My father was 80 years old, a Holocaust survivor whose life began in evacuation shortly before the victory over Nazism. When his family returned home to Ukraine, they had no place to live and often nothing to eat. He endured severe hunger in the difficult postwar years — and he survived.

 In 2022, when the full-scale war began in Ukraine, my father once again faced a direct threat to his life. He was in the city of Kharkiv, about 30 miles from the Russian border. After everything he had already endured, the war found him there once more. I did everything I could to evacuate him and his service dog from Ukraine so that he could live safely in the United States, a country free from war.

Tragically, just shortly before his 81st birthday, my father was killed while walking his service dog, who was also killed in the accident. They were inseparable. His dog was not only his constant companion, but also a source of comfort, protection, and emotional safety in his later years.

We were completely unprepared for this tragedy. After this sudden and devastating loss, I am grieving while facing unexpected financial hardship. I am struggling to cover the immediate expenses following his death and the costs associated with what has happened.
  
We are seeking help to cover:
 • Cremation expenses
 • Transporting his remains back to Ukraine so he can be laid to rest near his beloved wife (my mother)
 • Immediate living expenses as I try to stabilize after this loss

My father survived one of history’s darkest chapters, only to have his life taken so suddenly and senselessly.

Any support — whether through a donation or by sharing this page — means more than I can express. It helps honor his life, his survival, and the love he gave.

Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us give my father the dignity and peace he deserves.