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Igor Kozuta

Igor Kozuta age 13 was chosen as part of the Hope Program Phase 3 to come to Greenville, SC for surgery and prosthetics. Igor has bilateral PFFD (Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency)— which causes the thighbones to not form and grow properly. This condition has caused Igor to have a short stature. His left foot was too deformed to be straightened surgically and has been amputated. He has been fitted with a left Syme prosthesis and a right shoe lift to balance his limbs. Igor is able to ambulate without any assistive devices. Igor hopes that he will soon be able to play sports.

Igor loves sports, especially basketball, soccer and auto racing (NASCAR). He loves music, and is learning to enjoy and appreciate contemporary Christian music from his current host family. Igor is outgoing and loves to talk. His English has improved dramatically since his arrival in Greenville on 01/02/07. Igor is very bright, is eager to learn and is not disabled in any way cognitively. He is very open to learning about God and we are praying that he will soon accept Christ as his personal Savior. Igor has a lot of potential to one-day lead an independent life.

Written by Kurt Garber, Igor’s host father

Alexey Kharlamov

Alexey Kharlamov (aka. Lousha) age 11 was not originally selected to be part of the Hope Program. His name was attached to another child’s photo that was selected to come to Greenville. We believe the Lord specifically chose this child for a reason.

Lousha has arthrogryposis (Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita) - a muscle disorder that causes multiple joint contractures (limitation in the range of motion of a joint) at birth. Lousha had bilateral through the knee amputations on his nonfunctional legs at the Shriners Hospital on 1/11/07. This procedure will hopefully reduce the likelihood of having wound problems in the future and help him be more functional in his wheelchair. A generous wheelchair company, TiLite, just donated a titanium (top of the line) wheelchair for Lousha. He loves it and is moving around much better now. He is hoping to play wheelchair baseball very soon.

When you first see 11-year-old Lousha, it is probably not his handicap that you will first notice, but his big beautiful smile!! Lousha’s smile is a reflection of his personality. He is a fun-loving and very accommodating child. He responds quickly to love and has a very grateful spirit for anything that is done for him. He loves to give and loves to see others happy.

Lousha’s hobbies include playing ball and drawing. God has given him a special talent to draw and he often draws scenes of the things going on around him or his thoughts about his present circumstances. He is spontaneous and non-pretentious. He is kind to others without a thought of what he might get in return. His shortcomings are always followed by a genuine “I’m sorry!” He is truly a blessing to work with and be around.

Written by Amber Bixby (Hope translator)

More About Igor and Lousha

In additional to their medical treatment at the Shriners Hospital, both boys have been treated by dentists and will have all of their dental needs met. Lousha was fitted with braces to help straighten his teeth.

While they have been here, both boys have had Russian Bible classes and are consistently hearing the Gospel, as well as learning about God and His Word. They are also being homeschooled by two of our translators and are studying English, reading, math and other subjects taught from a Christian perspective.