why we cant look away from stolen childhoods

Imagine opening a door to your child’s bedroom and finding nothing but silence. The half finished drawing is still on the desk. A favorite stuffed animal sits on an unmade bed. For thousands of parents this is not a fleeting moment of quiet- it is a living nightmare that has lasted more than 2 years. Since the war escalated over 20,000 Ukrainian children have been taken from their families and moved into Russia. It’s easy to get lost in numbers that big. But as a mother, this breaks my heart in a way that statistics never could. I know the fierce overwhelming urge to protect my own child and it tears me apart to think of the parents who had that choice stolen from them.

Recently I took my daughter to our pediatrician in Spokane for a routine ear infection. While in the waiting room an older man from another family repeatedly tried to engage with my daughters. Feeling uneasy, I moved her to the other side of the waiting room. A minute later he followed, sat directly across from her, and ultimately asked if he could pick her up to go see his puppy. In an instant, my maternal protective instincts completely took over. It was an incredibly unsettling weird moment that shook me. Driving home, that feeling stayed with me and it made the news from Ukraine hit entirely too close to home. If a brief, strange interaction in a safe local clinic can send a mother into high alert, I cannot begin to fathom the gut wrenching terror of the families overseas whose children are actively being held, separated or forced into mandatory hostage drills at gunpoint. I am writing this because I want these children to be safe.

It can feel impossible to make a difference from our corner of the inland northwest. The conflict feels distant and the politics are messy. But human suffering has no borders. When children are separated from their parents, forced to change their names, and stripped of their identities, it ceases to be a foreign policy issue. It becomes a human issue. As a community that prides itself on looking out for another, we cannot look away just because the tragedy is unfolding across an ocean. We are not powerless. History shows that when local communities speak up the world listens. Here is how we can take action right here in Spokane to support the broader mission of peace and safety.

Groups like Save Ukraine are doing the heavy lifting on the ground overseas. They track down missing children, navigate dangerous border crossings, and physically reunite families. Supporting them helps pay for gas, legal papers, and psychological support these families desperately need. We can directly help families who have already fled the violence by supporting the international rescue committee in Spokane. Located right on Montgomery avenue. The IRC helps newly arrived families secure safe housing, learn English, and rebuild their lives after surviving intense trauma. Volunteering your time or donating resources keeps our community welcoming. Talk to your neighbors, your book clubs, and your faith groups. Write to our local representatives to remind them that bringing these kids home and securing a peaceful end to the conflict must remain a priority. The empty bedrooms across Ukraine are a quiet reminder of what is at stake. By lending our voices and our hearts. We can help make sure these children are never forgotten. We can be a part of the reason they finally get to go home.