This is Zhenya with her 3-year-old son Nikita, a refugee from Ukraine, and this is their story.

Good thing - they are not scared anymore.

It's not how it used to be...

Yet, before Nikita, when Zhenya and her family were hiding for days in the basement of their house in Donbass.

The basement had two exits, so if the house got bombed, they had good chances to escape from under the rubble and survive.

Not any more scared...

Not how it used to be after they moved to Kiev where Nikita was born.

Nikita says that he liked that apartment and the playground in front of their building.

Toddlers, as funny as they could be, ask endless questions.

Back then, Nikita used to ask, "How come such a loud thunder happens with no clouds in the sky?"

And then it was too scary to go outside and play...

They moved again.

Leaving her husband behind, Zhenya had to take her son to safety.

Looking back through Nikita's eyes, he went on lots of "adventures" with road trips, train journeys, bus rides, and "air flights". They also did lots and lots, and lots of hiking.

"Are we there yet?"

"When can we go home?"

Their home now is Nikita's godfather's apartment at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Nikita was quick to remember the name of the new place - America The Beautiful.

New excitements every day. Sometimes, even too many, too much.

It's when they turn into his trouble sleeping and more questions.

"How long can we stay here?"

"When is Daddy gonna come?"

Zhenya and her son Nikita, refugees from Ukraine, and this is their story with a new chapter in creation.

And in that chapter,

Zhenya is getting medical care and recovering 100% from her recent knee surgery. Then she learns how to drive to the new job she loves.

Nikita is making new friends in his daycare.

Zhenya and Nikita both believe in Santa.

They hope that Santa knows that they both have the same #1 wish on their lists.

And what we know is that Zhenya and her 3-year-old son Nikita will have a nice and peaceful Christmas!

And we are going to make sure of it!