I paused to reflect and realized that the most valuable thing is life!

A car accident in May 2012 divided my life into “before” and “after.” “Before” was my own business, working 24/7. Sometimes I managed to take a break, but even then, I was “on the phone” 24/7. There was a catastrophic lack of time for everything: for communicating with loved ones, even my children, for proper rest, and simply for living.

“After”… 11 months of struggle, 25 surgeries, 3 months fighting for my life and my leg, and 8 months focused solely on saving the leg. The leg couldn’t be saved, but the knee was.

There were moments when I wanted to scream out of helplessness, but I am grateful to the doctors, my family, my friends, and my own optimism. No matter how difficult it was, we always tried to keep our “fighting spirit.” There were times when the doctors couldn’t believe that a dying patient was in that hospital room because laughter — yes, even loud laughter — was echoing from it. We watched comedy shows, programs, and films, read and discussed books, and kept fighting…

There was also a complete reevaluation of values. The question shifted from “Why me?” to “What for?” To stop and reflect: to understand who you are, why you live, and how you live.

I paused to reflect and realized that there is nothing more valuable than your loved ones and friends. And I also understood (it becomes easy to realize this when your life is first measured in minutes, then hours, and finally days) that the most precious thing is life itself. I learned to appreciate the little things, every single day, friends, new acquaintances, and new opportunities. I learned to find joy in so many things and to see positivity everywhere. After all, any situation can be viewed from different perspectives. So why make it worse? You should try to find the positive sides.

The moment came when we understood that saving the leg was impossible. So, I went into the amputation consciously. I knew I wasn’t going to rely on crutches or a wheelchair (I never really learned to walk properly on crutches). As soon as it became possible, I began preparing for prosthetics. The first prosthetics experience was in Mykolaiv. There were many challenges, but I overcame them. I “escaped” just four days after the basic training.

Yes, we had to adjust our lives. But new “pluses” emerged. My family and friends started helping more, appreciating me more, and they are proud of me. We reorganized our routine and lifestyle to fit my new reality, yet we continue to live a full and active life.

Yes, using public transport is challenging (it’s not well-adapted here). But I work from home, remotely. And the fact that I’m no longer a young girl hasn’t stopped me from mastering and continuing to explore new opportunities. I am constantly learning. And nowadays, there are countless opportunities for that. I am currently taking programming courses and plan to learn animation as well. I have a lot of virtual friends with whom I communicate, debate, and learn. It doesn’t matter where in the world they are.

Last year, I went on a proper vacation for the first time, and it was even abroad. Greece, Rhodes — it was my dream. The flight was very challenging, with two layovers. But now I have something to compare it to. Airports offer a service for meeting and assisting people with special requests and needs. It’s free. The attitude towards people with physical disabilities is entirely different there. Everyone is ready to help at any moment, and they are all very positive and friendly. Even the individuals with disabilities (I don’t like this word) themselves are different. They don’t feel self-conscious and walk around confidently in shorts, skirts, and tank tops. I learned a lot from them. I went on many fascinating excursions. Yes, it wasn’t easy — I covered tens of kilometers — but it was worth it.

Even before my trip to Greece, I tried to lead an active lifestyle. We would go out as a family to nature, parks, and the countryside. I even rode horses. There was a funny moment when I had ridden at a trot for about five laps, and only when I asked to turn the horse to the other side because it would be inconvenient for me to dismount, the instructor realized I had a prosthesis. He was shocked.

I really want to visit Sofiyivka Park — I love it so much. I have a small quad bike, so long distances won’t be an issue for us.

I love swimming and diving. I adore water, but the sea most of all. I swim until my husband and kids start shouting that I’m already covered in seaweed and probably growing a tail and gills.

Household chores haven’t gone anywhere either. The house, animals, a small garden — I manage it all. I also love cooking and hosting guests. I look for new recipes online, try them out, and experiment.

I undergo lower limb prosthetics at the Tellus Center. For the past four years, they’ve felt like a second family to me.

To those who, like me, have found themselves in a challenging life situation, I want to say: don’t lose heart. Look for the positives, cherish life, and find joy in it. Learn to live, not just survive. Work on yourself — there are so many opportunities now. There are countless examples of ordinary people who, despite everything, show by example that life goes on.