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Burned Ukrainian Boy Jubilant Over Ability To Walk

Therapist Katherine Hartigan works with Ihor Lakatosh last month at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. Ihor had been burned in Ukraine, where his mother abandoned him at a hospital in 2011. (Michael Dwyer/AP)
Therapist Katherine Hartigan works with Ihor Lakatosh last month at Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. Ihor had been burned in Ukraine, where his mother abandoned him at a hospital in 2011. (Michael Dwyer/AP)
This article is more than 8 years old.

An 11-year-old Ukrainian boy whose severe burns went untreated for years is now able to walk following numerous surgeries at a Boston hospital, and he says he's excited for his future.

Little is known about how Ihor Lakatosh was burned in Ukraine, where his mother abandoned him at a hospital in 2011. Neglect had caused his burned skin to contract, fusing his arm to his chest and leaving him unable to walk.

Through the help of a charity, the boy was flown to Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston in 2012 to begin extensive treatment and eventually returned to the orphanage.

He's now back in Boston for additional surgeries and is showing off his ability to walk, pick up objects and get into bed on his own.

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