A Baby for Sharon and JT!

 

JT and Sharon are some of the greatest folks I know.  They are hard working.  Sharon is a teacher, we met years ago while working in probations.  She met JT through her job as a probation officer, he was a cop handing one of her client's new charges....the rest is history:)  Such a sweet story!

They have struggled for years to have a baby.  Currently they are in the process to adopt a newborn.  If you know anyone who is in a situation where they are contemplating adoption as a choice for their child please feel free to share this link with them.  I can assure you the child would be loved & cherished and have a wonderful life.  Please look at their link below, you can help them out in many ways including sharing this post.  

JT & Sharon’s Adoption Journey | Linktree  

Read their story above!

Thank you!!!

More Medical Drama

 Well....

Sam and Sarah have become patients at Arnold Palmer's Complex Care practice.  Complex Care practices are generally for kids/adults with special complicated needs.  When our pediatrician retired last year we tried to find another one in this area but literally got turned down by several practices because of the kid's ages and needs.  Honestly I did not know a doctor could refuse a patient just because of special needs!  Sam was even turned away from our adult gastrologist, he did not feel he could take care of his needs.  

So they've both had seen their main new doctor (who we love!). She sent them both to several specialists so I had this "great" idea of scheduling all their appointments over a 3 day period.  Sounds good right?? WHEW! My head is reeling! We stayed at the Ronald McDonald House and did all these appointments....

Sam Upper GI/Lower GI barium swallow

Sam Physical Rehab

Sarah Gastrology

Sam Gastrology

Sarah Orthopedics

Sarah Endocrinology

Sam Pediatrician

Sarah Pediatrician

Sam Pulmonary (2x one for a walking test to see his oxygen level when walking.  Sam was not amused)

Sam also met with a surgeon.....

Plus I did a hearing by conference call regarding their SSI benefits (5 years and counting...) 

11 appointments!  3 different buildings.....

SO.....we found that Sam also has malrotation of the small intestines!  This is a rare birth defect and should have been caught when he was an infant by the Gastrologist that we saw for 18 years.... yes the same one that missed this on Sarah for 10 years.....  I will be sending in a complaint to the governing board of medical license regarding this particular practice!  If anyone lives in the Tampa Bay area and wants to PM me if they have a child who needs to or is seeing a gastrologist I will personally tell you our story.  My advice is to go anywhere but the Tampa Bay area as this practice is large and extends throughout this region.  Sarah especially could have been injured or killed by the things they told us to do (loading her up on laxatives) I'm so glad I trusted my gut.  I did not believe she was constipated and was proven right but Sarah had to go through too much before the malrotation was discovered.  And it was only discovered because I would not back down and kept forcing them to find the cause of her enormous swelling.  

So Sam met with the surgeon and the surgeon believes (as do I) that his malrotation is minor (Sarah's was extremely complicated) In fact Sam's is not terribly "off" so we are going to wait a bit before surgery.  In a few months he'll do another barium swallow & reassess it.  He will be having a slight surgery to take off the red mole on his nose next week!  I can't wait.  I hate that mole.  It bothers him and keeps growing.  

The adult physical rehab doctor does not think Sam has any neurological deterioration based on his physical exam.  Some of the things the other neurologist cited are not unusual for people with cerebral palsy.  He did give us a prescription for Bachofen just to see if it can help his legs relax some without making him sleepy.  We will try it tomorrow.   

Most of the other appointments were to get them established with the specialists.  I was very impressed with how everyone worked together.  After getting the diagnosis of the malrotation, the appointments for gastro and the surgeon were added and all the offices worked together to get it all done.  IT was actually "old school" how they all worked as a team.  I love it!  The drawback is that it is a 2 hour drive but it is worth it!  They also are very responsive on "My Chart"  If I send a message I get a response usually in minutes.  

