Until recently, Maria Anchyshkina shuddered when planes flew overhead through the blue California sky. On February 24, Maria and her 12-year-old son Petro Podinako were living in Lviv, Ukraine when Russian troops invaded the country. Ukrainians lived in terror under constant air raid sirens and explosions. “It was scary because we were never sure of what would happen next,” Maria said.

Two days later, Maria sent Petro to Poland with her mother. Instead of following them to safety, Maria stayed in Lviv, a refugee hub for the country. For almost two months she helped refugees find shelter and escape the country, and when the crowds of refugees started to thin out, Maria left for Poland.

Maria and Petro had a flight to the U.S. from Frankfurt, Germany, but were barred from boarding when they didn’t have the necessary visa for a layover in Seattle. Instead, they journeyed through Brussels, Cuba, Cancun, Mexico City, Tijuana and a refugee camp on the Mexican border. On April 18, Maria and Petro finally crossed the border, reaching their new home — San Carlos, California — where Maria’s brother Yegor lives with his wife Vira and three children. Stepping onto unfamiliar soil, Petro began learning English from scratch, while Maria was already semi-fluent from watching American television like “Friends” and “Sex in the City”.

Now, Maria has a different fight ahead of her. In Ukraine, she was a psychotherapist. However, the humanitarian parole that allowed Maria to claim asylum doesn’t allow her to work in the United States. So instead, she volunteers as a therapist every day, providing free services to her Ukrainian clients who can no longer afford such healthcare. Before the war, Maria chose to become a therapist because she was good at it and liked being able to help people. Now, she’s a therapist specializing in trauma because the people she once served need her help.

Maria and Petro, like many Ukrainian refugees, wish they could go home ri

Petro Podinako’s 9-month-old cousin Julia crawls over him as he naps during a soccer game. The extended family spent an afternoon at Crocker Amazon Soccer Fields in South San Francisco watching Lyke, Petro’s 11-year-old cousin, play youth soccer.

Petro and Lyke walk to the parking lot after the soccer game. Spending time with his younger cousin is one of Petro’s favorite parts of relocating to the United States.

Maria looks on as Lyke sucks Panera broccoli cheddar soup off of Julia’s finger. Saturday was Maria and Petro’s first time at Panera Bread, the first new restaurant they’ve experienced since moving to the United States.

Petro savors a Panera Bread sourdough bread bowl, a reminder of home where the family often ate a similar Ukrainian dish. “It was delicious,” said Petro of the American bread bowl soup.

Petro and Maria talk while walking through San Francisco for the first time. Petro often asks contemplative questions of Maria, such as why women stay in abusive relationships, why the world considers Russia such a great nuclear power and why Russian President Vladimir Putin is such a "psychopath".

Maria and Vira walk along a Moss Beach trail, the second time that Maria and Petro have visited the beach since moving to the United States. As a plane flew overhead, the rumble cutting through the sound of waves hitting the shoreline, Maria looked up, noting how only recently she would shudder every time she heard an airplane. Explosions and air raid sirens were a common occurrence in Lviv after Russia invaded Ukraine.

Maria points out a herd of sea lions and seals on Moss Beach, remarking how May weather and beaches in California remind her of those in Crimea. Regardless of where life or work would take her, Maria always made sure to spend May, her favorite month, in Ukraine.

Petro sculpts a piece of clay. Since he was two, Petro has constantly sculpted a gray or orange piece of clay, an outlet for both anxiety and creative passion.

Julia smacks her 6-year-old sister Paola with a toothbrush while Petro plays Brawl Stars after coming home from school. Lyke, Paola and Petro now share a bedroom.

Maria works as a volunteer therapist from her home office. Maria has specialized in trauma since the start of the war, focusing on supporting women who have been forced to become single mothers as a result of the war. She has also begun actively supporting efforts to grant the right to work to Ukrainian refugees on humanitarian parole in the United States. “Visas are almost impossible to get, the waiting line is so long,” said Maria.

Maria wears her vyshyvanka, a national Ukrainian embroidered shirt. May 19 was Vyshyvanka Day, a celebration of Ukrainian identity, inclusion and culture. This year the kids showed off their outfits and culture as part of a talent show at school.

Petro and Lyke run along the Moss Beach shore.

Maria and Petro bask in the sun on Moss Beach. While they’re not here by choice, Maria and Petro are grateful for the refuge that Yegor’s family has provided for them in California. “[When the war started] it was scary because we were never sure of what would happen next. Russia could take Ukraine off the face of the planet.” Maria said. “Now it’s not as scary because we know what will happen.”