The Heart of a Survivor: Yeryoma's Fight Against the Russian Cold and the Odds

Yeryoma was found at 1 a.m. on a cold, snowy night. He staggered onto a local highway near a small village in Russia looking for help. He was barely holding himself upright, swaying and trembling from exhaustion and pain. Cars honked and swerved to avoid him, but Yeryoma stood his ground. He looked like a haunting silhouette in the storm—determined, but on the verge of collapse.

A Big Little Life volunteer noticed him wobbling from the distance - his legs about to give out. Yeryoma limped over as if he knew this stranger was his only chance. He tried to climb in but was too weak. When he was gently lifted onto the back seat, he immediately fell into a deep sleep. Yeryoma was so exhausted that even the pain of his broken leg didn’t seem to matter.

At the veterinary clinic, it was discovered that Yeryoma had an old, open fracture —infected and untreated - that had somehow not yet taken his life. The vet called it a miracle that he hadn’t succumbed to infection or predators out in the fields where he’d wandered for days. Yeryoma also had deep wounds on his body and tested positive for piroplasmosis.

Yet, through all of this, Yeryoma was calm, sweet, and trusting. He is being treated for piroplasmosis, and his wounds have been cleaned and bandaged. He still faces surgery to repair his fractured leg. Without it, he’ll never walk without pain again.

Yeryoma has an extremely difficult road ahead. He has much to overcome, but with your help, he can receive the care he desperately needs. Please donate to help Yeryoma get his second chance!