Day 3: Expanding Our Mission

Our initial focus at Direct Aid for Ukraine was clear: supporting Ukraine’s children through preschools and children’s homes, and aiding parents and soldiers on the frontlines with vehicles, drones, and essential supplies. However, as the war rages on, with over 350,000 Ukrainians injured, we recognized a growing need. In January 2024, we began shaping a third pillar of our mission: providing better access to rehabilitation for those injured in the war—a challenge Ukraine was not fully equipped to handle at this scale.

The highlight of our day was visiting the Regional Clinic of Uzhhorod, our first completed rehabilitation project, which became fully operational in November 2024. Witnessing the transformation of a stark Soviet-era concrete lecture hall into a bright, modern rehab facility was nothing short of inspiring. The space now boasts state-of-the-art equipment designed to help amputees regain mobility and independence.

We met many brave soldiers and civilians undergoing treatment. Among them was one remarkable soldier who shared his harrowing story. He explained how Russian forces deploy small mines designed to injure rather than kill—deliberately creating traps to endanger rescuers. Tragically, three of his comrades lost their lives coming to his aid. Despite his injuries, this soldier is determined to return to the front lines once fitted with a prosthetic, embodying the resilience and determination of Ukraine’s defenders.

Due to the renovations of this facility, the clinic attracted another American group that is working on groundbreaking prosthetics innovation. We witnessed a demonstration by a team utilizing cutting-edge 3D printing technology to produce custom leg prosthetics on-site. With support from American partners, they use a $40,000 Icarus 3D printer capable of creating prosthetics for as little as $50-$100 in just hours. This is a significant improvement over previous solutions like HP’s $800,000 machines that cost $1,000 per prosthetic. This advancement not only slashes costs but also reduces wait times for proper fittings from over a year to mere weeks—a life-changing difference for injured soldiers.

We were honored to be joined by Myroslav Biletskyi, Governor of Zakarpattia Oblast, who praised the success of the Uzhhorod facility. This achievement has inspired the government to shift from a plan to build a centralized rehabilitation model to a more distributed approach—bringing care closer to communities and making it more accessible and cost-effective.

At this event, we proudly pledged $275,000 raised through our efforts to help build at least five more local rehab centers across Zakarpattia Oblast.

Earlier in the day, we toured the Munkachevo City Clinic, one of eight cities seeking our support to replicate Uzhhorod’s success. The visit reminded us of our first steps at the Regional Clinic—dedicated staff with immense potential waiting for the right tools and facilities to make a difference.

We concluded this impactful day in Chomony (Csongor), where we joined Mayor András Baksa and our friends for a village grill party. It was heartwarming to see the results of our earlier efforts there: renovating the local kindergarten and supporting the school with a generator and winter fuel costs. And as Mark declared while savoring pork BBQ skewers at the gathering—“the best BBQ this Texan has ever had”—we were reminded that even amidst hardship, moments of joy and connection endure.

This day reaffirmed our commitment: rebuilding lives is not just about infrastructure—it’s about hope, innovation, and community. Together, we are making strides toward healing Ukraine’s wounded hearts and bodies.