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Harout from Kornidzor refuses to talk about war; the 28-year-old man from Syuniq has been through it and knows the value of our country’s independence first hand. The young captain has shown willpower and stamina, has overcome the near impossible and has regained life by a miracle during the 44-day war. And definitely, he does not want people feel pity for him. Despite the complexity of surgeries he has undergone and the need to rely on a wheelchair to move, he keeps his head up. The young man, who has left all the fears behind on the overpass of peace and wartime has been able to rehabilitate, to get back on his feet and become the father his daughter can lean on in life. Harout is currently taking a rehabilitation course doing the exercises prescribed to him just like a true man of service who values duty.

For rehabilitation of soldiers who have suffered spine cord, brain, as well as upper and lower limb injuries, orthoses are fundamental to prevent post-traumatic complications. Some opt for wheelchairs to be able to move, unable to accommodate to static orthoses, which, however, may cause numerous secondary problems. To support soldiers wounded in the course of the 44-day war, Viva-MTS and the Homeland Defenders organization have joined hands to implement orthosis program. Harout is one of the beneficiaries of the program and is doing pretty well owing to his commitment and the efforts of physiotherapists working with him.

“I spent almost a month on a wheelchair. Then, Hayk, the kinesitherapist, asked me about my rank and gave me a week to stand back on my feet saying they were going to strip me of my captaincy. That made me stand back on my feet. And then one day I went to his office and left the wheelchair there,” 28-year-old captain Harout Davtyan recalls.

“We had to rely on that method, and that worked. He managed to switch from a wheelchair to a walking aid within just ten days. His recovery was fast. Harout is an officer. He knows what order is, he has motivation and commitment. In spite of the serious injuries he got, positive changes are here. There are things to be fixed yet, because of the weakness in his muscles. So, we now move ahead to applying an orthosis to change his manner of walking and make it smoother. Orthosis makes Harout’s life easier, besides, it does not require additional efforts, and saves him energy,” Hayk Khachatryan, one of the kinesitherapists working with Harout says.

There is still a lot to do with Harout. The captain, who regularly travels to Yerevan from Syunik to get the needed treatment, is taking the required courses at the Homeland Defenders rehabilitation center. The specialists of the center spare no effort to support servicemen who have been through war. The 100 orthoses obtained with the support of Viva-MTS, are more than just means to restore physically; they also help to restore from psychological traumas.

Captain Davtyan is a man of immense willpower and is a brilliant example of an unbroken human spirit. He is full of optimism and commitment to succeed against all odds.