Anya
Frequent sirens and bombings in Odessa and Chornomorsk have compelled the parents of four children to turn their large basement into a living space. This family lives near a seaport, and getting their child to the clinic for massage therapy involves a long journey. Therefore, Dr. Natalia now visits them in their basement to provide massage therapy and exercises for little Anya.
Anya is the fourth child in her family and was born prematurely at 34 weeks. She experienced breathing difficulties and required intensive care treatment from the doctor. Anya is facing delays in developing her motor skills.
Her mother recognizes the importance of early intervention for her child’s development. For over fifteen years, the MUCH mission has focused on preventing minor problems from becoming larger ones. Anya’s mother has requested that Dr. Natalia continue to provide massage therapy for her baby.
Katya
Katya was born as a refugee in Germany in August 2024, suffering from an epidural hematoma. Seven months later, she and her mother returned to southern Ukraine. Dr. Natalia provided Katya with a ten-day course of massage therapy and physiotherapy. Following this treatment, Katya began to roll over and kneel, abilities she had not demonstrated before. Time will reveal how this program aimed at reprogramming Katya’s brain will progress. The MUCH mission is seeing great results for children with specific rehabilitation needs during their first year. Congenital disabilities remain common in Ukraine, aligning with the global average of 3% of births.
Phillip
As children grow older and gain weight, it becomes increasingly difficult for parents to bring them to the clinic for treatment. Dr. Natalia provides massage therapy to some children with disabilities in their homes. For instance, Phillip has a severe disability from birth, and this year, his mother is unable to bring him to the clinic. Therefore, Dr. Natalia visits their home to provide care. Thanks to your support, teenagers with disabilities can receive massage therapy in the comfort of their homes.
Dr. Natalia also conducts training sessions for parents. Using a soft toy, she demonstrates techniques to relieve muscle tension in children. In the two or three months between massage courses, parents can maintain the proper condition of their child’s muscles to preserve the benefits of the massage therapy. Parents record videos of her training sessions to ensure they remember the techniques, allowing them to perform the methods correctly for their children.
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