MAY 30, 2022 — A Houston Methodist Hospital nurse recently spent a month working to rescue her two young cousins from Ukraine. Sasha Shevchenko, a cardiovascular nurse at HMH, grew up in Ukraine and visits often. This incredible story first appeared in the HMH Employee Newsletter sent by CEO Roberta Schwartz, PhD. It is inspiring and wanted to share with the HMSL family.
How is the war in Ukraine affecting you?
War is something that you cannot prepare for. Ukraine was independent for 30 years and was becoming a prosperous, democratic country, so this is truly heartbreaking. The worst things that you can think of are happening in Ukraine right now. Innocent people are getting hurt, and it’s so unfair. Nothing compares to the worry of not knowing if your family is OK or feeling helpless because you can’t be with them. When Russian troops were accumulating at the borders of Ukraine, I was still in denial, and I didn’t really think there would be a war. Everything started happening on Feb. 24, and I had to go to work on the 25th, and I just had a mental breakdown. My director Leigh Ann Hartman and my manager Daniel Kerr were incredibly supportive. I thank God that I work with such wonderful people. When I told them I was going to help evacuate my two cousins, they immediately understood and told me to go take care of my family.
When were you contacted to help evacuate your cousins from Ukraine?
My aunt and uncle are essential employees, so they cannot leave – my uncle is a vascular surgeon who is operating on the soldiers, and my aunt is an anesthesiologist at the perinatal center that is bringing little Ukrainians into this world. They contacted me in early March to help get their girls, my cousins, ages 13 and 20, out of Ukraine. Their original intent was to stay together as a family, but they live in Zaporizhzhia, home to the largest nuclear plant in Europe. When Russia occupied the power plant, my family became very concerned, and that’s when they called us. My aunt and uncle realized the danger they were in, and we were all shocked that the Russians were shelling the plant and even putting themselves in danger. My grandparents are still in Ukraine because they are too sick and elderly to travel, and I worry about them constantly, but so far, they are doing OK. The Ukrainian soldiers are doing a wonderful job protecting our town.
Can you describe the journey you and the girls took to return to the U.S. safely?
My mother and I met the girls in Poland after they traveled on the overly crowded evacuation train. The trains usually carry approximately 36 people, but there were more than 250 people in each car due to the war. In Poland, we applied for a travel visa so the girls could come back to the U.S. with us, but due to the influx of people applying for these visas, it would be at least one year for us to get our first interview for the visa. We traveled from Poland to the Netherlands to Mexico City to Juarez, and we had friends along the way who were so kind in helping us get to our destination.
Once we got to Juarez, we applied for the girls to get a Humanitarian Parole so that they could come safely live with us. The border patrol agents immediately approved my 20-year-old cousin, but they didn’t approve the 13-year-old, and she ended up having to be flown to stay in an anti-trafficking ICE facility in California for eight days while they processed her. The border patrol agents did not recognize the Ukrainian notarized document with her permission to leave the country in the presence of her older sister, so she had to get processed as an unaccompanied minor. Once I got her out of the ICE facility in California, I took the girls to the beach. They’ve been through so much, and I just wanted to help them relax and tell them that we will get through this. I will make sure they talk to a counselor once more time has passed. It’s been so traumatic for me. I can’t even imagine how it’s been for them.
How are the girls now?
They are doing OK. They are living with my mother in Oklahoma. They are keeping busy. We are resilient in Ukraine, so school is still going on. My 20-year-old cousin is in medical school, and because of the time difference, she wakes up each night at 1 a.m., 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. for lectures. All they can talk about is how they want to go back after the war is over to see their family and friends and help rebuild.
What are the next steps for your family?
A couple of good things have happened since the girls have been here. I’ve been able to apply for Temporary Protective Status for the girls, which is better than the current Humanitarian Parole. They’ll be able to get a driver’s license and even a job once that is approved. I’ve also been working with charities to donate medical supplies to Ukraine. It’s crazy how the world changes you. Before, I was always online searching for good deals on shoes and purses, and now my shopping includes bandages, tourniquets and medical supplies to send to Ukraine and help in any way that I can.
Michelle Smith says
Sarah,
Just wow. My heart was aching the entire time I was reading about their journey. I am so grateful that you were able to go and rescue them and all of the trials and tribulations you had to go through to get them safe in your Mom’s home.
Blessings to you, your family and all of Ukraine. I pray that this war will end soon, so we can see the beautiful Ukraine rise up again.
Michelle
HMSL