By Ani Poghosyan

Sourik Simonyan had only 15 days before being discharged from the Artsakh Army back in 1994.

He almost didn't make it back alive. On February 9, 1994, his unit was in a pitched battle on the Horadiz front. An Azeri bullet pierced his left temple, exiting from the rear. Sourik miraculously survived.

In fact, Sourik remained on the battlefield for a few days. He was left for dead with the other fallen Armenian soldiers.

He lay among the corpses, bloodied and frostbite. To this day, Sourik cannot walk without pain.

Sourik's father Hovik learns that his son has been mortally wounded. Hovik travels to Artsakh in search of Sourik and ends up at the military field hospital.

A doctor tells Hovik that a seriously injured soldier had recently been transferred to the hospital in Stepanakert. He tells Hovik that the soldier probably didn't survive the trip, so serious were the wounds.

When Hovik reaches the hospital in Stepanakert, he's told that they've operated on Sourik and sent him to a Yerevan hospital.

Hovik returns to Yerevan, visiting all the hospitals in search of his son. Hovik eventually locates his son at the intensive care unit at the Nork Hospital. Hovik has a hard time even recognizing him.

Sourik had been in a coma for 35 days.

After years of convalescing, Sourik married and now has three school age children – two sons and a daughter.

The family survives on Sourik's disability pension.

Despite his physical handicaps, Sourik also does occasional renovation work.

A few months ago, RA Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan visited the war vet and donated some construction material to the family so that they could renovate their apartment.

Sourik remembers the exploits of his war time buddies with pride. He also painfully recollects those who never returned from battle.

Today, Sourik is at peace, surrounded by a loving family and comforted by the victory that he and others achieved in the Artsakh War.

He also thanks God for snatching him from the jaws of death and granting him a second life.