We stayed in the Ronald McDonald House.  I figured out that we have stayed approximately 1 year of the last 18 years in a Ronald McDonald House!  Isn't that CRAZY? Most of the time has been in Rochester NY (4 months when the accident happened and 4 weeks when Sam had his cornea implants and then about a week every year there so that would have been about 13 weeks)  The other RMHs we've stayed in has been in St Pete and Miami.  The thing I love most about RMH is meeting the other families.  Most of them are like us and frequent fliers....  you're immediately in "the club"  There are a few families who are there for a short time- one time type situation too.  But the long haulers usually connect with each other!  The thing I hate???  In some of them the families have to clean their room before they leave.  It sounds like nothing especially for me cause I like to clean but it is so stressful to be cleaning a room when you and your kids are usually overwhelmed and just want to get home.  I'm all about cleaning and straightening up but that aspect just stresses me out completely.  Years ago one RMH we stayed at had daily chores for each family as well as expecting the family to clean and mop their rooms before leaving)    Well I was by myself with Sam and had just been told that he had brain damage and CP so I was hysterical (although of course we thought he did but to hear it was hard)  The manager saw I'd been bawling and yet told me to go mop the living room dining room area before I left or I would not be able to come back and stay there again!  It was awful I cried the whole time I was cleaning and I had to bring Sam in his stroller around with me while I was doing the mopping and cleaning our room that I barely stayed in!  Again I'm all about cleaning, when we were in NY for those months I helped the staff do all kinds of things around the house in the afternoons and I even cooked supper for the whole house several times.  Their RMH does not require parents to do chores nor clean their room when they leave.  Of course they expect things are keep clean not trashy but they realize the stress the family is under.   I'm not lazy but when you're at a RMH you are not on a relaxing vacation!  It's usually a very stressful time. you kid(s) are stressed, things are going on....it rough!  Today I was only able to do what was needed because I had Jon to keep the kids.  This was an incredibly stressful and busy time for us.   I don't think I've ever done something like this I think it's a record to do so many appointments.

Other than Sam's possible need for surgery, both kids got a lot of attention in gastrology!  Both of them have been put on some meds to ensure they stay cleaned out.  Unfortunately Sarah is still having so much gas her little belly feels like a watermelon after she eats.  She has also been put on the FODMAP diet which on top of her lactose intolerance it's going to be hard to make her meals.  Luckily I had some frozen  home made meals that would fall under that diet in the freezer.  But of her frozen meals only a few would work.  Luckily she is only on this diet for 6 weeks to give her belly some time to really heal up.  The doctor also felt she could have some infection in her small intestines (as did I ) so she got put on antibiotics.  Sam got put on a regiment of laxities and stool softeners again to see if we can get him going.  Sam eats so healthy it's surprising that he ever has any issues.  He loves veggies and hates sweets....He can eat a bag of broccoli by himself no lie!  He eats it like I eat candy!  The idea is basically his gut moves slow- almost as if he has CP in the muscles of his guts.  

Another concerning thing is Sam has lost 16 pounds since January.  He has done this before (and ALWAYS this time of year January-April) but never this much weight.  A few years ago he lost about 10 pounds and we were all freaked out.  This is even more.  He doesn't enjoy his food like he normally does.  All his tests have come back normal except the malrotation.  So I think the idea is they think he just feels bad because he is dealing with constipation.  We are doing a clean out and hopefully that will continue with the new meds and plus he usually does better in the summer/fall.  One of his chromosomal issues includes seasonal depression....January-April.  When I heard that I was amazed because he either is sick or upset during that time of year...every single year!  So we are hoping to see a real change in him soon..

Sam was done!

He carried daddy's books

He did pretty good for an hour or two with a mask

My sweet babies

They are so cute

Both of them took naps yesterday LOL

This morning I got up to watch the rocket launch from Cape Carnival.  Luckily it was right on time. 

My friends were with me 

In all of this yesterday was our 10 year anniversary of walking out of the orphanage with the girls!

This picture is somewhere in Doneskt as we did the paperchase the day before getting the girls out.  We had just been given their passports and birth certificates naming us as parents.

George our facilator and us.  We had the girls in their pretty dresses.  

Sarah always looked so intently in our faces.  It's almost as if she knew she'd lose that tiny bit of sight one day.  

Can you tell I'd been crying a little bit?  I was so happy  Sarah was still stressed from me changing her clothes.  It took her awhile to get used to that.  

Me headed out with Selah

this is such an iconic picture for our family

we posed with the director of the institution near the Doneskt train station on the left.  Jon was drinking coffee behind us lol

Sarah was so little

this picture was taken 10 years ago in Kyvi after the overnight train ride from hell.  I absolutely love this picture.  Look where Selah's hand is.... so sweet  And Sam with his shirt up....

It's hard to believe a decade has passed....some days it seems like it happened last year others it seems like they've always been with us.  

Pray for Sam and Sarah as they begin their new meds...and for me!  I'm hoping there won't be too many accidents!  

