Benjamin Sadykov, born with a severe form of cerebral palsy, has become a true example of struggle and courage. His mother, Bermet, invested all her strength and resources into his rehabilitation, allowing Benjamin not only to speak and move a little but also to write a book, participate in competitions, and act in films. Now he dreams of creating a European-style boarding school in Kyrgyzstan, where he once studied.
The Path to Recovery
Bermet recalls how at the beginning of their journey, when Benjamin was just born, they found themselves in a rehabilitation clinic that lacked the necessary conditions and medications. “We had to buy all the medications, including the essential ‘Cerebrolysin,’ on the black market, which cost a whole salary,” she shares. Doctors warned that if no progress was made within six years, further rehabilitation would be impossible. Therefore, Bermet decided that they needed to go to Moscow.
At that moment, she had to take Benjamin in her arms and head to the nearest train to the capital of Russia.
There, they faced a new reality: a lack of housing and support. Bermet found any job to cover the costs of housing, medications, and rehabilitation, constantly thinking about how little time they had.
We tried all treatment methods and medications. At three, Benjamin began to speak, and at five, he started to walk.
Bermet Sadykov
Recovery Methods
Bermet notes that during that period, Moscow's infrastructure was not adapted for people with disabilities, which created additional difficulties. Benjamin had to be transported by taxi, but social taxis with good discounts helped. Every three months, he underwent a 45-day course at a psycho-neurological clinic, where good specialists worked, but the methods turned out to be outdated. Benjamin had to relearn how to hold a spoon after each course.
Doctors used psychotropic medications that adversely affected his progress. “I refused everything except for massage and physical exercises. In the end, we found a unique method by Professor Ulzibat, which turned out to be the most effective,” Bermet recounts.
The professor's method involved identifying and cutting hardened muscles, which allowed for the development of new ones. Benjamin underwent three surgeries, each involving more than 20 incisions on different parts of his body.
Education and the Dream of a School
Benjamin had a successful academic journey; he particularly enjoyed mathematics and physics. Initially, he studied at home, and then he enrolled in a new boarding school, where he was able to develop both mentally and physically, thanks to swimming lessons and various activities. Benjamin dreams of opening a similar educational institution in Bishkek, where children with disabilities could receive an education and develop.
One of the advantages of such schools is the possibility for children to stay there on weekdays, allowing parents to work.
Such boarding schools are a real salvation for parents, providing children with the opportunity to develop and socialize.
Bermet Sadykov
Bermet believes that existing boarding schools in Kyrgyzstan are incomparable to those in Europe.
After returning to Kyrgyzstan, Benjamin lived independently for some time, being able to take care of himself, cook, and rent housing thanks to the knowledge he gained at the boarding school.
However, faced with a lack of accessible infrastructure, Benjamin broke his wheelchair in the first few days. There were no buses with ramps in Bishkek, only minibuses, which were difficult for him to access. Although road repairs are currently underway in the city, accessibility issues for people with disabilities remain relevant.
Named After a Famous Politician
Bermet chose the name Benjamin for her son in honor of one of the founders of the USA — Benjamin Franklin. She was inspired by his life after reading a biographical book that featured a hundred-dollar bill on the cover. Franklin, who dedicated his life to the independence of his country, became an example for her.
Benjamin has always strived to be useful to society, and despite the challenges, he actively develops projects aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. His ideas, such as IT projects and an accessible cinema, have already begun to be implemented. He is currently working on creating a "smart home" for people with disabilities, having gathered a team for this project.
Transition to Sports
Initially, Benjamin was interested in chess, but after seeing people in wheelchairs playing boccia, he became interested in this sport. The coach of the Russian national boccia team, Zinaida Emelina, noticed him and gave him a chance to play.
Reference 24.kg
Boccia is a game for people with limited mobility, similar to bowling and boules, which is a Paralympic sport.
Benjamin appreciated the strategic aspect of the game, comparing it to chess. “I can't describe my feelings during training. Boccia is a quiet game, but when you win, everyone rejoices,” he shares.
After more than five years of training, Benjamin became a five-time champion of Russia and a European champion among juniors. His first championship in Croatia left unforgettable impressions and brought him first place.
Upon returning to Bishkek, he wanted to popularize boccia in his country. He shared his playing experiences on social media and sought suitable conditions for training, which turned out to be a challenging task. The surfaces of the halls needed to be perfect, and it was difficult to get people in wheelchairs to training, as moving around the city was often problematic.
Benjamin made homemade balls for training, but their quality was insufficient for competitions. Boccia balls cost between 2,000 to 15,000 soms, and Benjamin could not afford to buy them.
The director of the "Kyrgyz National Paralympic Committee," Toktorbek Aydyraliev, shares how they met Benjamin. “We opened the boccia federation in 2015 but didn’t know the details of the game. After seeing Benjamin on social media, we decided to find him,” he shares. Thanks to Benjamin, a national boccia team was formed in Kyrgyzstan. At a recent championship in Kazakhstan, the team brought home two bronze medals.
The team did not have sports uniforms, and Benjamin's mother purchased t-shirts with the national flag, which delighted participants from other countries at the championship. The cheapest balls were bought, but they were not suitable for play. The Kazakh team provided their professional balls.
“Thanks to Benjamin, we were able to create a national boccia team. Our team will go to the Junior Para-Asian Games in Dubai on December 7, and Benjamin will be there as a coach,” Toktorbek Aydyraliev proudly states.
Helping Society is the Main Goal
Recently, Benjamin returned from Kazakhstan, where he acted in a film about sports. He played the role of an athlete participating in an international boccia tournament. After returning, he resumed training and is actively working on his idea of creating a boarding school in Kyrgyzstan. For this, it is necessary to obtain a request from the government for the construction of an educational institution in the European Union. Benjamin continues to try to convey his ideas to the authorities.
Every day, Benjamin plans his time down to the minute. Despite the difficulties with mobility, he actively participates in the life of the city and feels his significance to society, which he believes is important for people with disabilities.
