An amazing Ukrainian teen has been the "mouth and ears" for her deaf family as bomb sirens went off in Kiev.
Yurii Dombrovskyi (42), Oksana Dombrovska (38), and kids Anastasia Kurbanova (15) and Stanislav Kurbanov (14) have made it out of the war-torn nation with much thanks to Anastasia as she is the only one with full hearing.
Mam Oksana wrote about how they fled as "the situation in our city was becoming more dangerous day by day" and added Ana particularly "has gone through hell" as she took on the role of warning them whenever something happened.
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After leaving Kiev they went to the Polish border via Lviv.
Oksana added that there was a "lot of crying and fear" over the trip as they left everything they had behind but "that's not important anymore. The important thing is that our children and we are safe and we don't have to run away from bombs".
The family is due to arrive in Ireland on Saturday, and a huge effort is now underway to try and find them a suitable home with the right supports around them, CorkBeo reports.
They're looking to either Cork or Limerick, where two schools with deaf support have agreed to enrol Stanislav when he's ready.
One of those is the amazing Bishopstown Community School, which has even offered to give them transport if they're homed far away.
Because Bishopstown is a community school with a deaf facility, Anastasia and Stanislav would be able to attend together. For that reason, they're hoping someone in the area will be able to help.
Louth-based Polish woman Magdalena Gauza has been very active in getting refugees get settled in Ireland, and will be meeting them when they land this weekend.
Speaking to CorkBeo she said she "won't leave their side" until they're sorted, and is hoping someone in Cork or Limerick might be able to help get them back on their feet.
She said: "They've been through such a traumatic experience and the Red Cross might not be able to meet their needs so we want to make sure they get as much extra help as possible.
"Anastasia is amazingly brave, she's the only one with full hearing and she's taken on so much at just 15.
"She got up so early every day to help them understand what's happening, warn them of sirens going off. It was so much pressure.
"She was the mouth and ears for the family, and also kept a lot of things bottled up because she didn't want to worry them with anything.
"It's such a hard time, and as there's four of them it'll be difficult to house them.
"The schools we've contacted are brilliant and are doing what they can to help. The one in Bishopstown would be amazing and they've even offered to transport them if they end up far away.
"If they can get accommodation and go there then Anastasia and Stanislav can go together as it's a community school with a deaf facility within it.
"They've been through so much and Anastasia being able to be with him in a school would make a massive difference.
"The one in Limerick has offered the same type of support but they'd be separated there. Of course, they would jump at Limerick if they can get there too.
"They're coming to Dublin Airport on Saturday and I won't be leaving their side until I know they have somewhere to go."
Magdalena said the support from schools, charities, and locals has been "unbelievable".
"Lots of deaf charities have reached out and one offered to help get Yurii and Oksana straight back into employment.
"They are a really hard-working, good family."
Magdalena has already helped up to 40 Ukrainian refugees settle in Ireland, however, the family has been a challenge due to their particular needs.
She's been coordinating groups from her home in Louth and has actively gone out to meet people coming in and help them get where they need.
The Irish Deaf Society have sent out invites to all deaf Ukrainians to come to their office in Cabra, Dublin, where there's a deaf village that's home to many organisations.
People can find out more at this link.
If anyone in Cork or Limerick may be able to help this family they can get in touch with CorkBeo, who will pass on your contact to the family.
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