Help us get our family in Ukraine to safety

As the world has been watching the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, our family has been personally struggling with the consequences of the destruction in Ukraine.

 

My mom (Lyudmila) immigrated from Ukraine to the US when she was 32 years old and worked hard as a single mother to raise me. My grandmother came from Ukraine as well to take care of me while my mom was at work. She would cook Ukrainian food for me (my favorite being fried potatoes…classic), take me on walks and to the park, and babysit for other Ukrainian and Russian families in the community. Unfortunately, she left to go back to Ukraine before becoming a US citizen and has been back there since.

 

Although my memories of my grandmother are primarily from my childhood, she was an unbelievably kindhearted and selfless person. She, unfortunately, could not handle the stress of the attacks happening in Ukraine and specifically the bombings in Kiev, where she lived, and she passed in the first week of the war. I think a lot about how scared and sad she must have been, and I wish that there was a way that I could have been there with her. We have still not been able to say goodbye.

 

My grandfather is still in the apartment they shared in Kiev, and while he is grieving the loss of his wife of over 60 years, he is also trying to survive. He is 93 years old, partially deaf and blind, and has medical needs that must be attended to on a schedule. This has made it difficult for us to find transportation for him to evacuate Ukraine, as he cannot sit in a crowded bus for an extended period of time. To survive the transport, he would need to lie down and make frequent stops. We have been in contact with a group that is willing to transport him to Romania, but they are asking for $70,000 which is out of reach for us.

 

My mom and I have been struggling to find a way to care for my grandfather and give my grandmother a proper funeral from our home in the United States. Our friends in Ukraine taking care of my grandfather are planning to flee, and soon he will need more food, water, supplies, and medical help.

 

We are asking for donations to help fund the expenses that will come with our plan to get my grandfather out of Ukraine. My mom will be flying to a border country and buying a car (rental companies are not allowing rentals to go across the border into Ukraine) to cross the border and pick him up. Once they arrive in either Poland or Romania, she will need to find him suitable housing and a doctor. We are also hoping to bring supplies to the residents of his apartment building, which houses many older adults in similar situations. This would include water, food, fuel, small heaters, covid tests, and other necessities. My mom will be making this trip in the next few weeks, as we do not think that my grandfather will be able to be left alone for much longer. This is all happening during busiest time of the year for her as a tax accountant, so we appreciate all the help as her income has been affected since she will not be able to work her usual amount. 

 

We appreciate any help and support for the people in Ukraine.