By Olga Dubanyevich
[A true story recited below in video by the author, over two years since the war]
Six-year-old Oleksandra, since early childhood knew that her true passion was gymnastics. Dedication and hard work had just started to bring their first results, and it seemed that a successful career in sports was awaiting her in the future. Meanwhile, the war intervened in Ukraine and during one of the rocket attacks, the girl was wounded. After that, she was in a coma and the medical staff battled for her life. The leg had to be amputated.
When Oleksandra regained consciousness and realized what had happened, she asked: “How could I continue gymnastics practice??” That day, her Mother promised her that as soon as her treatment and rehabilitation are over, they would attempt to renew gymnastics lessons for her. At that time, it was hard to believe that it could be possible. Nevertheless, the girl was cheering on the adults as she had an immortal hope in her heart. She truly believed that if you indeed aspire to something and couple your desire with hard work, a dream will come true one day.
There were long months of rehabilitation in other countries and searches for the most appropriate prosthetic leg to make her sports and exercising possible. All this time, her memory was returning Oleksandra to her gymnastic classes: she remembered the very first day, when she, a tiny and shy girl, entered the gymnastic studio for the first class. She was wearing a new gymnastics suit which suited her so well!
Observing the girls that were practicing with their grace and coherence of movements, she was squinting with pleasure and daydreaming that she would also learn to express her inner world with the help of movements. First performance. The girl’s eyes are radiating joy and her mother’s face is shining with a smile and pride for Oleksandra. The coach is also observing her with admiration and already imagining what other elements the girl could perform.
At last, came the day of the first fitting of the prosthetic leg. On the one hand, it was the pivoting point from which she could push out and move ahead. On the other hand, it showed that the journey ahead is more challenging than it was imagined at the beginning. Regardless, the thoughts about the day when it would be possible to start classes again were so empowering and provided her the wings to move ahead despite the obstacles.
Finally, the first steps were made, which means that her dream is closer. At last, her desired news arrived: the girl and her family can come back home and start classes again. The coach was filled with pride, admiration and joy from anticipated meeting. She had already prepared a set of new elements ahead of time as the coach had believed that the girl would return. In order to catch up with other children, Oleksandra had to practice more diligently and persistently, and find harmony and balance with her own body anew.
Eventually, the long-awaited competition day arrived. The girl’s performance has begun. The required pace is reached. The trickiest element was completed. A little bit more, and … Victory! Oleksandra won the first prize! This moment indeed was worth every minute of the battle.
Olga Dubanyevich hails from Denepropetrovsk, in Ukraine, holds a Master’s Degree in Law, and currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada. She published a book of poems in her hometown in her college years. She is a frequent contributor and her past articles can be read here here and here.
