Ukrainian Teen Dreams Big After Getting Prosthetic Leg in San Diego

Ivan Chaban's life changed forever six months ago. The 16-year-old was on his way home from the grocery store in the Ukrainian town of Sumy with his mother and stepfather, one month into the Russian invasion of his country. That was when the war's brutality turned his family's world upside down.

Chaban told KPBS that a column of enemy Russian vehicles caught up to them, and one of the tanks veered away from the queue and came directly toward them. Chaban was pulled under the tank and lost part of his leg while his stepfather died in the attack.

His mom was able to survive the incident. Despite the horrific nature of the attack, Chaban still smiles when recounting it all as he said he wants to live and be fully mobile again.

Chaban gets a prosthetic leg in San Diego

He took his first steps toward achieving that goal as he got a new prosthetic leg with the help of prosthetist Peter Harsch. On Tuesday, he received the leg a world away in San Diego, California.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Washington D.C. made Chaban's trip possible, partnering with the San Diego-based Right to Walk Foundation to bring him to the United States.

Family friend Olena Herenko, who came with Ivan to the U.S., said that he wants to provide for his family, consisting of his two brothers, two sisters, and mom.

Herenko said that life up to this point was not easy for her friend as Ivan grew up in a large family without a father. That being said, he does what he can to help his family, and he is not in any way sorry for himself as he always charges forward.

Read Also: Grieving Mom of American Who Died Fighting in Ukraine Wants His Remains To Be Brought Home 

Harsch impressed with teen's rehabilitation

That is the precise attitude Chaban will need for what lies ahead, as his rehabilitation journey will not be easy. He will stay in San Diego for the next three months, with the teen set to spend much of his time at Peter Harsch Prosthetics. The work there for people, who have lost their limbs, is not exclusively physical.

Harsch explained that it is also the emotional stuff as they are sitting here waiting, thinking about the family they left back home and what happened to them. He said they pick them back up so they can go to the next level again. He noted that anybody could make Ivan walk, but can they take him to the next level, the level he needs to go back and do his life?

Harsch was impressed with the teen's first day on his prosthetic leg. He had only been measured for it the day before, but he was already walking on the second day. Harsch was proud of his patient that he decided to send a cell phone video of Chaban walking to his mom.

Related Article: Mom Goes to the ER for Postpartum Depression but Was Told She Had Nothing To Be Depressed About