The Book of Consolations
He made them stronger.
Andreyka’s illness is a fatal coincidence. His mother lost consciousness during childbirth, it was too late to have a caesarean section, and doctors had to apply a vacuum. The consequences were irreparable - cerebral palsy, spastic tetraparesis, mental retardation. For the Karamulen family, a new stage of life has come, a difficult and long way to rehabilitate their son. Now the main task is to put him on his feet and teach him to walk. Svetlana Khisamova tells about the winner of the title "Mrs. Ukraine Universe - 2014" Anna Solntseva about Andrei Karamulin.
"Hard story." Can you imagine a young family waiting for their firstborn son. According to all indications, the child is as healthy as his mother. And here is such a fatal coincidence of circumstances and the human factor. How can his mother live with this?
- When I was expecting a baby, I refused to do an extra chromosome test, which determines the possible birth of a baby with Down’s disease. I know a lot of mothers who do the same. That is, I needed MY child, and there were no questions about whether I would accept him healthy or make him healthy in the process of upbringing. Andryusha’s mother was sent a special child, but they are both alive. What does it mean: "How to live with it?". Happy to live with your special son. Such children immediately determine the further course of events for their parents - the maximum focus on their health.
- Do you have acquaintances with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy? What supports them?
- My friends have an older girl with cerebral palsy, and the younger twins are healthy. They jokingly call the older Katya special, and the younger "ordinary". The younger ones adore the older sister, whose success in rehabilitation went "seven miles" with the arrival of the baby. I also have a childhood friend with cerebral palsy, we are still friends today. He has a family, he is a famous programmer. So I think as soon as little Andryusha takes the first steps in his rehabilitation, he will have a chance to meet his younger brother or sister.
- I knew one family where there is such a child. And have I always been struck by the willpower and inexhaustible optimism of these people? Where do you think this comes from? Where do such families draw strength from?
- The families I know are loving moms and dads, the birth of a special child only united them. They are happy, strong, loved and set an example to other families. To be honest, I don’t even really appreciate it as a test, because what right do I have to think about another person’s happiness? I am happy to share the happiness of parents of children with Down syndrome. These children are so kind, responsive, they are our real teachers. Everyone gets better and brighter with these people. I do not understand people at all who look at the parents of such children with sympathy. And children with cerebral palsy are real fighters! They allow us to rejoice in each of their achievements, and with them to become stronger, more enduring, nobler. When Katya, the daughter of friends, combed her hair for the first time, our joy knew no bounds. Looking at the baby, I realized I can do anything too. Can you imagine ?!
- Andryusha needs constant rehabilitation to learn to stand and walk. Parents’ resources are depleted. What do you think could be the program to support such families?
- It is clear that today only private foundations are able to provide financial assistance to parents of special children. And we take it for granted. Mothers of special children become such professionals in the field of treatment and rehabilitation of their babies that they become high-quality instructors for children with such problems.
- As "Mrs. Ukraine Universe", you probably participated in charity projects. What is charity for you?
- I cooperate with many charitable foundations, sometimes marveling at the ingenuity and dedication of the leaders of these foundations. A lot of work, a lot of programs… But our compatriots easily respond to the need to raise a certain amount for a particular case. In the last year, I think people have become more generous. And the word "volunteer" no longer causes a puzzled look. Probably, kindness and generosity are the reverse side of the current crisis, when all good things become more noticeable.