– Mother. How do you hide the feud? Alevtina is afraid of alarms, Alevtina is afraid of everything.
The words came from Alexandra Zoravel’s 18-year-old son. He tried to make his mother understand that the only right thing was to leave him, to save the life of his mentally retarded (8) little sister Alevtina.
Here Alexandra’s son sits with the family dog Luna at home in Ukraine a year ago when everything was different. Since he is of fighting age, he is not allowed to leave Ukraine. Photo: Alexandra Zoravel
Zhuravel (38) and Alevtina are now among the refugees who took refuge in the Benedictine Sisters’ Convent in Jaroslaw, Poland.
– I didn’t really want to travel, because my son had to stay there. Zhuravel says, but I had to prioritize saving Alevtina because she is such a special child Reuters.
Alexandra Zuravel keeps her daughter Aleftina Pravurichenko Crane in her bedroom in the monastery. Elvitina is partially paralyzed and cannot speak. Photo: Hannah McKay
Although they are safe in Poland, the young family is worried all the time. Alevtina is under financial pressure and reacts to the sound of helicopters flying over the area.
– Eleftina is still very scared. We try to distract her by taking her to the pool and going for a walk. We’re going as far as we can go, and little by little you’re getting quieter, says Zhuravel.
The monastery in Jaroslav has a swimming pool and recreation center. The little family is lucky to be here.
Alexandra Gaurav takes long walks with her daughter to comfort her. Photo: Hannah McKay
Alevitina’s mother comforts her after a helicopter flew over the area, frightening her. Photo: Hannah McKay
At home in Ukraine, there are still many families with children with special needs who cannot escape. There are also many children with disabilities who are abandoned, although the vast majority are cared for by anxious parents.
– Thank God Petro does not understand what war is. I know his scream is mine, writes Anastasia Stipola Instagram.
She is the mother of an autistic child. Routine and getting used to this habit are very important for these children. Job level varies greatly. Some understand what war is and some do not.
What these children have in common is that they are very sensitive. Stipola writes that even if they don’t understand war, they feel it.
Stipola is the founder of the organization «happy day» Who advises parents and helps them in the same difficult situation. She and Petro are now safely in Italy, and says Petro is well adapted to the new environment and rules.
Monday was World Autism Awareness Day, and Olena Zelenska, wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, spoke to this group of children.
The First Lady often refers to women and children’s experiences of war on social media.
On Instagram, she writes about children abandoned by their parents, unable to take care of them. Also brand for newborns.
Almost all of them have some form of disability, Zielinska writes.
Up to nine convoys with dozens of orphans with various diseases and disabilities on board have been evacuated to Poland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, according to the first lady.
Here they are received and given the treatment they need. Zelenska thanks everyone who participated.
Ukrainian refugee Alexandra Goravil, 38, attends her daughter Aleftina, 8, in the changing room in the swimming pool at the local sports and recreation center in Yaroslav, Poland, March 29, 2022. “Aleftina is still very scared,” Goravel said. “She’s under constant pressure and we try to distract her by going to the pool and walking. We try to walk as much as possible and play outside and she’s getting over that little by little.” Photograph: Hannah McKay/Reuters. Search for a “wider picture” of all the photo stories: Hannah McKay
Ukrainian refugee Alexandra Zhuravel, 38, helps her daughter Aleftina Pravurichenko, 8, with cerebral palsy physical therapy in the swimming pool at the local Sports and Recreation Center, in Yaroslav, Poland, March 29, 2022. “Aleftina is still very scared,” said Zhuravel. She is under constant stress and we try to distract her by going to the pool and walking. We try to walk as much as we can and play outside and she’s getting over that little by little.” Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters. Search for ‘wider picture’ for all stories Photo: Hannah McKay
Ukrainian refugee Alexandra Zhuravel, 38, helps her daughter Aleftina Pravurichenko, 8, with cerebral palsy physical therapy in the swimming pool at the local Sports and Recreation Center, in Yaroslav, Poland, March 29, 2022. “Aleftina is still very scared,” said Zhuravel. She is under constant stress and we try to distract her by going to the pool and walking. We try to walk as much as we can and play outside and she’s getting over that little by little.” Photo: Hannah McKay/Reuters. Search for ‘wider picture’ for all stories Photo: Hannah McKay
Elifina calms down when she is in the therapeutic bath attached to the monastery in Poland
Photo: Reuters/Hannah McKay
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