By Elizaveta Parshina | Project Leader
Maxim grew up in an orphanage for disabled children, then got into mental home. It was a mere miracle that Maxim was able to get himself out of mental home. He’s been already coming to Big Change for 11 years, getting knowledge and assistance. Not only for himself from now on, but also for his beloved son.
"I'm normal, but different!" Maxim says.
He had been growing up in state homes from birth until he turned 20 years old. First a children's home, then an orphanage for disabled children, then a mental home. It is a treadmill, that in the absolute majority of cases, presupposes staying in a mental home till the end of the days. It is very difficult to prove one's capacity, and it is almost impossible to receive an apartment every orphan is supposed to receive from the state.
“I proved that despite parents’ mistakes children don’t make their mistakes. They don’t have to make mistakes. They go on with their life. I achieved it and I’ll go all the way. Mine and I will go all the way”.
"Mine" means Nina, the wife. Maxim met Nina in the mental home: "I came out once, and mine was standing with friends". We got acquainted. "And since that time, we have each other's lives."
Nina got out of mental home earlier, than Maxim, proved her capacity at City Commission, finished 9 grades in Big Change, graduated from a medical school and has worked as a nurse in a hospital for many years already. It's a fantastic story for a person grown up in an orphanage for disabled children, and maturing in a mental home.
To get married, they had to steal Maxim's papers.
A few years after the wedding, Maxim was listed in mental home, even though he had already lived with his wife. The Commission was not easy to pass at once, and it took 10 years to get an apartment. He visited agencies and departments, collected dozens of references, and learned to write complaints.
Five years ago, Oleg, the son, appeared. From the birth of the boy, Maxim has voluntarily changed his curriculum completely. Now Maxim’s goal is: "I should be a father to my son".
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