When experience crosses oceans in the name of support, stories of true solidarity are born.

A nurse from California traveled a long way to personally support colleagues working with cancer patients in Ukraine.

Anna Maria Antonovich was born in Chico, California, but her family story began in a village near Chernivtsi, Ukraine – where her grandparents, Anna and Ilarion Antonovich, emigrated from in the early 1900s.

Like many families fleeing Soviet rule and poverty, they were searching for stability. The family first settled in Canada, then moved to California, where Anna’s grandfather, a former farm laborer, saved enough money to buy land and began growing almonds.

Today, the woman lives in the coastal town of Fort Bragg, California – a quiet community of about 9,000 people. She travels over 50 miles daily to Ukiah, where she works as a nurse in an outpatient hematology and oncology clinic.

It’s quiet, focused work – far from the chaos of news headlines. But when Russia invaded Ukraine, those headlines became personal. Anna’s relatives still live in the Chernivtsi region, and like many Ukrainians in North America, she was overwhelmed with fear.

There were offers: to bring the family to California, provide housing, jobs, and safety. But her older cousin refused – attachment to one’s home, even in wartime, is a connection that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it yourself.

“Leaving everything that’s dear to you,” Antonovich noted, “is not as simple as offering a plane ticket. It’s a question of identity. A question of dignity.”

A Long Journey

Anna’s decision to come to Ukraine was not spontaneous. For many years, she has volunteered to share her expertise in oncology abroad. She has worked in Russia, Nigeria, and Bhutan through the Oncology Nursing Society program.

She gave lectures on safe handling of chemotherapy drugs, biotherapy protocols, and palliative care. Her main goal is to share up-to-date clinical standards that protect both patients and the healthcare workers caring for them.

Her journey was long and complex. Anna flew out of California on May 11 and arrived in Poland the following evening. From there, she crossed the border, visited relatives in Chernivtsi, and then traveled to Lviv and Kharkiv.

In total, she made three flights, seven train trips (including two overnight), crossed the border on foot, and took a bus to Krakow.

“I came to share knowledge. But even more — to listen. To listen so I can help in any way I can,” Anna said.

Supporting Colleagues

Anna’s school friend — the founder of a nonprofit supporting Ukraine — had been coming to the country since the start of the war to personally deliver aid. He invited her to join, knowing her Ukrainian roots and her deep expertise in oncology, and told her about our organization.

Anna’s professional experience differs from that of most Ukrainian nurses. She holds a license to diagnose iron-deficiency anemia and hemochromatosis and to prescribe appropriate treatments. Her advanced qualification allows her to support patients almost at the level of a physician, especially in managing chronic conditions.

In Lviv, Anna conducted training at St. Panteleimon Hospital. She spoke with colleagues about safety during chemotherapy, staff protection, and how to communicate with patients.

In Kharkiv, at the regional oncology center, she spoke about working in resource-limited settings and the emotional support of colleagues.

“Every nurse I met was incredibly resourceful. Their courage is inspiring.”

A Long-Awaited Meeting

But the trip wasn’t only professional. Anna’s grandparents came from the Chernivtsi region in western Ukraine, and this was her first time standing on ancestral land and meeting her relatives.

“I stood on that land. I held the soil my great-great-grandparents once worked. I sat at the same table with people who instantly felt like family. It was deeply emotional.”

Another dream also came true. In California, Anna helps rescue injured bats and had long hoped to visit the only Bat Rehabilitation Center in Ukraine — located in Kharkiv.

The center’s team welcomed her warmly and gave her a personal tour, explaining how rocket attacks also affect bats: they die, lose their homes, and are separated from their babies. Since the full-scale invasion, the center has rescued around 20,000 bats.

Anna hand-fed newborn bats and left with a flood of emotions and heartfelt gifts. “It was so moving. People are saving these tiny animals during a war. That’s strength,” Anna said with awe.

At a time when the world lacks compassion and care, one remarkable woman crossed an ocean to remind us: solidarity and empathy still live within us.

At Mission Kharkiv, we believe: real humanitarian support begins with trust, shared responsibility, and the willingness to be present – not in words, but in action.

Anna had no official mandate, no large organization behind her, no cameras. She brought only her knowledge, her experience, and the will to help. She chose to show up – and act. We are grateful for her time, her support, and the exchange.