Sam's Update

For about 1.5 years Sam has seemed to have issues with vertigo off & on.  We've had everything tested-traveled to NY for his eyes, seen the neurologist had Cat scan and MRI (in which he quit breathing...) Yesterday we finally got in to see a neurologist who specializes in vertigo/inner ear issues.  Unfortunately he feels Sam has  neurological deterioration based on everything.  I was so shocked at getting a basically terminal diagnosis I was pretty much speechless.  I wasn't crying or anything just shocked to my core.  The appointment was very long and the doctor did clean out a foot of ear wax out of Sam's ears.  When we finally got out to the car I was able to think and called our regular neurologist.  Thankfully he got right back to me and he doesn't agree with his colleague.  

There are more things going on than just vertigo and one thing that is concerning is nothing seems to be enjoyable to Sam except rocking in his chair and taking a car ride.  He quit playing with toys last year, he's not interested in music or tv  He doesn't want to even go outside.  When he directly interacts with us he is his normal self as far as how he acts emotionally towards us. He is not upset & has not been biting his hands thank God.  At one point he wasn't even wanting to eat or drink so we had a zillion tests ran on him but everything was perfectly normal then he started back eating and drinking normally.  

 

It makes us sad to feel like Sam is slipping away from us-that's exactly what it feels like most of the time.  But Sam is so complicated -this could be a stage he is going through.  One of his chromosomal disorders lists seasonal depression as one of it's components.  Interestingly enough Sam always has issues January-April every single year!  Usually they are medical but seem to have an emotional part to them.  Looking at FB memories today I have a post from 4 years ago that was about Sam and how he is acting more like himself after weeks of depression.  That encouraged me too.  We are hoping this is just something else besides what the specialist diagnosed it  as being.  At this point it's just a wait and see situation.  There is really nothing else to test or anything that can be done if it is neurological deterioration.  We have tested him up on side and down the other this past 1.5 years.  He's seen every specialist.  The dizziness comes and goes with him  unfortunately the disinterest is pretty constant.  However after the doctor appointment he has seemed a little more engaging.  Of course that makes us wonder about the whole ear wax thing!  He has been eating better the last week or so.  That was really worrisome when he was not interested in eating or drinking.  Sam generally loves to eat.  So keep our boy in your prayers.  

In other news everything is going good.  We are planning Sarah's "Children's Dream" vacation for August.  We picked out swimming with the dolphins in the Keys for her.  We wanted to do dolphin therapy but where we went with Sam is not open anymore.  But I know this will be great for her.  Actually the whole family is going to swim with the dolphins.  Last time I declined as I'm not a fan of animals way bigger than me in 16 feet of water!  But I think I'm going to do it this time.  Our older sons are not going to be able to go with us but our caregiver will be going and it'll be fun.  

In the next few weeks we have a SSI hearing for the little kids.  We have been fighting for them to get benefits for years.  It's insane!  This will be our 3rd hearing.  Sam is already 18 so his should be no issue but somehow it still is. People assume that we get all kinds of benefits for our 3 handicapped kids....just for the record they get nothing but med wavier!  Med Wavier is a blessing and usually people with special needs do not have Med Wavier until they are 21 years old in Florida.  But a few years ago a very sympathic worker put us on it due to the kids severity of needs.  It covers respite care and diapers which is a big help. And it has helped with Selah's charges for her group home.  But Sam and Sarah also will have another hearing regarding their respite care.  Somehow the state decided they didn't need it.  We are contesting it and trying to work around the situation.  Hopefully things will work out in our favor in both situations.  

EASTER 2022

 Our Easter weekend was full.  On Saturday Shad and I delivered Easter baskets to Selah's group home.  We had a great time putting them together for the clients and staff.  

I woke sleeping beauty up and she was not so thrilled with me LOL  She gets her little mad line in between her eyes when she is not impressed.  

One of my bestest friends - my college roommate filled in for us on the keyboard as we had some of our worship team out for medical and family emergency.  They did great and Sarah loved it even when they were practicing before church.  

I got a few pictures before church 

I love how she crosses her feet

This picture just makes my heart so happy.  So much love in this one picture.  Steve's girlfriend and two of his closest college friends who are like family.  My closest friend and my babies.  

Jon is obviously talking lol

Love these folks!

This picture....we were trying to be cute and kick out our feet like the "young girls" do....we ended up having to hold each other up!  That's the true story of our friendship!  

We were looking at old pictures.... this was ME Easter 1966 Yes I had some red hair!

30 years later Steve 1996 

Sam Easter 2004 38 years later....

