Inspiring The Disabled In Ukraine

By Tengku Faezah Tengku Yusof This second of a two-part article on a disabled Ukrainian with a penchant for travelling highlights how he is inspiring other people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives. KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- “If people like me were to sit in our wheelchair aimlessly the whole day, we are only taking away invaluable moments from our life. "This is a real pity because this life that we have is the most treasured thing that exists in the world," declared Mykola Podrezan, an engineer from Ukraine who is now fulfilling his passion for travelling and inspiring fellow disabled people in his homeland to lead meaningful lives. Bernama met up with Podrezan, 66, at the Ukrainian Embassy, here, early last month when he visited Malaysia for two weeks as part of his Southeast Asian tour. Podrezan, who became paralysed waist downwards after being involved in a serious road accident in 1991, said while it is normal for people who suddenly lose their mobility to go into a long period of depression, he did not allow it to happen to him. His wife Nataliya Griaznova, 53, who is a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician and accompanies her husband whenever he travels, said many of her disabled patients were in despair when they realised that they would have to be in a wheelchair for the rest of their lives. “But Podrezan never showed any signs of depression. He is always a centre of laughter and positive emotions. He never said that life was over for him,” she said. THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE Podrezan, the founder of the Kiev, Ukraine-based IP Fund Charitable Foundation for the Disabled, said: "When I found myself in a wheelchair, I was already 38. I understood that we, the disabled, have to prove to the healthy that we are completely full-fledged people." He also said that he could not afford to feel depressed as he had elderly parents and he did not want to be a burden to them. "And, I believe that man should remain strong even during his weakest moments,” he added. Recalling the tragedy that changed his life, Podrezan said it happened in the evening of Nov 18, 1991, when he was travelling in a car driven by his friend along a new highway in Talinn, the capital of Estonia. "We were moving downhill when suddenly the headlights of a car on the opposite lane blinded our driver. Without realising it, our car plunged into a ravine about five metres deep. “Our car overturned and rolled down for another eight metres. It was just like a Hollywood action movie! All I can remember is the car suddenly falling down, the rumbling noise and my friend screaming." Podrezan said he felt a sharp pain in his back and realised that he could not move his legs. The rescue team finally came and took him and his friend to the hospital, where he underwent surgery the same night as he had fractured his spine. UKRAINE'S FIRST REHABILITATION CENTRE Returning to his hometown Kiev -- the capital of Ukraine -- the wheelchair-bound Podrezan faced every obstacle imaginable that limited his movements in public places. "There were only stairs (no ramps) and no specially-adapted toilets and special facilities to accommodate wheelchairs in public places and public transport. "But the main problem then was the attitude of the people, society and the government towards me as they viewed me as a second-class citizen,” he said. Not willing to be relegated to the status of a second-class citizen and lead a non-productive life, Podrezan and his wife set out to change the people's attitude towards the disabled community by opening a rehabilitation centre in Kiev in 1995 to help the disabled to become more independent. It was the first-ever rehabilitation centre to be set up in Ukraine, which had gained its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. "Our rehabilitation centre opened a new world (of opportunities) for the disabled," said Podrezan. CHANGING MINDSETS IN ONLY 10 DAYS His centre has been doing well in providing physical and social rehabilitation to people with disabilities. More remarkable is the effects of its 10-day intensive course to improve the psychological well-being of the disabled. Once they stop wallowing in self-pity and adopt a positive frame of mind, they start looking at the world differently and become convinced that they can be as successful as their able-bodied counterparts.  According to Podrezan, a person has to go through three stages after becoming disabled. The first stage, just after being involved in a serious accident, will see the person fighting for his life and being hospitalised. The second stage is when the person has to encounter all kinds of challenges to get his life back in order. The third stage is when the person has successfully overcome the first two stages and finds joy in helping others. "Based on my experience, if you make an effort to overcome the various challenges coming your way, I believe you can get back your life 100 percent and enjoy living. "I'm now in the third stage and I find joy in helping people to successfully overcome the first two stages," he said, adding that the people he has helped in the past are now helping others to get their lives back on track. THE STORY OF NATALKA OSAULENKO Narrating the story of Natalka Osaulenko, who is now 40, Podrezan said she was a university student from Romny in Ukraine's Sumy region when she met with an accident that left her with a broken spine. "For almost two years she did not leave her house. She dropped out of university and spent her days doing nothing but watching television. Her parents were in total despair." Osaulenko eventually underwent the 10-day intensive course at Podrezan's rehabilitation centre in Kiev. The same day she returned home after the course, her mother telephoned Podrezan and asked in a sobbing voice: "What have you done to her? She has returned as a completely different person. She is back to life again!" Six months later, Osaulenko participated in the Miss Wheelchair Ukraine competition and was crowned 'Miss Wheelchair Ukraine 2000'. Later, she worked as an instructor at Podrezan's centre and helped others who shared the same fate as her. Today, she has two university degrees and is married and has two sons. And, for the last 15 years, she has been working as the director of a municipality centre for early rehabilitation for children with disabilities. "We have a lot of success stories among those who came to our centre. Some of them were even suicidal before meeting us," added Podrezan. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA