Our loss is immeasurable. On November 23, 2024, after a courageous battle with kidney cancer, our cousin Tetiana Kasianova passed away. The Kasianov family of five fled the war in Ukraine and arrived in Cloverdale, California, in March 2024, seeking refuge. Tetiana and her husband Vadym were both pediatric oncologists-hematologists, graduates of the medical university in Odesa, Ukraine, and worked at the Odesa Children's Hospital. They had three children: 17-year-old Andrii and 10-year-old twin daughters Viktoriia and Anastasiia.

When the war in Ukraine began, Tetiana was diagnosed with kidney cancer and started treatment, which included several surgeries to remove her kidney and metastatic lymph nodes, radiation, and chemotherapy. Later, metastases were found in her brain, causing painful seizures, and she had to undergo additional treatment with gamma knife radiation. All of this treatment was made possible through charitable foundations that provided the necessary medications to patients in Ukraine. However, when these resources were exhausted, the family could no longer continue treatment, and living under constant rocket fire in Ukraine became unbearable. The family made the difficult decision to leave their homeland.

In May 2022, our family of seven, also fleeing the war, was warmly welcomed by the community in Cloverdale. Since then, we have been safe here.

We helped the Kasianov family with their escape from Ukraine. The local community offered incredible support, providing essential items and furniture for their new home. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped our families find safety in Sonoma County.

Now, we are reaching out for your support. Vadym, now a widower, is raising their three children on his own. He needs help covering monthly expenses such as rent, utilities, food, and the ongoing care of his children. Their oldest son, Andrii, needs to buy a car to help his father by driving his sisters to and from school while Vadym is at work. We also need financial assistance to cover the costs of Tetiana's cremation and the transportation of her ashes to Ukraine, so the family can give her a proper burial, as they will not be able to travel to the U.S. to visit her grave.

With heartfelt gratitude and love, we thank you, dear friends and kind-hearted people.