Just don't give up. Social project.

I have been thinking a lot about how to describe all events of that year and my meetings with these wonderful people, I have been thinking for so long and I was struggling with the text of this article. I wanted to tell everything, not to miss any detail of  the difficult lives of the people I met but it seemed impossible to tell everything, so I left in the text only fragments of my diary that I was writing at the time.

Everything started from one message on facebook:

“Good evening. I saw your announcement that said you are searching for a model for a photo shoot. Maybe I could be an interest to you? My name is Oksana Kononets, I am a “special” model. 4 years ago an accident resulted in me being in a wheelchair. I didn’t give up and I found strengths in me to move forward and now I am building my career as a photo model. If I would be of any interest to you I would be glad to take part.”

The thing is that during that time I was searching for new faces and I often got messages but Oksana’s message was special, I felt the strength in that fragile girl, I felt her intention to move forward so I decided that I would definitely go and meet her.

Oksana Kononets, 25 years old, fracture of cervical spine as a result of falling from the 5^th floor.

Hot sunny day. Kyiv, summer, outskirts of the city. I am searching for the 9 story building amongst many similar. I think I have found the right one. Ground floor. Oksana’s mother meets me, I follow her and enter the room. A very slim and fragile girl is sitting in a wheelchair, she has lost the use of her back and has limited use of her hands, she has had many surgical procedures in the past and a difficult rehabilitation period, she has incredible power in her eyes, pureness, light.

I am sitting in front of her, we are speaking and my feelings are mixed. I’m thinking how fragile and vulnerable she is but her plans tell me something different, they are showing her strength.We are drinking tea in the sunny kitchen and Oksana is telling me about modeling, shoots and her personal photo projects. We are talking about different things like old friends.

***

During that time I was going through a difficult period in my life. Despite a new job, first solo exhibition, everything I was seeking for so long - I was sinking to the bottom. We arranged a date for the photo shoot with Oksana but I had to cancel it because I couldn’t overcome my inner state. I remember Oksana told me that it’s not a problem, that everything is going to be good, I will cope with it soon, she will wait for me  and we will  arrange our shoot when I feel better. Maybe at that moment something  switched inside of me,  a girl with disability whose life is hundred times more difficult than mine is supporting me. I decided that I will definitely tell about her and the other people who didn’t brake but kept moving forward.

Andrii Chaika, 30 years old, fracture of cervical spine as a result of diving.

Metro station, morning, frost. I’m a bit worried, I don’t know what to ask and how to act. 12^th floor and 4  flats without door numbers. I’m ringing at the first door – no answer. I’m looking around and suddenly I notice a door bell that is unusually low down the door. I’m ringing it.  A young man opens the door,  we say hello, I take off my coat and shoes. Andrii follows me to his room. Bed, wardrobe,  table and sofa. Exerciser and dumbbell in the corner. Computer on the table. “The main thing is desire -  Andrii says, you can learn everything when you want, especially nowadays because we have internet”. Andrii works as a programmer.

            Andrii’s mother is serving us tea. We are talking about different things, about difficulties, joyful moments, about dreams and goals. Everyday rehabilitation, workouts and a great desire to recover, helped Andrii to improve his physical state, he has become more independent and  believed in himself. Now Andrii engages in swimming and regulary attends the gym which is located two kilometers from his home, Andrii gets there by his wheelchair on his own. And now I have to go, I have a very pleasant feeling inside of me thanks to our meeting, I could hardly describe it.

Elina Okolit, 22 years, lower limbs paraparesis as a complication after neuroinfection in infant age.

Her name is Elina. She says she is grateful for what fate has dealt her and at first it is difficult to believe, unless you can see her eyes filled with happiness. To help other people, to make the world better and kinder, to have a family and to bring up her own children – those are the dreams of this sunny girl.

We met in a café on Artema street. Elya ordered her favourite sea buckthorn tea, sun rays were flowing from the large windows and were playing on her face. Elya sat back in the comfortable chair and started telling me about her dogs, about photography and education, visits to Lviv and I completely forgot that Elya can’t stand or walk on her feet. A smile was shining on her face but in my thoughts I was somewhere in one of those Lviv cafes from her tale, and at the same time some feeling was growing inside of me, that I’m doing something wrong in my life, that I can’t smile like Elya, can’t see joy in usual things. I understood that I want to learn from Elya to see the world like she sees it.

Viktor Barbinyagra, 30 years old, Cerebral Pulsy: hearing, vision and movement disorders.

All of us sometimes have unlucky days. On one of those days, with all my thoughts plunged into my problems I was driving to meet Vitya. We have already knew each other in social networks but I have never met him in real life. It was sunny and warm outside. Month of May. I arrived at the place, made a call to Vitya and he said he will come down to the square soon. I had that light excitement before the first meeting, feeling probably familiar to everyone. I always try to look through physical problems of people with disabilities but I couldn’t not to notice how difficult it is for Vitya to walk. He has a long story that has begun from his premature birth. Cerebral Palsy contains multiple problems which includes hearing, vision and movement disorders. As Vitya says, there were different life situations, but now he is happy person, and believe me, looking at him I am definitely sure about that. It is difficult to believe unless you can see. We were talking in the park sitting on a bench and Vitya was telling me about his childhood, school and college years, work, rowing and him winning in swimming competitions. He also told me about his favourite hobby – rock climbing. And then we decided to go to a climbing wall halfway across the city.

***

A year and a half has passed from the time of our first meetings, since then we met many times and became friends and keep on communicating. Each of us is making their own little steps forward. And when life gives us challenges, I often think, we don’t have the right to give up, even when it is so complicated.