Artem Fedko, 03/14/2021 year of birth
Diagnosis: cerebral palsy.
Anastasia and her husband had always dreamed of having children, but, as they jokingly said, the children weren’t in a hurry to join them. So, they decided to undergo IVF. After four attempts, they finally heard the long-awaited news—she was pregnant! And not just with one baby, but twins. Their joy knew no bounds!
However, the pregnancy was difficult, and Anastasia spent most of it under medical supervision in the hospital. On March 14, 2021, at just 25 weeks of pregnancy, their long-awaited baby boys were born: Artem, weighing 900 grams (1.98 lbs), and Zakhar, weighing 700 grams (1.54 lbs). Sadly, on March 16, little Zakhar became an angel. But Artem continued his fight for life—a fight that is still ongoing today.
From birth, Artem has struggled with food absorption. He suffers from chronic vomiting syndrome, the cause of which remains unknown. Because he can barely eat on his own and his body doesn’t receive the necessary nutrients, doctors decided in the fall of 2022 to place a gastrostomy tube. Now, Artem is fed through a tube in his stomach with special high-calorie liquid formulas, as he cannot gain weight without them.
When Artem turned one, he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). At the moment, he still struggles to sit, stand, and walk on his own. However, doctors remain optimistic—Artem is bright, understands everything, and has great potential. But his progress depends on continuous therapy with rehabilitation specialists.
Additionally, his gastrostomy tube requires regular replacement. Doctors now recommend switching from a "long" tube to a more practical "button" gastrostomy. As Artem grows, his curiosity leads him to constantly pull at the tube, causing injuries to the surgical site.
Artem’s family believes that one day their long-awaited son will walk, talk, and play with other children. After Ukraine’s victory, they dream of taking him to the sea.
We are grateful to everyone who can support Artem’s treatment and rehabilitation.
For the latest updates on Artem, click here.
