An Alabama a doctor who was in the process of adopting a nine – year – old boy from Ukraine desperately trying to save the orphan as war breaks out between the country and Russia.
Dr Christopher Jaraus, a radiation oncologist at Shelby Baptist Medical Center in Alabaster, said he had wanted to adopt a child for a long time.
He and his wife, Gina, share five of their children, but he has always felt he could do more to help someone in need.
Through the organization The bridges of faithChristopher met Sasha last year, a nine-year-old orphan from Ukraine who was abandoned by his alcoholic mother.
He was in the process of adopting the little boy when tensions between Ukraine and Russia began to rise.
The adoption process may take six to nine months, but now, amid Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, Christopher is determined to quickly return Sasha to the United States.
An Alabama doctor who is in the process of adopting a nine-year-old boy from Ukraine is desperately trying to save the orphan as war breaks out between the country and Russia
Through the Bridges of Faith organization, Dr. Christopher Jahraus and his wife Gina meet Sasha, a nine-year-old orphan from Ukraine who has been abandoned by his alcoholic mother.
After Sasha spent a month with him in December, Christopher began the process of adopting the little boy – just as tensions between Ukraine and Russia began to rise.
“He is my child,” he told local news CBS 42. “Like any father, I will do anything to keep him safe.”
Christopher was inspired when the Rev. Tom Benz of Bridges of Faith, an organization dedicated to helping orphans in Ukraine to be adopted, delivered a speech at his church in 2020.
“It was my wife who said we should go talk to him,” he recalled.
“How can you not want to do your part to save a child from the misery he will go through?”
In December, the organization sent several Ukrainian children to Alabama for a one-month foster care program. It was then that Christopher met Sasha for the first time – the two had an instant relationship.
“When I saw him, I felt similar to when I first saw my child,” Christopher said.
Sasha, who has never been in a relationship with his father, spent about a year in the orphanage before meeting Christopher.
On the way home from the airport, Christopher was moved when Sasha offered his gum to the other children in the car.
“There is only this inherent kindness for him,” he explained.
During the month together, Sasha started calling Christopher “Daddy” and told him she loved him.
Christopher explained to people that Sashko was wrongly labeled as “mentally retarded” from the orphanage.
Having previously studied pediatrics at medical school, he said he was able to diagnose a child with attention deficit disorder.
“If Sasha stays there.” [in Ukraine]he will be mislabeled for the rest of his life – and he will never be given the opportunity to prosper as he would if he were brought here, “he told them.
The adoption process may take up to nine months, but now, amid Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, he is determined to bring Sasha home to safety.
Christopher (pictured with his wife), along with Bridges of Faith, works with lawyers and congressional leaders in an attempt to get Sasha to America
Russia launched a full-scale attack on Ukraine today with rockets falling from the sky, tanks crossing the Belarusian border and masses of attacking helicopters storming the capital Kiev after Russian leader Vladimir Putin personally ordered the attack.
Ukrainian troops are fighting Russian forces to control the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, 60 miles north of the capital Kiev, amid fears the battle could damage nuclear waste storage facilities, causing precipitation that could cover Europe.
According to the Rev. Tom, he believes that all the children in the orphanage are now safe because they are in a “rural environment”.
“Our state coordinator in Ukraine is the basement of a neighbor, in an improvised bomb shelter in Kiev. As far as we know, the children are fine. They are in quite rural conditions, “he explained.
As early as 2013, the Russian government passed the Dima Yakovlev Act, which banned Americans from adopting Russian children.
And now Christopher is terrified that something similar will happen in Ukraine – which is why he is determined to get Sasha out immediately.
He, along with Bridges of Faith, is working with lawyers and congressional leaders in an attempt to move Sashko and other orphans to a neighboring country, such as Poland, Hungary or Romania, from where they can fly to America.
Russia launched a war against Ukraine today with rockets falling from the sky, tanks rolling across the border from Belarus, and masses of attacking helicopters invading the capital Kiev
Russian Mi-8 attack helicopters are filmed attacking Gostomel air base, right on the outskirts of Kiev, after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale attack on the country
Russian armored vehicles are depicted on the roads near the Chernobyl plant, amid fears that damage to the facility could lead to a leak of radiation that will cover Europe with precipitation
A huge explosion is observed at the Vinnytsia military base in central Ukraine, as the country is under total attack from Russia
“This is a crisis. We need to bring these little children here, “Christopher told CBS 42.” Ultimately, we have faith in Jesus Christ and we pray all the time for Sasha and the children.
“The only way to accept bad results is through our faith, knowing that God has a bigger plan than we can see.”
He explained to People that it is especially difficult for him to observe the developments, because Sasha, who according to him has a “beautiful, loving, warm heart” – was only with him last month.
“These children had visas a month ago. This should not be difficult, but there are no open embassies in Ukraine and one consulate that is open does not accept travel applications at the moment, “he added.
“We are not talking about sanctions and political maneuvers. We are talking about small children. It kills me to think that these little children could fall under Russian rulers.