In dark times real heroes appear. These are not legendary figures, but ordinary people who show great strength and bravery. This story is about these people—both those who need help and those who give it.
Kateryna Zinovieva, a physical and rehabilitation medicine physician, is a doctor who helps people recover. She leads a multidisciplinary team at the Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology in Uzhhorod and sees many inspiring recovery stories. Each one stays with her.
Since the start of the full-scale war, the number of patients who have lost mobility because of injuries has grown a lot. These patients include children and adults, men and women. They are ordinary people from cities and villages, as well as soldiers, medics, rescuers, utility workers, postal workers, pharmacists, shop assistants, and police officers.
We spoke with Dr. Kateryna, who sees how people fight to recover and live full lives again. Here, doctors and patients work together to persevere during the war, and they will continue even after the war ends.
Your Pain is My Pain
Working in medical rehabilitation facility demands great strength from doctors. They often treat patients who are deeply saddened, carrying emotional wounds as heavy as their physical ones. Many have lost their homes, loved ones, and their ability to live independently. Sometimes, they’ve lost hope for life itself.
Encouraging these patients to undergo rehabilitation can be tough. In their despair, they might act in unexpected ways, even aggressively. Emotional pain can spread from one person to another, but doctors mustn’t let it affect them.
Listening to patients’ stories and tragedies can be tough emotionally. We try to stay detached, but it’s hard not to feel connected. Helping from a distance is challenging
Kateryna Zinovieva
physical and rehabilitation medicine physicianDoctors must stay composed and firm, ensuring the best decisions are made and the patient feels safe. But not feeling the patient’s pain is hard.
In these situations, practical knowledge is key. The support of psychologists and social workers is invaluable, both for the patient and their family. Loved ones provide the strongest support, giving patients the motivation to keep fighting.
Life Through Knowledge
Another significant challenge in the work of rehabilitation centers is the lack of qualified medical staff.
The main problem in rehabilitation centers is the shortage of trained professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, social workers, case managers, and psychologists
Kateryna Zinovieva
physical and rehabilitation medicine physicianThe training of specialists, organized and funded by the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” has been a great help to the Uzhhorod Regional Clinical Center. Significant work has been done: the entire multidisciplinary team underwent training in the use of shockwave therapy and contact diathermy devices, funded by the Foundation. Separate training was conducted for orthopedic department staff on ultrasound diagnostics and electroneuromyography. Now, they can make more accurate diagnoses, improving patients’ chances of recovery. Additionally, some injection techniques can now be performed under ultrasound guidance, significantly improving the effectiveness of procedures.
The training of specialists, organized and funded by the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” has been a great help to the Uzhhorod Regional Clinical Center. Significant work has been done: the entire multidisciplinary team underwent training in the use of shockwave therapy and contact diathermy devices, funded by the Foundation. Separate training was conducted for orthopedic department staff on ultrasound diagnostics and electroneuromyography. Now, they can make more accurate diagnoses, improving patients’ chances of recovery. Additionally, some injection techniques can now be performed under ultrasound guidance, significantly improving the effectiveness of procedures.
The work of multidisciplinary team at the Uzhhorod Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology never stops. Many patients are getting rehabilitation at the same time here, and having quality equipment is as important as having skilled medical staff.
Since the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” began providing assistance in 2023, the list of equipment has significantly expanded. The total number of patients who have successfully undergone rehabilitation using the new equipment has reached nearly 400. That’s 400 lives, 400 families, 400 individual stories of struggle!
In the last 12 months, the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” has donated nine specialized rehabilitation medical devices worth 4,725,500 UAH (approx. 121,000$), including:
● Computerized electroneuromyographic complex “M-TEST ONE 8”;
● Diathermy therapy device Physioled Therma;
● Shockwave therapy device Physioled Onda;
● Rehabilitation device MOTOmed loop.Ia for legs and arms;
● Rehabilitation device MOTOmed layson.Ia for legs and arms;
● Hand rehabilitation device SY-HR06E;
● Passive elbow rehabilitation device Fisiotek LT;
● Passive wrist rehabilitation device Fisiotek LT;
● Diagnostic ultrasound system Vscan Air CL.