You can tell we just might be kin LOL

The next pictures are Sam from 2006.  Although he was 2 years old, he was so tiny!  

Yes he only had 3 teeth breaking through at 2 years old.  He's 18 now and we are not sure all his baby teeth are out yet.  

Easter was a very good day.  Our church even had a missionary share in the service.  It was encouraging and uplifting.  I've really been struggling as we have a dear friend facing incurable cancer.  He is on my mind throughout the day and my heart is just crushed to see him have to deal with so much.  I was not in "the Easter mood" to say the least this weekend  But as we sang the old hymns of the church celebrating the resurrection I felt my heart join with the saints on earth and those already in heaven to proclaim that there is a resurrection that has happened with our Savior and one that will happen for all the saints of God.   Something about Easter roots me in my faith more than any other observance of the church.  I remember singing all those old hymns in a packed church as a child.  Many of the folks who sang with me are now in heaven and that touches my heart.  And I'm still singing those songs and teaching them to my children.  Please pray for our dear friend .  He has been our worship minister for 14.5 years and he's been a faithful part of our team. We three worked together so good all these years and we had hoped for many more years together working for the Lord at our church.   This life is not easy and I'm glad there is an eternal hope of heaven to cling to in times like these.  That knowledge is a comfort.  

Glasses, Cars, Trips to ER

This song could be for my husband & all my kids Steve made this beautiful video of Sarah. April 4th was 10 years since we met Sarah & Selah. Our story was a college friends of mine shared a blog about a family who had adopted a special needs child from Eastern Europe. I read the blog & then looked at the organization that posted pictures of orphans from all over the world who have special needs. And there was Sarah. I really can’t explain, we had absolutely 0 plans to the adopt again. We had our three boys - life was pretty good…. But that picture literally haunted me. Within days we started the process to adopt her. During the quick 4.5 months that the adoption took we decided to add another child. We heard some pretty horrific things so we wanted to do more. At first we were going to adopt a little boy along with Sarah but he got adopted (very strange story) Then we were told about Selah a few weeks before we left to get Sarah… Both girls fit into our family so perfectly once we were home. As you know just a few months later while we were in NY on a medical/vacation the accident happened. I don’t even try to understand everything- all I can do is hang on knowing that one day everything will be redeemed. Today I went & took some things to Selah & visited with her & the staff. I told her I love her & am glad she’s our daughter.

Adoption is a wonderful thing. To me it’s just like marriage, it’s a commitment. And it’s very magical. You take these people who don’t even know the other ones exists & somehow they become family- real family! It’s an amazing thing & Im so lucky to have gotten to experience it with 3 children. And experience the births of our 2 biological children. What a blessed life Ive had!

Get the tissues ready!

Sarah 10 years 

Sam has really struggled all this year.  We've been extremely worried about his actually since November.  He's had gastric issues.  He's had xray/cat scan and lots of blood work everything comes back normal but he is just "off"  He's always had constipation issues off and on although at times we find an answer but then his body doesn't respond to the various meds or concoctions after awhile.   These past few months he goes through days we have to coax him to eat or drink.  Other days he acts normal.  The past week has been rough!   He is scheduled for a barium swallow next month to check his gastro tract.  But we think alot of it more depression/anxiety.  One of his chromosomal things actually has a component of seasonal depression.  Sam has always had issues with illness/anxiety January-March....  CRAZY!  That's always when he'd get sick and have issues as well as be "off"   When the genetics doctor told me I was shocked!  WE try and give him extra time and rides in the car just to spend time with him during these days.  We hope they will pass soon this year has been really hard because of all of Sarah's problems and Selah' moving.... Sam did get new glasses that we are working with him on wearing.  So far he's doing good.  

Car #3!  In 3 months Shad totaled 2 cars....we are hoping the 3rd one is the charm!  Neither of the mishaps were Shad's fault at all!  But it is not easy to find a gently used car in this day!  Thanks to a friend we made a contact Whitestone Auto Sales in Lakeland Florida 863-686-3385  We were very relieved to find this car at a good price.  The owner is a Christian and he even prayed over the car and Shad   I thought that was so sweet.  Shad is doing great in his new job & he is loving it  We are so proud of him.  

Sarah is doing good.  I'm still very paranoid about everything that goes in her mouth since finding out how lactose intolerant she is.  I've modified all our recipes for Sarah but I have to watch out because Jon can't have anything with high fat..... so I do some separate dishes!   She has done fine so far but we are still very careful!

