Sometimes motherhood is a decision that has to be made in the most difficult circumstances. A decision not to leave your child, even when it seems there is no other way out.

The Christian Mission "New Life" received an urgent request from the Velykodolynska Village Council of the Odesa District, Odesa Region, to accept a mother with three children who found herself in difficult life circumstances and needed safe shelter.

Olha is 25 years old. She is a mother of three children: six-year-old Kira, four-year-old Maksym, and little Roman, who is only one week old.

The young mother's life has been difficult from an early age. She gave birth to her eldest daughter Kira at a young age. The child's father did not live with the family, but he supported his daughter.

Later, Olha started living with another man. After the start of the full-scale war, the situation in the family deteriorated sharply — the man began to abuse alcohol and became aggressive. Being pregnant, Olha could not stay in such conditions and left him with her daughter Kira for her mother's home. Her son Maksym was born there.

Later, Olha tried to provide for her children on her own. She moved to Chornomorsk, rented a room, worked, and her children attended kindergarten. When necessary, her aunt helped with the children.

After some time, Olha resumed communication with her eldest daughter's father. She learned about her third pregnancy late — only when she felt the baby's first movements. Until the last day, Olha continued to work at the factory.

That evening, her labor began. She gave birth at home. Fortunately, the mother and her newborn son were hospitalized in time. Thank God, little Roman was born healthy.

Having learned about the pregnancy and the birth of his son, the man disappeared — he changed his phone number and stopped getting in touch.

After giving birth, due to the unresolved housing issue, Olha was offered to temporarily place Roman in a baby home until she found housing.

The mother refused to leave her child.

It was after this that the question of urgently placing Olha together with all three of her children in a safe place where she could stay with them arose.

Olha was accepted into the Mother and Child Home of the Christian Mission "New Life" together with her three children — the youngest, Roman, was only a few days old at the time.

After all they had been through, the family first and foremost needed something simple but most important — a place where a mother can be close to her children and not be afraid for their future.

At the Mother and Child Home, Olha and her children received safe temporary housing, food, essential items, and support.

Here they can recover after childbirth, stay together, and gradually resolve their further life issues.

Currently, Olha and her three children remain at the Mother and Child Home, where they receive the necessary help and care.

The family still has many difficulties ahead, but now the mother is not left alone with them.

The lack of housing should not be a reason for separation of a mother and her child. Especially in the first days of life, when a baby needs its mother's warmth the most.

That is why the Mother and Child Home exists as a place where a woman in difficult life circumstances can come with her children and receive the most essential things: shelter, safety, support, and time to understand how to live on.

We pray for Olha, little Roman, Kira, and Maksym. May the Lord strengthen this young mother, protect her children, and grant the family peace, protection, and hope for a new life.