Hleb was born in Ukraine on May 15, 2006, and was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder early in his childhood. This early diagnosis helped his family quickly understand the need for specialized education and upbringing for their curious and active boy. This meant a lot of dedication, including a special regimen of therapy, diet, exercise, and speech therapy.

Hleb's mother, Anastasia Aleksandrova, spent endless hours on self-education, tirelessly learning to understand the unique needs of her child. She poured all possible resources into providing every opportunity for his development. Throughout his school years, Anastasia worked relentlessly, advocating for Hleb to be accepted into a regular school environment, despite the country's limited infrastructure and systems to support special needs children in society.

Through many challenges, Hleb attended and completed high school according to his abilities. Anastasia consistently nurtured Hleb’s interests and natural skills to enhance his development, with the goal of helping him become as independent as possible so he could eventually provide for himself. Hleb attended after-school programs for music and dance, following his interests and passions. The family also actively involves him in many household duties, so he is learning essential life skills.

However, the war in Ukraine dramatically disrupted their lives, bringing continuous stress, fear for their lives, and blackouts. Anastasia, who is the sole breadwinner, is facing an additional crisis as her company announced a change of ownership, leading to her losing her job in a few months. She is also supporting her older son who is a full time student and her husband, who has been undergoing a rehabilitation program and unable to support the family for several years. With the added responsibility of caring for her elderly parents, it has become incredibly difficult to support the family overall and address Hleb’s specific needs.

Since Hleb completed high school last year, they have not yet been successful in finding a suitable educational institution for him to continue his development. Currently, the only viable options are private classes and courses. Hleb's beloved hobbies of playing the piano, dancing, and swimming remain vital opportunities for his continued growth. He still requires ongoing speech therapy, with a current focus on mastering correct sentence construction and confident communication with strangers.

For his professional development, Anastasia envisions specialized training in assembling electronic chips, or pursuing his aspiration to undergo training and work at McDonald's.

Though a young adult by age, Hleb still requires significant support to achieve maturity and self-sufficiency. Continued assistance for his education and professional development remains a critical need for this family, who are bravely navigating the horrific consequences of the war and striving to stay afloat.

We deeply appreciate your consideration and thank you for any support you can offer.