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Anonymous

17-year-old boy from Ukraine

Deaf by Missile

The year is 2022, when the war had already engulfed the country, he was staying with his grandparents in a city frequently targeted by Russian missile strikes. On one such day, Russia attacked Ukraine with rockets, and during this attack, he was outside with his father. The rocket fell unexpectedly and very close to the place where they were, so it all happened very quickly, and they didn't even have time to escape. The explosion of the rocket was very loud that the boy lost his hearing immediately. He was so stressed and shocked in the first few seconds, he couldn't understand what was happening. He couldn't hear, but he thought he just needed to wait and everything would be fine. However, the next day he went back to his hometown and decided to go to the doctor, and the news was sad. Unfortunately, the doctor said that the boy completely lost his hearing because of the loud explosion, and he has to wear a hearing aid for both ears to be able to hear at least a bit. The doctor said that there is a small chance that his hearing will return, but the boy didn't give up; he just accepted this situation and continued living happily despite his life challenges. Now he is used to such a lifestyle that he needs to always wear the hearing aid to be able to hear. He is now finishing high school, and he goes to the same school as other children. His classmates and teachers are always supporting him and are ready to help if it is needed. What happened to him is not just a story of personal tragedy, it's a powerful reminder of the invisible, lasting wounds war inflicts on innocent lives. His experience underscores the urgent need for empathy, awareness, and action to support those living with hearing loss. We share his story not only to honor his resilience, but to give voice to all those who can no longer hear because of violence.