage to children is expected to increase further due to the Israel-Hamas war and the nearly two-year-long Ukraine conflict.
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