Selah is doing great in her group home.  She had a little scare last week when she had one of her episodes that ended up in the ER  It's not a seizure or a neuro storm....but it looks similar.  Her heart rate goes either very high or very low and her oxygen level goes low.  It's not related to any pulmonary problem although it seems like it is.  Our neurologist feels her brain stem is deteriorating.  So she got a trip to the ER.  By the time we got there everything was fine.  The doctor expects this to happen more and more frequently and she will pass away from it.  That's hard to hear but the only comfort is that most people who have had near drownings pass away long before this point from other more painful issues.  We have no timeline and she's not on hospice.  We are just continuing to love and take care of her.  

This past week I helped organize  a group of volunteers from a friend's church went to her group home and did some outside spring cleaning.  Our church provided the supplies and their church provided the man power!  Our church is doing baskets for all the residents of the group home for Easter.  I've had fun putting them together.  It's challenging because only one resident can have anything by mouth but I'm used to doing Easter baskets that are a little different.  We are also able to supply some equipment to help start a therapy room!  I'm so excited about that!!

Our oldest Steve is doing great.  There is so many great things happening in his life.  He gets to travel with his job and do what he loves which is videography.  Next week he's in Miami for the week and part f it he will be interviewing Ben Carson!  Two of his best friends are also working this conference so he is looking forward to being with them. We adore his girlfriend and are so happy to see him in love:)  Last night I was in Lakeland dropping Shad off to get his new car and Steve called me to meet them for supper.  It's fun having adult kids!  He even paid LOL

We continue to keep contact with all of our loved ones in Ukraine and now some of them are in other countries for safety.  Please pray for them.

Update on Ukraine and Family

 I'm sorry I have not posted more but I'm happy to report that most of the orphans and disabled adults from Druz have been evacuated either out of the country or to a much safer area of Ukraine.  Our church has also been able to help our friends and their church which is near the fighting.  

Our local paper did an article on what we are trying to do...

HELP UKRAINE   you can read the article.

It's such a hard situation for Ukraine.  Please pray for peace!

Our family is doing good!  Steve & Nichole had an amazing missions trip to Puerto Rico.  They were encouraged by their experience and want to do more for missions.   Shad is home for a few weeks while he does on the job training then he will go back and finish the last part of his classroom training at the law enforcement academy.  We are loving having him home!  Oh did I even mention he is looking for another vehicle?  His truck caught on fire as he was driving....total loss!  His second totaled vehicle in 3 months.... neither his fault but at this point I won't ride with him LOL

Selah has been doing good.  Our goal is to visit her 3-4x a week.  It's not also doable because of the distance and time but we are pretty close to our goal.  This past week she had some type of episode and they called the ambulance.  Everything was ok and she got to spend the whole day with me in the ER.  While there she did have 3 of her little episodes.  They aren't seizures but they look like a seizure.  Her neurologist thinks it's signs of her brain stem deteriorating  There is nothing that can be done for it.  Other than that she is doing good.  

Sam is on a more even keel lately.  Whatever was going on with him for the past few moths has calmed down.    We along with his doctors are being to think it's almost a seasonal depression that also is related to vertigo.  He now goes to the complex care clinic at Arnold Palmer and we are very pleased with it.  He has seen some specialists and has a slew more to see in May.  Hopefully we will have a game plan soon.  He did have some bloodwork and xrays done just to rule out a few things but nothing popped up.

Sarah is doing good.  We are still quite paranoid about her.  We all write down all her food and meds.  I'm learning how to make some old familiar dishes with no milk products or  use some plant based non lactose products.  Tomorrow she has her new patient appointment at the AP complex care clinic.  We are really glad to get her in!  Right now they aren't taking new patients but thankfully took her.  She originally had an appointment while she was in the hospital recovering from surgery.  Luckily they rescheduled.  

This weekend we were all together and I never take it for granted anymore.  All those years of everyone being home with us I treasure so much.  I was so blessed-those days seemed to last forever and I could never imagine my boys all grown up.  It all happened so fast!  But I am so thankful for the memories and the new different kind of memories of meeting up going out to eat and shopping.  Meeting over at Selah's group home all together to do some things and see her.  I love my peeps!

Here in Florida the windows and doors are opened and we are loving the weather!  Since some of my kids have "flown the coop" I got some baby chicks.  OH.MY.LORD. what a pain!  And they all 4 hate me!  I can tame any animal but not these stupid feral chicks!  My other chickens love me. Hopefully they will learn to love me but I'm doubting it.  I've even starting to give them treats but it does no good. 

