MODRYCHI, Ukraine -- For two years, a devoted father has stayed by the side of his bedridden son, a Ukrainian soldier who suffered a severe brain injury. Passing through hospitals and rehabilitation centers, the father finds joy in every small victory of his 36-year-old son: a smile, a new word, an unexpected movement.

These milestones represent progress that the doctors initially doubted would ever occur.

The Associated Press reported on Vitalii Shumei’s story one and a half years ago, and it became widely known. This drew the attention of many around the globe, including Ukrainian soccer club Shakhtar Donetsk, which offered to cover the cost of the expensive treatment that Shumei desperately needed.

Shumei, an anti-aircraft missile commander, was injured in August 2022 while fighting in the Donetsk region — a front line that continues to be the most intense area of conflict in the 1,000-kilometer-long (more than 600-mile) front line in Ukraine. Shumei defended Avdiivka, a city that has since fallen under Russian control, and the longest battle of the war for Bakhmut had just begun when he was injured.

Now, Russian troops are advancing towards another major city, Pokrovsk, where the fighting is expected to be as intense and brutal as the battles for other cities in the Donetsk region.

But ultimately, the cost of the Russian forces' slow progress in the Donetsk region is borne by the soldiers and their families in the ongoing war, where countless lives have been lost and wounded.

“We've already made some headway, if only his legs would begin to function,” said Serhii Shumei, his 65-year-old father. “Soon we’ll be walking and we’ll go to the gym every day.”

In their room at the rehabilitation centre in Modrychi, Western Ukraine, there are two beds. Vitalii Shumei sleeps by the window, and his father rests opposite him.

Serhii’s life now revolves around his son’s future.

An orange Shakhtar soccer jersey with the name Shumei and No. 35 in black print hangs on the wall. Nearby, a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag signed by Shakhtar players is displayed beside a photograph of a smiling Vitalii from before his injury.

Serhii had been a devoted Shakhtar fan his entire life, so when they offered to cover his son’s treatment one and a half years ago, he was overjoyed.

Back then, Vitalii's condition was critical after the shell hit his dugout. The explosion created a crater in his skull that was as deep and wide as half a melon. He could blink, swallow but was mostly immobile.

They sought medical care in Barcelona, Spain. After comprehensive examinations, Vitalii underwent brain surgery and received metal plates to rebuild his skull.

“The operation was very intricate, but he’s strong. I knew he would persevere,” his father stated.

A few months later, Serhii and his son returned to Ukraine, because Vitalii felt very uneasy hearing a foreign and unfamiliar language.

He immediately felt a sense of relief, and by February of this year, Vitalii began to laugh and started communicating.

“I was tremendously happy. Although it was a small achievement, it was still ours,” he says. “I walked with my head held high, proud of how far we’ve progressed.”

Initially, Vitalii used simple “yes” or “no” replies, but his vocabulary gradually expanded to include colors, days of the week and names of close family members.

His father accompanies him to every rehabilitation session.

During one of the sessions, occupational therapist Svitlana Kononeko, who assists Vitalii in enhancing his daily abilities through rehabilitation, actively engages with him. He sits in a chair facing a large mirror as she utilizes questions to aid him in recognizing his reflection.

“Vitalii, there’s a mirror in front of you. Do you see yourself?”

Silence greets her question. She inquires again, “Do you need a moment to rest?” He softly replies, “Yes.”

Kononeko has been working with Vitalii for several months and has observed significant progress recently. In addition to Vitalii, she also has several other patients, most of whom are soldiers like him.

“What’s your call sign?” Kononeko asks. Shumei murmurs, “Leon.”

“It’s been a long and challenging journey,” says volunteer Iryna Tymofeyeva, who met the family about a year and a half ago and continues to provide support to Serhii, who also requires an advocate on this difficult path. She shared that only the two of them “were optimistic enough” to believe from the beginning that Vitalii could one day achieve such progress.

When Vitalii’s tracheostomy was removed after a month and a half, his father was finally able to enjoy some restful sleep for the first time in nearly two years of continuous caregiving. Now, he occasionally takes brief strolls around the rehabilitation center, which is situated amidst picturesque greenery.

However, he never leaves Vitalii’s side for long and remains close by at all times.

“I’ll leave him only when I see him standing on his own two feet,” says his father. “Then he can start living his own life.”

The next, highly anticipated phase of rehabilitation will begin when Vitalii can stand and start walking. Rehabilitation specialists are hesitant to predict when this might occur, as the outcome depends on numerous factors that are challenging to predict. One thing remains constant, though — the unwavering support of his father.

“This is my son, and I must persevere and do everything in my power to aid his recovery,” he stated. “If anyone feels like surrendering, whether soldiers or civilians, don’t give in, hold on with every ounce of strength you have.”

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Efrem Lukatsky contributed to this report.

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Keep up with the AP’s reporting on the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine