A Hearing Aid and a New Chapter in Artem’s Life

Everyday life is full of sounds that people usually don’t even notice. The rustle of grass underfoot, children’s laughter in the yard, quiet conversations at home, or the familiar voice of a mother speaking to her child. For most of us, these things are so natural that we almost never stop to think about them.

For a long time, everything looked different for Artem.

The boy was born with a developmental delay caused by a birth injury. After extensive examinations, doctors identified another diagnosis — auditory neuropathy, which led to bilateral hearing loss. From early childhood, he perceived the world around him primarily through sight: he watched people closely, tried to read lips, and guessed the meaning of conversations from facial expressions and gestures.

The world around him was full of events, but a significant portion of its sounds remained beyond his reach.

The story of this boy became one of those that stayed with the Rise of Ukraine foundation team — not because of the scale of the assistance provided, but because of the simplicity and importance of the outcome for one specific child.

When the foundation was preparing a charity fundraiser for its anniversary, the team discussed various possible formats of support. Eventually, everyone agreed on an idea that felt very concrete and straightforward: to help Artem receive hearing aids.

For the boy, this meant the opportunity to begin discovering sounds that had previously been beyond his perception. A fundraising campaign was launched with a goal of 60,000 hryvnias.

People responded to the foundation’s call and supported the initiative. Thanks to donor contributions, the family received the necessary funds, and Artem’s mother was able to purchase a hearing aid. It is a small device in appearance, but for the boy it marked the beginning of an entirely new experience.

Artem is now gradually getting used to sounds that were once unfamiliar to him. Some of them surprise him, some take time to adjust to, and some bring him genuine joy. The process of discovering the world of sound is happening little by little, and throughout this journey his mother is always by his side, supporting him through this new chapter of his life.

For those who helped make this fundraiser a success, this story served as a reminder that charitable support is not always expressed through large projects or impressive numbers. Sometimes its impact can be seen in the changes that take place in the life of one specific child.

Today, Artem continues to adapt to new sensations and is gradually discovering sounds that most people have known since early childhood. Many more such discoveries lie ahead of him. He also dreams of playing basketball and hopes that, in time, he will be able to develop in the sport.

Artem’s story is a reminder that even a small act of support, when it brings many people together, can open up entirely new possibilities for someone.