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Ukrainian youths find new limbs in Florida

BY LUISA YANEZ, Miami Herald

Betrayed since birth by deformed legs that can’t support her, Ukrainian Nataliya Nikolenko gets around on her belly, pushing herself with her hands on something that resembles a mechanic's dolly used to get under cars. Any other position brings pain.

Now, she is in Miami looking to fulfill her dream.

"My life's dream is to be able to sit up – that would be wonderful," she said Monday at Miami Seaquarium, where she and eight other young people from her country – all with personal tragedies that left them needing limbs – came to swim with dolphins.

With big grins on their faces, the Eastern European visitors – ranging in age from 9 to 21 – fed, kissed and played with the park's performing dolphins.

The pigtailed Nikolenko, 21, who grew up in an orphanage, had to be lowered into the water by chaperons. She gingerly touched the dolphins.

"I knew about dolphins, but never dreamed I would see one so close up," she said later.

Today, the group heads to Orlando to receive new prostheses, thanks, in part, to the efforts of U.S. Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, a Miami Republican.

Among those in line for new artificial limbs are Pavlo Satsyuk, 17, and Stepan Hnyda, 11, victims of farm machinery accidents.

"One day when I was little, I was helping my grandfather in the field and I got my hand caught," said Pavlo, who speaks broken English. Medical efforts to save his right arm failed, and it was eventually amputated to the elbow.

Stepan had a similar experience. About a year ago, one of his arms became caught in farming machinery. He instinctively used his other arm to try to free himself, but ended up losing both arms, his chaperon said.

Lubov Mashlevska, 18, lost part of her arm and hand in a fire that also left her scarred.

Viktor Semerenko, 17, was born missing both arms, and Nikoloi Kovol, 19, is without a hand, a deformity he hides with his pants pocket.

"I can tell you for sure that the quality of life for these kids will improve," said Dr. Taras Tkachuk, a doctor who traveled to the United States with the patients hoping to learn new techniques. "They will become more self-sufficient and be able to do more for themselves – without sticking out in society."

Oleh Shamshur, Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, came from Washington to thank the American people and the Cuban community in Miami for their help.

"They could receive prostheses in our country, but it would not be top-notch," he said.

While the others are in Orlando adjusting to their new limbs, Nikolenko will remain behind in Miami for an evaluation today with doctors and surgeons at the University of Miami School of Medicine. They will determine what can be done for her.

"She is our most challenging project," Díaz-Balart said. "We hope to get good news for Nataliya."

Depending on the prognosis, Nikolenko will either go home and return later, or remain behind in Miami for any needed surgery.

The group heads back to Ukraine on Monday – after a visit to Disney World in Orlando.

The idea of helping the Ukrainian youngsters began in 2005, when Díaz-Balart was part of a delegation visiting the former communist stronghold.

"We wanted to help and asked what we could do," Díaz-Balart said.

Ukrainian first lady Kateryna Yushchenko, who is involved in Ukraine 3000 International Charitable Fund, a children's charity, had an idea:

Perhaps Americans could help fit Ukraine's toughest cases of young people needing prostheses.

Díaz-Balart jumped at the chance. Twenty children were identified by the Ukrainian charity to travel to the United States.

The prostheses are being donated by the Hanger Orthopedic Group and Otto Bock Healthcare in Orlando. Local members of Cuba Democracy Advocates are paying other costs, and Miami-Dade County families are hosting the youths.

"There are no tax dollars involved," the congressman said.

Díaz-Balart and his wife, Cristina, took in one of the teenagers.

So did state Rep. David Rivera and his family. Rivera is a Republican who represents parts of Miami-Dade and Collier counties.

They said they were amazed at how the lack of arms or hands doesn't deter the youths.

"They use their feet... to do the things we do with our hands. It's amazing," Rivera said. "But watching them puts in perspective the blessing we have in our country and in our personal life."