Thanks to this advanced medical equipment, it is now possible to examine patients with limited mobility without referring them to other facilities. The result is a saving of time and effort for patients and noticeable progress in the rehabilitation process.
Do You Believe in Miracles?
I believe not in miracles, but in the power of the human spirit. Miracles happen when people work hard and keep going. If someone is motivated, believes in themselves, and has support from loved ones, amazing recoveries can happen.
Kateryna Zinovieva
physical and rehabilitation medicine physicianSometimes, patients do not want to communicate or accept help. For example, Olena, an elderly woman from Bakhmut, was nearly immobile and very discouraged. It took a lot of courage and tears for her to decide to undergo rehabilitation at the Center. However, once she focused her strong will on getting better instead of resisting, she made amazing progress. She continued her treatment at other places and even went abroad. Specialists at a rehabilitation center there said she had made the best recovery possible.
To stay motivated, it’s important to set realistic goals. These goals need to be reachable so the patients can see they’re making progress. They’re not vague like “get better and walk”. Instead, they’re practical, like being able to take care of yourself or walk to the store.
But for many patients, setting these goals is hard. They might see rehabilitation as a miracle. They start with simple tasks like turning over in bed, sitting up, learning to use a spoon, or walking steadily. Even these simple tasks can be tough because they involve dealing with pain and feeling hopeless.
Modern Medical Equipment Gives Hope to Patients!
Surprisingly, high-quality equipment doesn’t just help with quick and accurate diagnoses and important procedures. It also boosts the motivation of both patients and doctors. When patients see skilled specialists using advanced technology, they believe more strongly in a good result. And they’re right: better equipment means better care, more options for treatment, and better results in rehabilitation.
But not all medical centers in Ukraine have access to high-quality equipment. Charitable foundations play a big role in helping rehabilitation centers and hospitals. They fund buying equipment and training medical staff to use it.
This article is based on an interview with Kateryna Zinovieva, a physician specializing in physical and rehabilitation medicine and the head of the multidisciplinary team at the Uzhhorod Regional Clinical Center.
Foundation’s Impact for Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology in Uzhhorod Overview
In the past 12 months, the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” has provided significant assistance to the Regional Clinical Center of Neurosurgery and Neurology in Uzhhorod, amounting to 4,725,500 UAH (approx. 121,000$). Additionally, in the near future, two more devices will be delivered: the Fisiotek 3000 TS for general passive rehabilitation and the Fisiotek LT for passive shoulder rehabilitation, totaling 881,950 UAH (approx. 22,615$). Moreover, four units of medical equipment worth 1,526,100 UAH (approx. 39,150$) have already been contracted and paid for (Manualex M12 – a multifunctional table for hand rehabilitation, CycleMotus B2L – a bedside system for active and passive training of the lower extremities, Master Dynamic Active Plus LS-180 – a parapodium, Fisiotek 3000 TS – a passive rehabilitation device) for another hospital in Uzhhorod, namely, the City Multidisciplinary Clinical Hospital of the Uzhhorod City Council, where the rehabilitation department is also expanding.
Over the past 20 months, the foundation has spent 21,110,568 UAH (approx. 541,300$) on medical projects.
Today, the Charitable foundation “Social Projects Center of Future” continues its mission and seeks partners to finance new medical initiatives. The strategy of the foundation’s medical program focuses on the restoration of human capital in Ukraine. The main goals of the rehabilitation projects are to restore the maximum number of lost functions to individuals and to ensure comprehensive resocialization. This work is crucial—helping people recover from severe injuries, regain skills that ensure autonomy, and lead a full life. Unfortunately, as of today, tens of thousands of people in Ukraine need such assistance. Without proper and timely rehabilitation, most injured individuals will not be able to return to a full life.
This is an investment not only in the future of the patients and their families but also in the future of the nation. Every new confident movement, every new step, or newly mastered function is another smile through tears and strong hugs with the words: we believed you could do it!
