Bittersweet goodbye
Farragut Rotary sends family to new beginning
former exchange student/Ukrainian refugee, Yuliia “Julie” Tryukhan, 36, and her children.
After that meeting, the Tryukhans headed for Spain on Feb. 18 to be reunited with her husband, Dmytro “Dima” Tryukhan, who had been fighting the war in Ukraine but now resides in Spain.
“I want everyone to know what we have done here in Knoxville would not have been possible without you,” Tryukhan told Rotarians. “Financial support, emotional support and just being there for me every step of the way.
“It has been challenging, but I feel like we have done well,” she said. “The best part of this journey has been watching my children grow and thrive. Look at them; they are so big. “Next Sunday, we will be landing in Spain on Polly’s 5th birthday, which is kind of symbolic because we fled Kiev on her first birthday.
“My favorite word in English is bittersweet,” she said. “I think of the song my father wrote that says every day ends with a sunset and every new day begins with a sunrise. “Today is definitely a sunset, but our sunrise will be on the beach somewhere in Spain,” Tryukhan said. “I can see how there will be a new, happy future for my children and our family.”
To help her on her journey, RCF members presented Tryukhan with a check for $2,100.
“It’s just been a blessing to be part of your journey,” President Candace Viox said. “Many people in our club have donated for your safe journey back home.”
“I’m speechless,” Tryukhan said. “Thank you so, so much.”
While RCF member Bill Nichols recognized a number of people for their part in
getting Tryukhan to America and oriented to her new surroundings, she observed, “
One name that Bill left out
of that list was his name, and I just want to thank
[Nichols] for making it all possible.
“We love you,” Tryukhan said. “Thank you for everything.”
As a 2007-08 Rotary Youth Exchange student, she had attended Webb School of Knoxville. After the program ended, she returned home.
However, four years ago, Russia invaded Ukraine, and she and her children, Mark, then 3, and Polina, then
18 months, fled their home country. Dima stayed in Ukraine to serve in the Ukrainian military.
“They kept relations,” RCF member Jim O’Brien said about Bill and Diana Vogel, who hosted Tryukhan as a student. With help from Rotarians in Tennessee and in Zilna, Slovakia, she traveled from Slovakia, to Prague, Czech Republic; Amsterdam, Netherlands, then to Atlanta, Georgia before traveling to Knoxville.
After living four years in America, she recently had the opportunity to be reunited with her husband, who is now in Spain.
