Stories of Escape

For the thousands fleeing the war in Ukraine, there are stories of escape. Each story is unique and each rips at the heart.

Many who fled were pregnant, with cancer, heart disease, disabilities of all kinds. War isn't selective. It interrupts all the other challenges that people face with ferocity, inhumanity and cruelty. Someone asked if I was jaded by now. The answer is a solid no!

When I receive the stories from the families we help, I am moved to tears. I'm "old" and have many health challenges, but when I read how these families have to deal with things like giving birth during war, or have to help an elderly parent who's just had a heart attack or a stroke to escape, there are no words to describe my outrage toward their attackers, and compassion for them.

Here are just a couple of stories:

The photos below are of a family who hid in the basement of their tiny village home. It was a shock that the Russians would attack this remote place with nothing to covet. They hoped it would pass, but it only got worse. The soldiers ripped steering wheels from the cars to prevent people from escaping. They managed to get out in a column of cars, but the column behind them was blown up. 😓

Their small children cried the whole time during their escape.
The woman's mother has cancer and the dad just had a heart attack.

They made it to safety and YOU are helping them with food, rent, clothing, hygiene items and needed medicines.

THANK YOU.

In another story, war hit when the woman was nine months pregnant. She had her doctors and hospital arrangements in place and did not wish to leave, despite constant shelling, but after the birth on March 3, when their railway station was bombed only 5 days later (March 8), and institutions were forced to shut down, it became imminent.

They fled to a village where 11 people crowded into a tiny home for some time. They needed to be able to get a birth certificate for the baby but could no longer do that in their hometown. 

Not the best situation!

One of her children developed jaundice, and the doctor advised that the village water and frequent migrations were to blame, so they fled again to a larger city, and are now seeking our help as they do not receive any state aid at this time. Their children need medical treatments and they need basic living essentials.

THANK YOU for being aware of these people and opening your hands and hearts to help them.

There are thousands more who are suffering just like this.

 We cannot help them all, but we can help many.