Irish family set off for frontline in bid to bring back gran
A WOMAN making the perilous journey from Ireland to Ukraine to rescue her granny says she’s desperate to get the 98-year-old to safety.
Luba Healy, her husband Eugene and her son Francis, 13, are en route from Trim in Co Meath to bring her nan Galina and 70-year-old mother Nina home with them.
Departing yesterday she said: “She thinks she’s coming to Ireland for a few weeks but we know she’ll only be going back home in spirit.”
Luba said the Healys will make the dangerous trek across the Polish border to “swap 40 boxes of food for her family”.
They must travel into Ukraine to meet the convoy because the Ukrainian driver is not allowed to leave the country as he is of an age eligible to fight in the war
The family set off in a jeep and camper van on Saturday morning on a journey blessed by a local priest, and hope to be home early next week.
Luba finally persuaded her mam and gran to leave their hometown in Haivoron on the promise that she would drive them back once the war is over.
In the last few months, Nina was pushing her mother in a wheelbarrow to air raid shelters and carrying her on her back down to basements to safety.
“Mam got really scared when the local mayor closed all the graveyards after the
Russians had threatened to bomb them,” said Luba
“So she finally cracked and said she would come to Ireland. My nan only agreed once I promised to bring them back as soon as the war is over
“My nan thinks she is coming here for a few weeks but she is 98 so I think we all know she won’t be back again. She’ll only be going home in spirit to be buried with my grandfather.
“I have arranged a minibus for them and a driver to bring them from Haivoron to the border. We will have to drive into Ukraine to get them and seven others. I will swap almost 40 boxes of provisions for the remaining residents.
“We got the local priest to bless our journey and I will drive the jeep alongside my 13- year-old son Francis who has AC/ DC and Guns n Roses music all lined up – so that will be fun,” she laughed
“The journey home will be slower. I had some training as a nurse in the Ukraine so will be on hand to administer any medication my mam or nan needs.
“I am very fearful for the journey to get them out of Ukraine safely but I am so excited to finally see my mam and nan and please God, get them home to Meath.
“I’m looking forward to introducing them to the beautiful people of Trim who have shown me this is my home and have helped me in everything since I came here 22 years ago – before any talk of this horrible time.”