On July 23, five Ukrainian soldiers, seriously wounded in the war with Russia, arrived at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, as part of a local program to fit them with artificial limbs. The soldiers were met by members of Northeast’s Ukrainian-American community, many carrying Ukrainian flags and wearing traditional clothing, who would soon welcome them into their homes while the soldiers received state-of-the-art treatment here.
The trip was made possible by the Protez Foundation, a local organization that launched Prosthetics for Ukrainians, a project designed to help Ukrainians (soldiers, civilians, adults and children) who have lost limbs get free prosthetics in the United States.
The project was the brainchild of Yakov Gradinar, a certified prosthetist and market president of the Minneapolis branch of Limb Lab, a prosthetics and orthotics firm with eight locations around the country. Gradinar, a 2007 Ukrainian émigré (where he was an orthopedic surgeon), said losing a limb was like losing a family member, and that being able to help soldiers who were wounded fighting for his family and his country was exciting and satisfying.
On Aug. 7, Gradinar and a team of specialists gave the soldiers their first fittings for the devices they would soon wear. This was followed by a fundraising dinner later that day at the Ukrainian American Community Center, where more than 300 people filled the ballroom to meet the new arrivals. After traditional Ukrainian food and music, the attendees saw an emotional video that told the story of how one of the soldiers present lost his leg on the battlefield.
Gradinar said it ordinarily takes two or more months to walk or run on prostheses unassisted, but the patients may be able to shorten that timetable. The soldiers have expressed their eagerness to return to active duty, if possible. Gradinar added that 395 Ukrainians have requested prosthetics from his clinic.
The Protez Foundation’s website lists the goals of their Prosthetics for Ukrainians project as free prosthetics for those who lost their limbs as a result of the war and covering all financial needs for a person to get prosthetics, including visa fees, lodging, and the prosthetics. Once in the USA, their volunteers host patients and help with basic orientation, logistics and psychological support for the emotional recovery of victims. Another objective is to unite as many people as possible to help victims of war. The project’s immediate goal is to raise $1.5 million to help at least the first 100 Ukrainian children, soldiers and civilians. Each prosthetic costs between $5,000 and $15,000, which doesn’t include the work of prosthetics specialists.
Gradinar said that in addition to making the clinical work possible, Prosthetics for Ukrainians holds fundraising events and employs news outlets and social media, adding, “One of our goals is to take each group of soldiers to different states so they can see more of the U.S. and more people can see the real results of war in Ukraine.”
He asks people to visit the Limb Lab, 1206 Harmon Place, Minneapolis, during fitting days to witness the process, to help with translation, to bring food, and, “to just cheer amputees on during their first steps.”
On Saturday, Aug. 17, five soldiers and two children, all prosthetics recipients, attended the 21st Ukrainian Fest at the Ukrainian American Community Center (UACC) at 301 Main Street NE.
Paul Jablonsky, UACC president, said the August 17 fundraiser brought in $15,000; since the beginning of the war in February, UACC has raised more than $500,000 for Ukrainian causes.
On Thursday, August 29, a third group of soldiers who received treatment departed for Ukraine, around the same time a fourth group arrived in Minneapolis.
Below: Four Ukrainian soldiers and two children, recipients of prosthetics from the Protez Foundation, visited the 21st Ukrainian Fest on Aug. 17. In front are Artem and Alex. Back: Stas, Pavlo, Ivan and Danylo. (Photo by Mark Peterson)