They are 3 weeks old today and already starting to look ugly!  Nothing like a teen chick lol  These pictures are when I first got them.

Barred Rocks

Speckled Sussex

I got them at Tractor Supply because I wanted them sexed.  No Roos for me!

Currently we have 11 outside cats (I took a mama and her kittens all are spayed now!

7 chickens and 1 sweet dog who loves them all

19 animals!  WOW! I'm willing to share!  I have all the cats spayed/neutered and have their shots!  All are sweet and probably litter boxed trained (mama and her kittens are) Just contact me if you'd like a nice cat or two!

Ukraine Update

 These past days have kept my focus on Ukraine and the people we love that are still there.  Without going into detail yet there are many things going on.  Please pray that God will protect the innocents!  We are helping where we can and hoping to do more.  

If you would like to give- here are three places you can give and I can assure it will be used for the purpose that is stated.

First our church

Grace Church

7060 Berry Road

Zephyrhills FL 33540

send a check and put Ukraine at the "for" line.  We have several situations going on where we can directly give to certain individuals in order to buy supplies food medicine and hopefully get some folks out of the country!

Another long time ministry that has been in Ukraine for almost 2 decades Life2Orphans  Yall know I've mentioned them many times.  They have worked all over the country of Ukraine for all these years and are still helping.  LIFE2ORPHAN Facebook  is there current fund raiser.  Please give

Then there is this family.....wow! I'm surprised they have not been on the news....  This mama was running into Ukraine when every American I knew was running out!  She managed to get 2 of the boys out.  There is a glitch for the last boy- he is legally their child yet his paperwork was not correct (Ukraine's fault) and he is still there.  And that crazy Mama, she's getting ready to leave to go back and get him.  I don't think she is going into Ukraine but to a bordering country.  Pray for them and give to them.  I'm sure the fees are going to be high.  What their account is showing is all the money that has come in during the past year or so.  Most if not all of that money has been used so they will need more to get this little fellow.  I have to say this woman has earned my respect!

Miss.hildebrant@gmail.com

this is her and her new 15 YEAR old son who just spent several weeks in the hospital.  Yes you  read that right this child is 15 years old.  Please give and help this family to have the finances to get the remaining boy.

My heart is heavy for friends and loved ones.  In all my years I've never ever felt such darkness.  There is everything going on in the world and I have some heavy situations in "my world"  All I can say is But God.... 

There are several situations I'm involved in and we are just praying that God will make a way.  I'll share more when I can but God knows and He alone can work things out.  

Just a quick note for anyone who is in doubt about what is happening in Ukraine.  The GOOD guys are the Ukrainians.  There is no question.  If you read or hear things differently do not believe it.  It is not made up.  My mind is blown by some of the stupid things I'm hearing...

Quick lesson - Ukraine is its own separate country with its own identity.  The country's roots go back over a thousand years but it has always had to deal with Russia/Poland.  The most recent history was Ukraine was recognized as a sovereign country in 1917 but in 1922 (100 years ago) Ukraine became one of the founding members or the Soviet Union after fighting.  Of course Russia held control over Ukraine and managed to kill about 5 million Ukrainians by starving them to death.  That is called the Holodomor.  During WWII Ukraine was occupied by both Germany and Russia.  Many Ukrainians fought against both.  In the words of a Ukrainian friend "it was a very complicated situation"   

In 1991 when the USSR was dissolved Ukraine became a sovereign nation.  They have had some things to overcome but year by year the country was becoming more Westernized with the idea of freedom!   The Ukrainians fought against corruption and managed to overthrow corrupt presidents including the one in 2014.  At the same time Russia overtook Crimea and some of the Doneskt region   Now the Russians want to take over all of Ukraine.  But this is only the first step.  Putin wants the old USSR back and on this the 100 year anniversary of its beginning he is fighting to start it again  

In 1994 Ukraine gave up their nuclear weapons and signed a memorandum for security Assurances which basically said they give up their weapons but we would protect them....  What the Budapest Memorandum means for the U.S. on Ukraine - The Washington Post  it is a bit murky but I do not think the world is living up to this.  

When we were in Ukraine everyone talked politics to some degree.  They all wanted a free democratic country where they could live in peace.  It is so sad to see what is happening while the world lights up buildings in blue and yellow.....

Please pray and give to the organizations I mentioned or to others you know about personally.  But be careful to where your money goes.