Olga Pakulina

Every day is a unique miracle. It's so easy to agree with that sentiment, but so hard to live that day as if it were true. It was an ordinary day in September. No miracles happened. Quite the opposite.

Olga received a call from her husband at work. He had just come from the doctor, who had told him that their son, Misha, a first-grader, had Stargardt disease, a rare genetic condition which causes retinal dystrophy and loss of central vision. Worst of all, there is no cure.

Almost six months later, Misha's central vision had almost completely disappeared. He was left with peripheral vision, which doesn’t allow him to see everything, but he can make out some things. There is now more light in Olga's house than ever before. Misha carries a lamp with him everywhere and, miraculously, continues to build his favorite Lego sets.

"At first I thought my life was over. The child was blind and disabled,” says Olga Pakulina. “Then I realised that all I have left is today. Today my child was able to go to school - and that's a victory. Today he went to play football and managed to kick a ball - and that’s also a victory and a miracle that must be appreciated." She has been with the company for about two years and leads the team of financial controllers in FinOps. Together with her colleagues, she is responsible for the finances of almost all macro-regions except APAC and North America.

Of course, Olga had never heard of Stargardt's disease before, but now she knows a lot about it, maybe everything. For example, that scientists don't yet know how to treat it, but that the United States is furthest along in its attempts to find a cure. Research is also underway in Russia. The University of Sechenov has developed a computerised treatment model that looks very promising. Scientists would like to start trials, but there is currently no funding available.

Despite the deterioration in his eyesight, Misha has remained in his class and continues to study with good grades. He now has an electronic magnifying glass on his desk. There are other aids to help him keep up with his learning.

After changing almost in an instant, life has gone on. It's very different, but it's still happening. Having overcome her confusion, Olga is now helping other parents who are joining her small community of patients. Together they hope a cure will be found. After all, if every day is a small miracle, there is surely room in the world for other long-awaited wonders.