It’s incredible how life can sometimes lead you exactly where you need to be. For Mark and me, that moment came when I was sitting in line at the village council office. I was there to gather documents for my daughter, just another mundane errand. But as I waited, I overheard two women talking about their children, children with disabilities. Their words grabbed my attention, and I couldn’t help but listen closely.
I soon discovered that one of the women was coordinating humanitarian aid for eight villages in the Vitov region of Mykolaiv. After a brief conversation, I felt compelled to reach out and ask her more. Before long, she organized a meeting with seven parents, each one caring for a child with a disability—children with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, tumors, and other life-altering conditions.
When we met, it became clear that they were not just sharing their struggles—they were sharing their concerns. In their eyes, we could see a glimmer of something rare: hope—hope that their children could receive the help they so desperately needed. But Mark and I knew that the true hope to help them was not in our own abilities but in God’s hands and guidance.
Within just a week, Mark and I visited several families. We met their children, listened to their stories, and saw firsthand the challenges they face every day. Our hearts were filled with compassion and a sense of urgency. What could we possibly do to help?
One visit stands out, and it will stay with me forever. We met a family whose eldest son, Daniel, has endured unimaginable suffering since birth. Due to a medical error during delivery, Daniel was left with severe disabilities. At 12 years old, his life has been confined to a bed, with only brief moments spent in a stroller when he was younger. He can’t walk and can barely speak—only able to utter “mom” and “dad.” His ability to eat is limited to liquids and pureed food. Every day, his parents grind his meals with a blender to keep him nourished.
The burden on this family is immense. Diapers alone are a constant expense, yet they are an absolute necessity. Daniel’s father works two jobs to provide for the family, but it is never enough. The mother’s hands are worn from grinding food, and her heart is heavy with the weight of her son’s needs. But when we visited, we brought with us not just compassion, but tangible help. Thanks to our generous sponsors’ support, we provided a month’s worth of diapers and wet wipes for Daniel. We also purchased a high-quality blender that would last far longer than the affordable, lesser quality ones they had tried before.
The family’s gratitude was overwhelming. They expressed thanks that went far beyond the material help—we had brought them a moment of relief, a small bit of peace amidst their struggle.
Another family we visited had a different story, but one that was just as heart-wrenching. Timor, a 15-year-old boy with Down Syndrome, lives with his mother and grandmother in a long village. His mother works long hours in Mykolaiv, so his grandmother cares for Timor day in and day out. Timor has undergone several surgeries for a cleft palate, and his life, too, has limits. He is entirely dependent on the adults around him for supervision and care. The family’s life revolves around the confines of their small home, and leaving it is an ordeal. When we arrived at the meeting, Timor and his grandmother had traveled twenty minutes by bus to attend—an exhausting journey on a cramped, crowded bus.
As we spoke with them, we could see their daily struggles, but we also saw something else—hope. We realized we could help bring a small but significant change to Timor’s life. We purchased a seven-speed manual tricycle, allowing him to explore his surroundings like never before. It might seem like a small gift, but it was nothing short of a miracle to Timor and his family.
The joy and gratitude in their eyes when Timor took his first ride were indescribable. For the first time, Timor could move beyond the limits of his home, experiencing a small taste of freedom. His mother and grandmother told us that receiving the tricycle was a miracle—a gift that would transform his life in ways they never imagined. Now, he rides the tricycle to the store with his grandmother at his side. The groceries fit nicely in the basket. Timor pedals proudly, as the community looks on.
As we left their home, we couldn’t help but reflect on the deep need in these villages. There is much more to be done, and we can’t do it alone. But with God’s guidance and the support of compassionate individuals, we can continue to bring hope to these children and their families—one gift at a time.
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