The Conductor of Care
Lidiia Murashchenko, a 66-year-old music teacher, and her 84-year-old mother Nataliia Yehorova orchestrated their lives separately in Berislav, Kherson region, until war forced them into a duet of survival. Their story is one of quiet resistance and fierce protection.
For nine months under occupation, they conducted their own form of resistance: refusing humanitarian aid from occupiers, rejecting their passports, maintaining their dignity. When Russian forces destroyed the power infrastructure during their retreat, Lidiia watched in horror as her elderly mother struggled to carry firewood and boil water over an open flame. “When I saw her hauling hot water at her age, I knew we had to leave, ” she recalls.
Their exodus led them first to Kryvyi Rih, where they moved from a refugee center to a school, before finally renting an aging apartment with constant water problems. The challenges of caring for her now barely mobile mother made each day a complex arrangement.
When the foundation called in December 2024, Lidiia found herself composing a new movement in their lives. “I was confused, believed but doubted, had to convince my mother this was really our chance for a roof over our heads, ” she says.
On December 18, they moved into apartment 8.1 at Senior Chudo Village. Despite her familiarity with photos from the internet, the reality exceeded expectations. Her fears about lacking “civilization” in Kolonshchyna proved groundless.
Her advice resonates like a well-crafted melody: “In difficult moments, others' support is strength. Don’t be ashamed to accept a helping hand. Even when everything seems lost, remember that every night ends with dawn.”
To Dell Loy Hansen, she offers a pointed comparison: “Thank you, because there’s no support from our millionaires. You open hearts and give faith in the future. May your life be filled with love and gratitude.”
Now, while dedicated to helping her mother adapt to their new home, this former music teacher continues orchestrating care, ready to help others when needed, proving that sometimes the most beautiful compositions are written in acts of love.