Kyrylo is an 11-year-old boy from Kherson, Ukraine who urgently needed surgery that could give him a chance to walk again.
Doctors considered several procedures including hip replacement, knee surgery, or spinal correction. The care he needed was not available locally. What followed was an extraordinary journey of courage and compassion.

In May 2022, a doctor at the Children’s Hospital in Kherson contacted Serhii Kukushkin out of concern. Kyrylo had been hospitalized, but the facility could only offer basic physical therapy. He could not stand on his feet. His days were spent in bed, with an iPad provided to help pass the time. His grandmother, Tatiana, was his only caregiver. Serhii reached out to learn more about how support could be offered.

Tatiana described how she became Kyrylo’s guardian after his parents were no longer present. “This journey began in Children’s Hospital in Kherson, where my grandson, unable to walk, was undergoing rehabilitation. When one of the pediatricians asked if she could share my contact with someone who might help, I was eager for any possibility.”

A former therapist in Germany who had helped Kyrylo before connected with friends in Salt Lake City. They offered to host the family if medical treatment could be arranged. However, Kyrylo and Tatiana lacked travel documents. Serhii assisted them in applying through the Uniting for Ukraine program. Travel was arranged from Kherson to Odessa, then on to Poland, Germany, and finally Utah. Major expenses were covered through donor support coordinated by Ukraine Children’s Aid Fund.

“Serhii contacted me to explore the possibility of arranging surgery for Kyrylo in the United States.” Tatiana explained, “I was shocked to learn this was even possible. We began gathering documents, and after my doctor allowed me to travel, we started preparing. Viktoriia, our escort from Ukraine who speaks English fluently, traveled with us and guided us through each part of the journey. She helped us understand everything from airport travel to medical appointments.”

In Salt Lake City, they were welcomed by a family with five children of their own. The hosts helped arrange transportation to appointments and provided warmth and encouragement. Kyrylo underwent surgery on November 22, 2022. By January 2023, he returned for evaluation to determine how rehabilitation might improve his mobility.

After spending nine months in the United States, they returned to Kherson in August 2023. Viktoriia again accompanied them home. Although Kyrylo still cannot walk unaided as of December 2023, he now uses a special walker that helps him move around more easily. The family currently lives with a group that includes other children, offering companionship and daily support. Kyrylo continues taking medication and is healing slowly.

“Throughout this journey, our hearts overflow with gratitude — to UCAF, to each doctor, and to everyone who helped us along the way. We know there is God — only He was able to orchestrate all this. We are so thankful, many times thankful to all these doctors, all these hosts, all these new friends, all these people who helped us!”

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