Four years by his son’s bedside. Serhii Shumei cares for his son around the clock. Soldier Vitalii Shumei sustained a severe injury near Avdiivka. In August 2022, anti-aircraft missile system commander Vitalii Shumei suffered a mine-explosion injury and a complex skull fracture on both sides. After the injury, contact with Vitalii was lost for several days. His parents began searching. Until they saw a photo of their younger son on the internet. Volunteers were looking for the relatives of the wounded soldier. At that time, Vitalii had lost the ability to walk, move, speak, and eat independently. This message and the photos were seen by Vitalii’s mother. The woman’s heart could not bear it. She died. Serhii buried his wife and set off to his son.

Doctors for a long time did not give Vitalii positive forecasts. Since the summer of 2022, Serhii Shumei has been living in hospital wards and rehabilitation centres across Ukraine. Despite the pain, complex surgeries, and exhausting months of rehabilitation, the first changes began to appear. Memory and movement started to return. Vitalii was also treated abroad. Most of the defender’s rehabilitation was funded by the football club Shakhtar.

Due to care and rehabilitation, Vitalii has already begun to speak. For the family, this is one of the most important stages of recovery.

Serhii’s eldest son serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Following years spent going from one healthcare facility to another, the family received another important support. The founder of the Rinat Akhmetov Foundation gave Vitalii a house. Now the son and father have a safe place to return to after rehabilitation. A home is adapted to the needs of the wounded soldier.

Serhii’s main goal is to help Vitalii regain a full life and stand on his own feet again. Through his example, he supports other parents of severely wounded soldiers..