Tulsa Family Fears For Safety Of Ukrainian Orphan They Hosted

A Tulsa family who hosted an orphan from Ukraine for two summers is doing everything they can to help her escape the Russian invasion. Alan and Jennifer Page and their children said they are the closest thing Svitlana has to family.

Svitlana’s Oklahoma family described her as smart and brave and said she has a passport. The biggest challenge for her is how to get out of Ukraine.

“When she left, we gave her a key to the house as just kind of a signal that this is always a place for you," said Alan.

Alan and Jennifer said they gained a daughter in 2014 when their family hosted Svitlana. Svitlana quickly fit in with their four children and she came back to Oklahoma the next summer.

"She was meant to be a part of our family,” said Jennifer.

In 2016, the Page family visited Svitlana in Ukraine.

"It's actually a beautiful country,” said Jennifer. “So much history just on beautiful, amazing display."

Alan and Jennifer said it's terrifying to see images of the Russian invasion, knowing Svitlana is in danger.

"Trying to get my mind around what it's like trying to sleep when bombing is going on and just not having any good options," said Alan.

The Pages said Svitlana has been through so much, growing up in an orphanage in Western Ukraine.

"From when she was young, and she watched her parents die, she's brave," said Jennifer.

The 22-year-old is using that courage to figure out how to escape the violence.

"She is in packing, investigation, trying to figure out how to get out,” explained Jennifer. “No trains are running that she can find. No buses, and she doesn't have a driver's license. No cars available."

Svitlana could end up in a bordering country or even the United States.

"She said to me today, 'Mom, everything is risky right now,'" said Jennifer.

Whatever it takes to find safety, Svitlana has support from her Oklahoma family. The Page family is trying to line up an immigration attorney and setting up a GoFundMe account to help with expenses.

We will update this story after the GoFundMe is set up.