Ukrainian refugee who fled to Cypress, TX heading to Iowa for college

Cypress, TX – Ukrainian refugees who escaped the conflict and fled to the Houston space at the moment are getting ready to go to Iowa for the subsequent chapter of their lives. 

FOX 26 first advised you the story about 20-year-old Adel Kuchyk in April. 

Adel escaped Ukraine in February along with her 14-year-old brother, Maxim, and her now husband, Michael. The three fled to Cypress, TX to reside with Melanie Vitovsky and her household. It is a spot Adel as soon as known as house as a overseas change pupil 5 years in the past. 

“Her coming to me on the finish of the day and saying, ‘how was your day mother?’ And giving me these candy hugs. You already know? I’m going to overlook my daughter,” Vitovsky stated. 

The three have now packed all their belongings into luggage and containers once more, as Adel heads to Iowa to complete her final yr of school.  

“You’re like that is my actuality. I simply have to get used to it and it’s actually surreal. I actually simply want to begin residing this new life,” Adel stated. 

The final 4 months in Cypress have been a whirlwind of getting accustomed to American tradition, Houston warmth, and heaps of paperwork.

Final week, Adel and Michael exchanged vows and bought married. Their household overseas watched all of it unfold on livestream.  

“It was actually arduous to not have your mother and pa with you,” Adel stated.  

This Thursday, they’re going to start the 15-hour drive to Iowa. Adel will likely be ending her bachelor’s in journalism; her profession path now clearer than ever, because the conflict in Ukraine has impressed her to maintain the religion. 

“I simply need to go to Ukraine and be a journalist there. I am prepared to go away proper now. It is so loopy that it’s already been six months and we don’t see the tip of it,” Adel stated.  

Maxim will likely be beginning highschool within the fall. Michael hopes to safe a job if he can get his work permits authorised. 

Though their future whereabout within the long-term, stays unclear. For now, Adel plans on remaining within the US beneath humanitarian parole for a minimum of the subsequent yr. 

“Possibly my mother will have the ability to come right here. Possibly we’ll have the ability to elevate our kids right here. It actually all is determined by time and on God and no matter authorities will determine to do with Ukrainian refugees,” Adel stated.