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Zakhar Ishchenko, 12 years old, Sumy

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Before his illness, the boy was very active; he was always playing soccer and spending time outside with his friends, and he dreamed of becoming a soccer player. His illness changed his plans, and now he dreams of becoming an architect. He is very creative and loves to draw or sculpt with clay. He dreams of having a construction set.

Zakhar is 12 years old and comes from Sumy. He is an active, outgoing, and very sincere boy who, even during the difficult period of his treatment, remains someone who is always ready to offer support, cheer others up, and happily join in any group activity. In the ward, Zakhar is exactly the kind of child who never misses a craft session, game, or creative activity; he always makes friends and brings more life and energy to the hospital’s daily routine. Zakhar is currently undergoing treatment for the second time—he has osteosarcoma. Unfortunately, the relapse occurred just one year after he went into remission. This was a heavy blow for the whole family, but the boy continues to fight with great strength and inner resilience. His hometown is Sumy, which is constantly under shelling. There, his grandmother and younger sister Mariyka are waiting for him, and he misses them dearly. Zakhar especially misses his dad, who is currently serving in the military. For the boy, this is both a great source of support and a source of deep longing—he desperately wants to be with his family again, at home, living his normal life without hospitals and worries. Today, his dreams are changing—one moment he wants to be an inventor, the next a builder, and then an engineer. He finds it fascinating to create something new, to invent, to build, and to see the results of his work. This really brings out his creative side. Zakhar loves to draw and sculpt with clay. It is his creativity that helps him take his mind off things, calm down, and process difficult emotions. He pours his energy, imagination, and desire to move forward into his drawings and crafts. Even in the hospital, he finds true joy in this. His story is about the strength of a child who never loses his openness to the world, even when life presents difficult challenges. It’s about a boy who knows how to make friends, dream, create, and believe that many more victories await him—both in his treatment and in life.

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Serhiy Babak, 17, Kharkiv Oblast

I dream of being healthy, getting an education, and living under a peaceful sky. Right now, I’m experiencing a relapse and undergoing another round of chemotherapy. I love building with LEGO; it helps me express my creativity and imagination. I dream of getting a LEGO set shaped like a motorcycle, since that’s another hobby of mine.