His Parents Abandoned Him At The First Chance
Abandoned Because of Illness
When his parents learned he had hydrocephalus, “they ruthlessly left him.” This condition causes fluid buildup in the brain, leading to many difficulties like learning disabilities and problems with coordination.
Life in an Orphanage
Dima was sent to an orphanage for disabled children in Eastern Ukraine. At 4 years old, “he wasn’t able to walk or eat by himself,” and staff worried about his growth. During the 2014 conflict, survival was uncertain, and “they even invited a priest to pray for him before he ‘went.’”
A New Chance with a Loving Family
Dima was adopted by Ernest and Ruth Chaves from Vermont, who “quickly finished all the papers and officially became his parents.” They named him Zebadiah and gave him the love and care he needed.
Fighting to Improve
Thanks to his new family, Zebadiah “was able to walk with a walker by himself” and feed himself within a year. He continues to push himself every day, speaking both English and Ukrainian fluently.
