Ukrainian amputees are visiting Minnesota, United States, to be fitted with new limbs and resume their lives in three short weeks, thanks to a rehabilitation clinic dedicated to helping soldiers gain their physical freedom and a ray of hope in these trying times.
“The biggest part of their success has been their determination,” says Dr. Yakov Gradinar, the chief medical officer at Protez. “That just shows their drive.”
Founded in 2022, the Protez Foundation rehabilitation clinic mainly runs on donations. So far, some 800 Ukrainians have signed up to receive new limbs, and the clinic equipped 60 people, mostly soldiers, with prosthetic devices. Unlike other clinics where rehabilitation takes months, Protez offers a program that lasts only three weeks. “It’s a greatly accelerated process: from wheelchair to walking home.” Minnesota is home to a big Ukrainian community and is doing its part in the war effort by covering the Ukrainian soldiers’ treatment, travel, and lodging costs.
