It has been a long road for 12-year-old Mykola Nzychnykovskyi, whose journey after being severely wounded in his native Ukraine has now taken him to Canada.
In August, 2015, Nzychnykovskyi stepped on an unexploded grenade in his hometown near the Russian border. He lost both his legs and an arm, also suffering wounds to his head.
His four-year-old brother was killed by the grenade.
Nzychnykovskyi was brought to Montreal late last year with the help of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation and the Shriners Hospital.
Recovery has not been easy, but Nzychnykovskyi’s mother Alla said her son has the spirit of a warrior, setting goals for himself every day and getting angry with himself if he can’t accomplish them.
He works with Sarah Cachecho, an occupational therapist to re-learn how to do everyday tasks with a prosthetic arm, which he received three weeks ago.
“He’s learned really quickly how to use his prosthesis, so when we’re doing bilateral activities where he has to use his prosthesis, he uses it pretty well,” said Cachecho.
Nzychnykovskyi has sought inspiration from his favourite superhero, Iron Man, a picture of whom is painted on one of his prosthetic legs.
“If each of us would have such a costume, we would be able to just fly and protect ourselves,” he said.
While he still has a long way to go, his doctor, Maria Laberge-Malo, praised his attitude.
“As long as he wants to play, to meet with people and go outside, everything’s going to be alright,” she said.
