Dima

It has become somewhat of a ritual – every time this little boy meets a new group of children, he sits them down and explains that he was born without fully formed legs. He then takes of his prostheses, a gift from Shriners’ Hospital, shows them his malformed legs, and just as adeptly puts the prostheses back on. Then with, “Are there any questions?” he quickly runs off to play. This bright-eyed, inquisitive, enegetic nine-year-old lives with his mom, dad, brother and sister in a comfortable house in Oregon—a world and a life style away from his birth place.

Born in the city of Bila Tserkva, Ukraine, Dima was “dropped off” at the Baby House (an orphanage for babies and toddlers) at six weeks of age because he was born “less than” perfect. It was there that Nita Hanson, founder and director of God’s Hidden Treasures, first saw this little boy. As she held him in her arms and felt him cuddle into her body Nita knew that she would do all she could to help him. It was a long and arduous task to obtain and complete all the necessary paper work, but eventually Dima was released to travel to the United States for medical treatment.

Throughout this ordeal God had been guiding, and once Dima arrived in California the hand of God blessed him a thousand fold. The first blessing was in the form of Sherry Shaffer. Sherry is a retired nurse and friend of Nita Hanson. Dima was placed in her care and he “took” to her immediately and she became not only his caretaker and nurse but grandmother. Sherry had arranged to have Dima treated at Shriners’ Hospital, Los Angeles and following many visits to this hospital Dima learned to use his new “legs” to walk and run. One of Nita’s friends, Nancy Hawblitzel, has a daughter who was happily married with two great children. Both Nita and Nancy thought it would be a great idea if Nancy’s daughter, Sue met Dima. Sue felt her family was complete and had NEVER thought of adoption. But once again God moved in his mysterious way, and before she knew it, Sue and her husband, Barry were the proud parents of Dima.

The first years were a challenge, for although Dima bonded quickly with Sue, he was very wary of his new dad. It took two long years before Dima finally told his dad he loved him. Now Dima is a happy member of this Christ-centered family who have given him a life so unlike the one that is the destiny of so many “less than perfect” children born in Ukraine today.

Dima knows that he was born in Ukraine and that he was placed in an orphanage and so every year he and his siblings organize a fund raiser to buy toys for the children in the Baby House. During the family devotional time Dima always prays that the toys will arrive safely. One day he says he would like to go back to Ukraine, but in the meantime he is busy with school, swimming (which he loves), and turning any stranger he meets into a friend.