Parents Raise Millions for Son with Cerebral Palsy

The Shumkov family from Yekaterinburg is fighting for the health of their two-year-old son Gordey. The boy has a severe diagnosis — cerebral palsy, and 3.7 million rubles ($37,000 at current rates) must be raised for his treatment. The parents found an unconventional way to help their son: they are saving up for a stem cell transplant in China. This will help the child get on his feet faster and learn to walk.

Gordey was born prematurely at 25 weeks of pregnancy and weighed only 880 grams (1.94 lbs). He spent a month and a half in intensive care and another month in the neonatal pathology department.

The disease affected the part of the brain responsible for movement, especially on the right side of the body, but his intellect is fully intact. Over two years, the child learned to belly crawl and say his first words, but he still cannot walk or sit for more than five minutes.

Yana Shumkova tirelessly works with her son to help him develop and keep up with his peers. At home, Gordey stands in a verticalizer every day and wears orthoses and other special shoes. The mother dreams that her son will be able to go to kindergarten and then to school (with a tutor aide).

Parents of other children diagnosed with cerebral palsy recommended treatment in China to the family. Over the past year, the Shumkovs have already been there twice: in spring and summer. They still need to raise another 2.8 million rubles ($28,000 at current rates) for the third rehabilitation.