Seeing the tragedy and turmoil of the war in Ukraine unfold almost 9,000 kilometres away simply became too much to bear for Anne-Marie Smith.

B次元官网网址淲atching the news, I just couldnB次元官网网址檛 handle it anymore,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淚 have absolutely no connection to Ukraine but I felt I had do something, so I signed up with many websites to try and sponsor a family in early March. Fortunately, there are people from all over the world who want to help.B次元官网网址�

After researching a number of options, Smith settled on Transport a Sister, a charitable organization on Facebook that donates air miles collected from people all over the world who want to help with getting families out of Ukraine.

That resulted in Smith and her family opening their hearts and the door of their Sooke River Road home to Nataliia Nadzelska her children, Sophiia, 13, and Andrii, 8. The family lived in the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine before the war with Russia began on Feb. 24.

B次元官网网址淲ar is a terrible thing, it becomes ruthless both to enemies and itself,B次元官网网址� Nadzelskaz wrote in a journal she began on that first fateful night that a friend has translated into English.

B次元官网网址淎t first you perceive information as if everything is happening in a Hollywood movie, but not with you. You live, you breathe but you no longer control your life. War dictates the rules.B次元官网网址�

The entries in the journal continue from the painful decision to leave her husband, Alexander, behind for the sake of their family in the first days of the conflict, to the unfathomable hoops and hurdles she had to jump through just to cross the border on foot into Romania.

Days blurred together and the children got sick, but Nadzelska continued her efforts to find safe haven, burdened by the fact that no one can predict when she will be reunited with her husband.

B次元官网网址淭he news reads that Canada invites, simplifies entry rules for Ukrainians and, most importantly gives permission to work, not refugee status,B次元官网网址� she wrote at the beginning of March, unaware of the bureaucracy and rolls of red tape that lay ahead before she had any success.

B次元官网网址淥n March 19, at 11:32, I wrote to Anne-Marie Smith and it changed my life,B次元官网网址� she wrote. B次元官网网址淚 will definitely be grateful for this for the rest of my life.B次元官网网址�

ALSO READ:

The home stretch of the harrowing ordeal finally arrived once they boarded a flight from Romania to Rome on April 18, thanks again to the generosity of complete strangers.

Nadzelska is still overwhelmed by the efforts of Peter Denys, a man who met them at the airport in Rome.

B次元官网网址淗e came to Rome from Quebec for us with a good smile and a whole suitcase of gifts, accompanied and supported us, helped me every minute, and the road was no longer so terrible,B次元官网网址� she wrote on that life-changing day.

Those feelings were reinforced when SmithB次元官网网址檚 husband, Elden, picked up the family in Vancouver for the trip to Sooke B次元官网网址渨ith flowers and a sincere smile.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲elcome home, you are safe,B次元官网网址� Anne-Marie greeted them with when she opened the door. B次元官网网址淭ears of joy and a sense of comfort, a lot of gifts for everyone, a sense of gratitude overflows,B次元官网网址� Nadzelska wrote on April 20.

B次元官网网址淎s a mother with children the same age, I canB次元官网网址檛 comprehend what sheB次元官网网址檚 going through,B次元官网网址� Smith said. B次元官网网址淚 can never complain about anything trivial anymore.B次元官网网址�

Smith is extremely grateful for the way the community has stepped in with support, often from complete strangers showing up at the door with cash in envelopes.

B次元官网网址淚t reinforces what a caring community Sooke is, and IB次元官网网址檓 so humbled by what people IB次元官网网址檝e connected with are doing to help,B次元官网网址� Smith said.

B次元官网网址淥ur family has the space, but the help with food and expenses is greatly appreciated. Elden and I are in the process of helping NataliiaB次元官网网址檚 friend and her daughter in the same way. I donB次元官网网址檛 know when theyB次元官网网址檒l arrive, but theyB次元官网网址檙e living through air raids every day, so how do you say no?B次元官网网址�

Nadzelska started full-time work at QF Foods last week.

B次元官网网址淚 need to find a home and support my family,B次元官网网址� she explained in English which is rapidly improving every day.

She spends her free time trying to get her children into school and staying in constant touch with her husband and family back in Ukraine through FaceTime.

Her cousin, Dmitry, who spent four days recovering from shrapnel wounds, was back on the front lines the day he was released from hospital.

B次元官网网址淢y family is my life,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淢y mother and husband have missiles flying over their home every day and I worry about Dmitry and his wife and 10-month-old daughter. ItB次元官网网址檚 so hard to be here knowing that every day people and children are dying. I could never imagine being in a situation like this. ItB次元官网网址檚 so difficult when the future of your family is so uncertain, when your childrenB次元官网网址檚 future is in your hands.B次元官网网址�

If you would like to offer support, contact Smith at ukrainesooke@gmail.com.

You can also help by purchasing her daughter SophiiaB次元官网网址檚 artwork, which she is selling through her first-ever Facebook post to raise money so she and her brother can buy a phone and tablet to stay connected with loved ones back home.

Contact Smith at ukrainesooke@gmail.com for more information.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
Like us on and follow us on