#Unbreakable Karolina from Nikopol
October 2022,
Nikopol, Dnipropetrovska Oblast, Ukraine
As full-scale war ravaged Ukraine, the Daremyan family made a courageous decision to seek refuge in a Polish camp in late spring. Months later, they chose to return to their homeland. Tragically, just hours after their return to Nikopol, their home became a target of russian shelling. Six-year-old Karolina Daremyan, who was sleeping with her mother, suffered severe injuries in the attack, leading to the amputation of both her legs below the knee.
October to December 2022,
Lviv, Ukraine
In their pursuit of the best treatment to help Karolina heal completely, she was transported to Lviv, Ukraine. The Daremyan family was connected with the Embassy of Ukraine to the United States and Ukraine House team that coordinated with Shriner's Children Hospital in Boston. After carefully reviewing Karolina's case, they accepted her for treatment.
January 2023
Washington, DC, USA
Accompanied by chaperone Daria Khatina, Karolina arrived at Washington, DC, where she had the honor of meeting Ambassador Oksana Markarova. The brave young girl looked forward to the prospect of walking again and resuming her normal activities.
January to March 2023,
Boston, MA, USA
Following their visit to Washington, Karolina traveled to Boston in January. Staying at Shriners Children’s, she underwent an extensive series of medical tests to determine her treatment needs. Fortunately, further surgeries were not required, and the process of prosthetic care began.
Karolina was fitted with prostheses, which arrived just a few days later. What happened next left everyone in the clinic astounded — Karolina was able to stand up and take her first steps within hours, a remarkable feat that left a lasting impression.
They continued to stay at the hospital for outpatient treatment for over a month. During this time, Karolina's left knee grew stronger, and she adapted to living with her prosthetic legs. In just six weeks, she relearned how to walk, run, ride a bike, and even play basketball. She could engage in extended playtime with other children without exhaustion or pain.
March 2023 to Present
Warsaw, Poland
Before returning to Ukraine, the Ukraine House team surprised Karolina by sending her to Orlando, Florida, to visit DisneyWorld. Now back in Ukraine, she enjoys her childhood and serves as an inspiration to others, demonstrating the power of resilience in the face of adversity. Karolina will outgrow her prosthetics within the year and return to Boston for new ones, embracing a future filled with boundless possibilities.
