Hello! We are Max, Yana, and Vlada Tiurin. We are Ukrainian Refugees. We were forced to flee Ukraine because of the ongoing war. It is with humble hearts that we are posting this urgent request for funds to assist us with housing, living expenses, transportation, and to enable us to obtain specialized medical care for Vlada, who has Neurofibromatosis.

Max:

As a husband and father who has always been able to provide for his family, this has been an extremely difficult year. After fleeing Donetsk in 2014 when Russia invaded Eastern Ukraine, we settled in Kyiv. In February 2022, Russia began a war with Ukraine. Yana and I are both college-educated and had good jobs in Kyiv. However, we felt that we had no choice but to flee again, leaving behind our extended family, our jobs, our new home, and our beloved country. A deciding factor for us in leaving Ukraine was that it is imperative that our 14-year-old daughter, Vlada, have access to quality medical care to treat her illness. Neurofibromatosis is an insidious disease, which causes tumors to form on nerve tissue. These tumors can develop anywhere in the nervous system including the brain and spinal cord. Vlada has a number of such tumors. Most concerning at the present time is a tumor in her brain. In Kyiv, Vlada spent 2 years in the hospital enduring 17 rounds of chemotherapy. In the course of her ongoing treatment, Vlada needs regular CAT scans, MRIs, Medications, and specialized care for the treatment of this rare illness. While we have secured health insurance which is provided to low-income families in California, it does not cover many of the necessary expenses. Vlada has a certificate of disability, which was the basis for me to leave Ukraine when so many others must remain to fight. While I had a strong desire to defend our country, I could not in good conscience leave my wife, Yana, to navigate alone the difficult process as a refugee who is the parent of a seriously ill child. Currently, we are staying in Pacific Grove, California. We have submitted applications for work permits, which can take longer than 9 months to process. So, we are in urgent need of funds to assist us with housing and living expenses, purchasing a car, and ongoing medical expenses for Vlada. Once I am able to obtain employment here in America, I intend to work hard to be able to provide a good life for my family and specifically to create opportunities for Vlada to live a long, healthy, and productive life.

Yana:

Even though the prospect of war may be a topic of discussion in the news or among members of the community, I don't think it is possible to really prepare a person for the experience of sheer terror that comes upon you when your city is under siege and you are fleeing for your life. In February, when we awoke to the news that Russia had again invaded our beloved country, I was so fearful that I felt numb. In much the same way that we were forced to flee our hometown of Donetsk when it was invaded by Russia in 2014, we again packed two suitcases each and fled for our lives from our new home in Kyiv. We lived out of those suitcases for many months as we moved from one kind and generous family to another. We are now so thankful to be in the United States where we know that our child is far away from the dangers of war. Of course, she still faces a battle that we cannot flee.Wherever our family goes, our daughter's illness follows. Now that we have arrived in America, I am finally able to envision a safe future for our family and a long healthy life for Vlada. However, we need your assistance to help us provide for our family and our daughter during this difficult time while we are not yet allowed to work.

Vlada:

Hi all! I'm Vlada. I am a very positive, friendly girl. I wish everyone good and well-being, I help everyone in need of help, support, and reassurance. I am a devoted friend. I don't like to brag. I don't discuss people. I never laugh at people's shortcomings. I'm not afraid to speak the truth and admit if I've done something wrong. When I was very young, I lived in Donetsk. I had many friends and relatives. Before the age of 6, I felt like a happy little princess. However, in 2014, when I was 6 years old, my world was turned upside down by war. When your country is at war, you are not safe. Your days are no longer about school and friends and playing outside. Fighter jets fly loudly overhead. You hear bombs exploding and you must hide in a basement. But in fact, even a young child understands that if a rocket falls nearby, nothing will save you. When Russia invaded my hometown, my heart ached, and it was difficult to breathe. My parents and I were forced to leave our house and go far to Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine). In Kyiv, I didn't have my friends, my grandparents, my toys, and I really missed my playroom. I was scared to go to a new school. Then things got even worse for me. After going to Kyiv, I was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis. I took chemotherapy and spent almost 2 years in the hospital. I had a Broviak subclavian catheter for chemo and I couldn't even bathe. I could not and did not want to eat, I lost a lot of weight. Almost all of my hair and eyebrows fell out. I had constant pain in my head and weakness. By the age of 9, I was convinced that the main thing in life is health, and not the number of dresses and toys. Now I never get upset over trifles and try to see only the good in everything. Then, on my birthday, February 24, 2022, instead of congratulations, my grandmother called me crying and said that the war had begun. Russia had attacked us again, and the soldiers were close to Kyiv. I was afraid. It was a very familiar and terrible feeling. Although I am a brave girl, I do fear war. My parents know that my health is at risk when I am under stress. So, they quickly gathered the most necessary things and we drove away from the war. I was so heartbroken to leave my dear cat, Emira behind with friends. Emira gave so much comfort to me. Now we are in Pacific Grove, California. It's a beautiful city. I like it here very much. Here fighter jets overhead are not dropping bombs, rockets fly only on Independance day, and we do not worry that there is no basement because we no longer have to hide in fear.

We need your help!! The three of us are starting our new life journey for the third time. We are happy to be safe here. We want to say THANK YOU to the American people, people who care about the fate of Ukrainians and who support the Ukrainian people every day. We are appreciative and grateful for any assistance that you can provide to our family! Thank for taking the time to read our words and consider our plea!!