Sasha Pushkarev Russian patient with osteogenesis imperfecta Date of Birth: 08.03.1992 Country: Russia

Biography of Sasha Pushkarev

Sasha Pushkarev, a Russian suffering from imperfect osteogenesis, has been featured multiple times in Russian media and has become a popular figure on television shows. Known as the "Crystal Boy," Sasha was born in Kamenka, Penza Oblast. He was born with a rare and unpleasant condition called imperfect osteogenesis, which makes his bones fragile. People with imperfect osteogenesis are often referred to as "crystal" individuals, as even minor injuries can result in numerous fractures.

Sasha grew up in a troubled family, with parents who frequently drank and argued before eventually separating. As a child, Sasha felt different from others and his difficult childhood was marked by his longing for his mother, who often came home accompanied by others and the visits would end in terrible arguments. Due to his constant bone fractures, Sasha never learned to walk. He spent a lot of time in hospitals, and when he turned 10, his parents were stripped of their parental rights. Sasha was placed in a home for disabled children.

Initially scared, Sasha eventually found his place among the other children in the orphanage and later recalled his five years there with warmth and love. In 2006, the Nizhnelyomovsky orphanage became the subject of a TV show on the first channel, with Sasha as the main character. It was during this show that Valentina Dvoynishnikova, a resident of Polazny village in the Perm region, first saw Sasha. She decided to give the unfortunate child something that his birth parents couldn't provide - a family. "I immediately knew that Sasha would be mine. He was such a cheerful and good boy, and he had already experienced so much," she later said in an interview.

Valentina already had adult children and her family was not financially well-off, so persuading her husband and the rest of her family to adopt a disabled child was not easy. However, Valentina knew that once they met Sasha, their opinions would change. And indeed, all doubts disappeared when Valentina's husband met Sasha. The real struggle began when the Dvoynishnikov family had to navigate through the bureaucratic hurdles to adopt Sasha. Valentina recounted that they needed over 40 different certificates and documents to proceed with the adoption. However, their desire to adopt the boy was stronger than any obstacle, and in the end, Sasha Pushkarev found his new home.

Today, Sasha is 21 years old and, despite no longer being a child, he still looks like a little boy. His height stopped at 53 cm, giving the impression of a good-natured little boy. Sasha's favorite activity is singing, and he often sings karaoke, believing that one day he will become a great artist. After appearing on the show "Let Them Talk," Sasha's life took a dramatic turn. Many people wanted to help him fulfill his dream, which led to Sasha and his family visiting the island of Corfu and seeing where St. Spiridon lived.

Despite the love and acceptance from his new family, Sasha never forgot his birth mother, Svetlana Kupranova. During the show on the first channel, Sasha even addressed her, urging her to change herself and her life. "Although we are not together, I still worry about you. After all, you are my biological mother," Sasha said into the camera, bringing tears to the eyes of the studio audience.

Since losing her parental rights, Svetlana has never visited Sasha in the orphanage nor made any attempts to find out about his well-being. However, seeing his mother was Sasha's dream, and the meeting finally took place on the show "Let Them Talk." The audience in the studio sincerely thanked Sasha for the optimism and resilience he brings as a small yet strong person.

Today, Sasha Pushkarev continues to live with the Dvoynishnikov family, whom he genuinely considers his own. He remains an optimist, believing in God, himself, the power of the spirit, and the kindness of the world and people. Despite the absence of a cure for his condition, Sasha's unwavering faith and resilience inspire those around him.