The Path Out of the Coma — Training & Progress
Here I document Yuliya’s path after her first rehab: what we trained, how we trained, which progress we made — plus some of our observations. I’ll add short clips and a year-by-year timeline, including a few original recordings and some re-created scenes to make the journey easy to follow.
Videos & Avatar
Here we use an avatar (HeyGen) to introduce Yuliya’s journey out of the coma and explain the meaning of her training sessions. Below, you’ll find all the original and reconstructed videos – year by year.
How it all began
In December 2010, after almost a year in hospital and rehab, Yuliya came home. She was still severely limited. At home I started daily training with her — alongside regular therapies (speech, physio, ergo). We tried things, kept what worked, and celebrated small milestones.
2011 – Physical training at home
[Original 2011] Transfer from wheelchair — an essential everyday skill for independence.
[Original 2011] Gait training — first assisted steps with focus on coordination.
[Original 2011] Gait training (continued) — more control and smoother motion.
[Original 2011] Training with the MOTOmed device — passive/assisted activation of the legs.
[Original 2011] Stairs exercise — first controlled descent with full body awareness.
2011 – Hand training
[Original 2011] Early hand coordination — gripping and finger mobility exercises.
[Original 2011] Assisted movements — gentle stimulation of wrist and finger function.
[Original 2011] Strength and control — independent hand activation and fine-motor focus.
▼ 2011 – Speech & Facial Training
[Original 2011] Early speech therapy – first visible lip movements and reactions.
[Original 2011] Focus on tongue control and mouth coordination.
[Original 2011] Syllable and sound exercises – concentration on articulation.
[Original 2011] Clearer lip movement – stronger facial reactions.
2012 — Training with Bioness & balance drills
In 2012 we tried the Bioness system — electrical nerve stimulation to activate the foot lifter. The small impulses helped lifting the foot, but Yuliya still had to keep the leg stable herself. After some trials we decided against further use and shifted the focus to natural training and balance.
[Original 2012] Tests with Bioness — electrical impulses activating the foot lifter.
[Original 2012] Walking along the wall — focus on balance and posture.
[Original 2012] Controlled steps — stability remains the main task.
[Original 2012] Stairs — conscious foot placement, lots of balance and control.
2013 – Bike training & treadmill
In 2013 we started with bike training. Our orthopaedic shoe wasn’t ready yet — Yuliya’s right foot was fixed to a stabilising bar so she could push the pedals. The trike also had an auxiliary battery — an important step to train movement and balance again. Even though biking was great fun for Yuliya, we later decided against it: the space it required and the turning circle weren’t practical for everyday life.
[Original 2013] First bike training with the foot fixed and battery assistance.
[Original 2013] Treadmill training in the basement — secured from the ceiling; step by step towards stability. Here Yuliya wore the orthopaedic shoe for the first time, which supported the ankle.
2014 – Running training & stabilization
In 2014, walking already worked much better. Yuliya now wore a custom orthopaedic shoe that stabilized the ankle and prevented her right foot from collapsing while walking.
The shoe gave her safety and made it possible to focus fully on movement. Especially practical was the BOA® closure: instead of tying laces, the shoe can be opened and closed precisely with a dial — again and again. That’s important because Yuliya’s right hand is limited, and she can close the shoe securely with only one hand.
In a separate post I’ll show exactly which shoe we chose — our long-term decision.
[Original 2014] Stairs training — targeted lifting and placement of the right foot. With every run we climbed the stairs together. This ritual became an important part of training: step by step, with a lot of control and strength, Yuliya learned to lift the right leg independently again — a big step forward and a very moving moment.
[Original 2014] Running training — first steps with the new shoe in Spain.
[Original 2014] More balance and stability — Yuliya runs more focused, but safely.
2017 – Gait training with the Lokomat
The Lokomat has been invaluable for us. Yuliya comes out of the wheelchair; her entire skeleton moves in a rhythmic gait pattern, circulation is stimulated, and the immune system is strengthened. Through this regular movement, lost functions can be re-learned and trained. For us, this training is an important step towards greater mobility and independence.
[Original 2017] Gait training with the Lokomat — Yuliya stands, walks and trains her entire body under safe guidance.