My name is Yana, and I am a mother. Life before the war was happy. I didn't expect at all that war could start in the 21st century, and was a shock. Before, I could go whenever and wherever I wanted. I had freedom. I had plans for the future, I thought I might give birth to new children.

Since the war, I have had fear. I have anxiety for the men who are fighting and dying on the battlefield. Sometimes I wake up during the night and I can feel that something is wrong, and then I see there were explosions in Odessa or Kharkiv or different districts of Ukraine. I could just feel it.

One night, I witnessed how a missile was hit by the air defense. One rocket was hit, and another rocket was hit. It was just for five minutes, but it felt like eternity, and I just waited for when it would be finished. 

It feels heavy inside me. I am afraid that something will happen to me, or to my children. I am afraid that somehow we will be separated - or that they will be left without a mother, or that I will be left without a child. I am afraid someone will be injured, or lose a part of their body, and I will not be able to help. I lived in fear.

During the GROW program, I learned that I’m not alone: I have support, I can find support in others, and I can share my fears and be accepted. I don’t have to keep it inside me, and it is important for me to talk about it. I learned that even though things are hard, growth is possible! I am like a seed, and with proper care, I can still grow. Now I put my energy into creating the right conditions to continue growing, and being healthy for my family.

Because of the generosity of people like you, mothers like Yana have been able to found support and are able to care for and have hope for their families. BUT there are thousands of people with stories that are yet to end with hope. Help Tutapona provide emotional healing by donating today.

*Name has been changed to protect the individual and family.