The Russian Children’s Welfare Society (RCWS) sponsored Julia’s treatment and, with the help of the RCWS partner organization "Rostok," took Julia to a hospital in St. Petersburg, Russia, where she had four surgeries on each leg, followed by intensive rehabilitation therapy.

Thanks to the RCWS donors and "Rostok," following all of her treatments, at the age of 19 Julia was miraculously able to stand and take her first steps, and she finally found a home. Julia was taken into foster care by her therapist with whom she lives to this day. Her health has been steadily improving over the past few years which has also allowed her to have more command over her future as she prepares to live independently. If not for the efforts of the "Rostok" and RCWS’s supporters, Julia’s future would have been much bleaker — left to spend the rest of her days in an institution without the prospect of a normal life.

According to "Rostok", there are 140 specialized orphanages in Russia that collectively care for 23,000 children with special needs. The "Rostok" team has successfully placed over 60 children with special needs from the Belskoye Ustie Orphanage in foster homes. In addition, "Rostok" maintains 5 social apartments for orphanage graduates, where youngsters with special needs are primed on how to care for themselves independently, to conquer their disabilities, and to take vocational training workshops helmed by the Center.

Alexei Mikhailuk, member of RCWS Russia Advisory Board has been personally sponsoring and assisting "Rostok" for over 10 years. He was recently recognized for his indispensable commitment to the cause by being chosen to carry the torch at the XI Paralympic Games in Sochi. The Governor of Pskov recently also recognized the important work of "Rostok" by covering the organization’s administrative expenses for this year.