Matviy, age 10, Mykolaiv Oblast
He loves to draw simple, beautiful pictures—it helps him find peace. He dreams of traveling, especially to Germany. One of his smaller dreams is to get tickets to an Artem Pivovarov concert, because music has a healing power too.
Matviy is 10 years old and comes from the Mykolaiv region. He is calm, a little shy, and very sensitive and attentive to those around him. He has a lot of inner strength, though he talks about it quite simply—through his drawings, dreams, and quiet joys, which help him hold on even in the hardest moments. Matviy loves to draw. He enjoys creating simple yet beautiful drawings, because it is creativity that helps him find peace, distract himself from his worries, and feel safe. Drawing has become a special space of silence for him, where he can simply be himself, dream, and forget about the hospital walls. Besides art, Matviy loves building with LEGO and 3D puzzles, diving into video games, riding his bike, picking mushrooms, and traveling. He dreams of seeing the world, and most of all—of going to Germany. He also has one very sincere dream—to attend another concert by Artem Pivovarov, because music, too, heals him, inspires him, and gives him the strength to move forward. A year ago, it all started with a headache and severe fatigue. It didn’t seem like anything serious, but his mother’s intuition told her not to let it go. The family insisted on a full examination, and the MRI changed everything—medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. This was followed by a move to Kyiv and treatment at the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital. During this time, Matviy has undergone a complex surgery, radiation therapy, and has already completed 5 out of 8 rounds of chemotherapy. At the same time, he continues his studies through distance learning and works every day to find a balance between treatment, recovery, and a normal childhood. This was followed by a move to Kyiv and treatment at the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital. During this time, Matviy has undergone a complex surgery, radiation therapy, and has already completed 5 of 8 rounds of chemotherapy. At the same time, he continues his studies through distance learning and strives every day to find a balance between treatment, recovery, and a normal childhood. His story is one of a quiet but very strong struggle. It is the story of a child who never loses the ability to dream, create, and find light even in the most difficult circumstances. And it is precisely this creativity, this love for simple, beautiful things, that helps Matviy stay strong every day.
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