Arkansas Couple Escapes Ukraine With Newborn Baby Amid Russian Invasion

A couple from our neighboring state is about to head home after escaping Ukraine with their newborn baby. The war started just days after their surrogate gave birth.

Arkansas natives Jacob and Jessie Boeckmann were concerned about rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine, but said it was almost eerie how normal things felt even hours before the invasion.

The Boeckmann’s were at a hospital in Kyiv where a surrogate had just given birth to their baby girl that Tuesday.

"I heard distant explosions and I immediately got up on the window seal at the maternity hospital on the first floor,” said Jessie.

They left the city, but what was meant to be a 7-hour trip to the US embassy turned into a 27-hour ordeal.

"As we were driving out of the city, we saw the city in panic," said Jacob.

They had to walk the final eight miles to the Polish border. Jessie held baby Vivian while Jacob carried the bags.

"The baby was wrapped under blankets and my two jackets,” said Jessie.

At the border, thousands of people pushed to get through the gates.

"Women were screaming, 'Let us across, let us across,” said Jessie.

"You saw so many families forced to say goodbye, tearing the women and the children away from the men and the border guards are physically holding fathers and brothers and husbands back, keeping them from being able to cross with their family, telling them to turn around and go fight," said Jacob.

Jessie said they made it halfway through the crowd when a man noticed the newborn.

"She has a baby that's 4 days old. Let her pass. And he started pushing the people in front of me,” said Jessie.

Jessie went on to wait in line for customs, but it would be 12 hours before she saw or heard from her husband. Jacob said the border guard wouldn't budge, claiming his passport was fake.

"When things were kind of the bleakest for me, I had sent a text to my parents and I said, I need prayers that I'm gonna make it across,” said Jacob.

Jacob said with the help of the US embassy, Arkansas Reps, and the power of prayer he made it through to his family.

However, they worry about Vivian's surrogate mother and all who helped them get home.

"There's a lot of guilt in that,” said Jacob.

The Boeckmann family will head home to see their oldest daughter tomorrow.