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When his parents discovered he was born with hydrocephalus, they abandoned him without remorse.
Hydrocephalus is a condition where excess fluid builds up inside the brain’s ventricles. This causes pressure on the brain and can result in serious complications such as developmental delays, speech and memory difficulties, vision problems, epilepsy, and poor motor coordination.
After being left behind, little Dima was placed in an orphanage for children with disabilities in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine.
By the age of four, he was unable to walk or feed himself. Caregivers worried that his fragile body would not grow properly and that his time would be short. For them, his survival was already a small miracle.
When the conflict in Ukraine escalated in 2014, the orphanage was forced to evacuate. Supplies of food, water, and medicine were scarce, and many feared Dima would not make it through. A priest was even called to pray for him.
But against all odds, Dima survived. His resilience stunned everyone around him.
Not long after, Ernest and Ruth Chaves, a couple from Vermont who had already adopted seven children, met Dima and immediately knew they wanted him in their family. They quickly completed the adoption process and gave him a new name filled with love: Zebadiah.
With proper care and encouragement, Zebadiah began to thrive. Within a year, he learned to walk with a walker and feed himself independently—milestones that once seemed impossible.
Today, he continues to push himself, improving both mentally and physically every day. Remarkably, he now speaks both English and Ukrainian fluently.
Stories like Zebadiah’s remind us that kindness and compassion can completely transform a life. Thanks to the dedication of his new family and the support he once received at the orphanage, this brave boy was given the chance to live with dignity, love, and hope.
