Anton experienced first-hand why it is so difficult for someone to return to normality once they’ve ended up on the street (without some help!). We first knew of Anton back in December 2023. He'd just arrived at the Men’s Crisis Centre and needed urgent medical attention.
50-year-old Anton's appearance gave away the hard life he had been living on the street. He'd not seen soap and water in a long time and his leg that was wrapped in a dirty old carrier bag was infected.
Before this, Anton’s life was fairly ordinary. He owned an apartment, which he decided to move out of when he met a girl so they could rent a home together. Then his mother became ill and needed surgery. This was going to be very expensive, so he agreed to sell that apartment to fund it. She promised to repay him but never did. After her surgery, communication between them ceased.
After 10 years together Anton and his partner separated. More than a third of Russian men are alcohol-dependent and Anton was one of them. She kicked him out of the house in the middle of the night giving him two hours to pack up and leave. He gathered what he could carry and she changed the locks.
Where could he go? Who could he ask for help? He’d lost contact with his mum and sold his apartment to help her. He had nothing.
He relied on friends or hostels and then resorted to spending nights in entrance ways and begging passers-by for help. While sleeping rough, the few possessions he had were stolen, including his identification documents that validated him as a Russian citizen. Without these it would be difficult to access medical care if he needed it… and soon he did.
Crippled emotionally and physically.
On an icy pavement, he slipped and broke his leg. He managed to get initial hospital treatment where they fitted his leg with a cumbersome Ilizarov Frame. But seeing a doctor for follow-up treatment was impossible with no money. All he could do was wrap it in a dirty plastic bag and accept that it would get progressively worse.
Then, one day, in what must have felt like a miracle, people from the Men’s Crisis Centre found him and offered him food, shelter and warmth. At last someone would help. Genya from the MCC took Anton immediately to hospital where they examined his broken leg with the Ilizarov Frame still on it. They cleaned what had become a very infected wound and supplied the necessary medication. The doctors warned that Anton’s leg might be amputated as the infection was so bad. Once at the centre, fed and rested, Genya set to work trying to replace Anton’s stolen documents and begin the process of helping Anton rebuild his life.
Six months on...
Anton is sober and praise God, he did not need the amputation! The frame is off and his leg is healing. Just look at the transformation! And it’s not just his appearance, he talks with Genya about his desire to move on with God in his life.
Stories like this are so amazing and make everything we do at Love Russia worthwhile. We are so happy for Anton and give thanks for the practical and spiritual intervention that has completely changed his life.
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