The Kravchenko family is raising triplets: Zlata, Nika, and a special girl named Alice, who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP). The parents are coping with their little daughters with the help of the state, as described in the article by a correspondent of the “Minsk-News” agency.
Each with her own character
Despite the fact that all three were born almost at the same time, Zlata is considered the eldest — she was born a minute before her sisters.
— She is gentle, sensitive — a real girl. Alice is a special child: she has CP, so we go for rehabilitation every day. Our daughter doesn’t walk yet, but her intellect is intact. The youngest, Nika, is a fighter and a mischief-maker. She sets the tone among the trio, and her sisters strive to imitate her in everything, — describes their little princesses Sergey, their father.
The triplets are currently 1.7 years old.
— Like all families raising infants, we went through night feedings, teething, and children’s whims. Only in our case, it was cubed, — shares mom Diana. — Just dressing them all up for a walk takes so much effort! By the time you dress everyone and get ready yourself, an hour has passed.
Diana is supported in everything by her husband.
— Sergey is not afraid of responsibility, routine, or life’s trials, — says the mother of many children. — Despite working late, he always finds time for his daughters. He cooks excellently, does all the housework. He did the repairs in the children’s room with his own hands, built cribs for the girls. When one of them is sick and requires hospitalization, he can stay in the hospital with the child instead of me. In short, he’s a real man.
Proposal to the beloved
Sergey and Diana have been together almost since childhood.
— We met at the stadium. I came to do some pull-ups, and Diana came for a run, — recalls the father of the triplets. — She was 14 at the time, I was 18, so we talked as friends for a long time. During this time, I managed to enroll in the Belarusian State University of Physical Education, serve in the army, and Diana — to graduate from college, get a higher education. Each of us was developing, moving forward, but we never stopped communicating.
The joint celebration of another New Year became decisive for the couple. Both felt they wanted to be together. Soon Sergey made a proposal to his beloved.
— Everything happened in Victory Park, — returns to the events almost four years ago the spouse. — It was very touching and beautiful. Imagine: a winter evening, romantic music, a fire show… Then Sergey appears with a bouquet of flowers, gives the ring, and asks her to be his wife. Even now, tears come to my eyes when I remember that evening.
The decision to become parents was taken responsibly by the spouses. They underwent the necessary examinations in advance, took tests, and a year later, the pregnancy test showed the cherished two stripes.
“I’ll surprise you”
When it was time for the ultrasound to determine the baby’s gender, the future father studied articles on the internet, looked at what the fetus looks like in the picture.
— Diana comes from a twin family, so we were prepared for the arrival of two babies, — says the head of the family. — We were happy when the ultrasound showed two embryos. But for complete certainty, the doctor asked us to come for another ultrasound. We did it a week later. My wife went to the office, and a few minutes later, the doctor came out to me and said, “I’ll surprise you.”
According to Sergey, when he found out that there would be triplets, he had mixed feelings. On the one hand — joy. On the other hand, a little fear: how to raise and provide for them all?
“The pregnancy went well. My husband supported me in everything, surrounded me with attention and care,” Diana smiles. — The girls were born at the Republican Scientific and Practical Center “Mother and Child”. They were born at the 33rd week of pregnancy, so for some time we stayed in the clinic with the girls. The doctors understood and allowed Sergey to visit us. He helped feed the newborns, rocked them in his arms, and I had time for myself.
After discharge from the maternity hospital, the father, like the mother, woke up at night, changed diapers, prepared formula, and took the triplets to doctors’ appointments. At one of the check-ups, it turned out that Alice had health problems.
— Hypoxia, umbilical cord entanglement during childbirth… As a result — multiple cysts in the brain, CP. But we don’t give up, — notes the mother. — Unfortunately, we found out about the seriousness of the diagnosis at five months, so we didn’t start rehabilitation from birth. Currently, we are engaged in Vojta therapy (an alternative medicine method used in neurorehabilitation and based on reflex unlocking) on a paid basis, visit a speech therapist, and a swimming pool. Alice looks a bit different from her sisters, but she follows them, reacts to everything, smiles. I really hope that together with my husband, we will cope with all the trials that fate sends us and put our daughter on her feet.
All together
— Patience and skill are needed to rock, feed, and dress three infants simultaneously, — continues the mother of many children. — But when you do all this with love, the difficulties don’t seem so insurmountable. Moreover, part of the care was taken over by my husband, and the state also supports us greatly.
In our country, there are 11 types of state benefits for families with children. Upon the birth of the Kravchenko children, they received a one-time cash payment for each child. A kind of bonus for the birth of two or more children at once was a payment for the purchase of essential children’s items. The city also provided additional support to the family with triplets. Until the children reach the age of 3, a basic amount is paid monthly for each child. Separate assistance includes free meals for the first 2 years of life.
