Valentin's Life of Resilience and Gratitude

January 17th, 2025 |HaTikva Dental

Valentin, 86 years old, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the exceptional dental care he received at HaTikva Clinic. He deeply appreciated Dr. Maher and his team’s kindness and professionalism during his treatment.

Valentin was born in Moscow and was just three years old when World War II broke out. In 1941, Stalin ordered the evacuation of mothers with children to the Ural region. Valentin’s mother, with her three children, faced an incredible challenge boarding a train amidst the chaos of evacuation. He vividly remembers an incident at a train station when their teapot was stolen. A man who had borrowed it failed to return it in time as the train began to depart—a heartbreaking loss, as the teapot was essential for gathering hot water along the way.

The journey lasted two months, and survival was a daily battle. In the Ural village where they settled, Valentin’s mother, a former biology teacher, took on any unskilled work she could find. Food was scarce, and out of sheer desperation, she sometimes stole a few potatoes from their landlady to feed her children. Valentin recalls the large oven in their home, where he once fell asleep as a little boy. It was warm and comforting in the harsh winters, but it led to a frantic search when he was lost—found only when someone was about to light the oven.

Later, his mother secured a job in the kitchen of a local institute. The job’s main advantage was the potato peels she was allowed to take home. She turned them into potato pancakes, a cherished treat for her hungry children.

Life during the war was harsh. Ration cards for flour and sugar meant long hours of standing in lines, but for young children like Valentin, these moments sometimes felt like adventures. At the age of six, he was sent to a children’s camp but ran away because he missed his family.

The family eventually returned to Moscow before the war officially ended on May 9, 1945.
Today, Valentin and his family radiate joy, peace, and humor. Our HaTikva team describes them as warm and positive, exuding gratitude despite the hardships they endured.

May God bless them with many more joyful years ahead!