Texas couple escapes Ukraine with newly adopted 4-year-old son. ‘Racing against time’
For the past year, Texas couple Kelci and Theron Jagge have made it their mission to adopt Ruslan, a 4-year-old boy from Ukraine.
But as Ukraine prepares for a possible war with Russia, the couple was running out of time to finalize the adoption and bring their son home.
The San Antonio couple was also facing health concerns regarding Ruslan, who reportedly has cerebral palsy and is on a feeding tube. Because of adoption rules in Ukraine, the Jagges were unable to finalize the adoption until they traveled to the Eastern European country, they wrote in a fundraiser.
As they entered Ukraine earlier in February, Americans were being told to evacuate and the United States embassy urged them to leave, KAAB reported.
But not without Ruslan.
“We were racing against time at this point,” Theron Jagge told the station. “We were not able to get a visa for him finalized until after hours the Friday before the embassy was evacuated. So, he got the last visa that the embassy issued before the evacuation.”
By Saturday, Feb. 12, only “a very limited number of staff” from the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine remained in the country, The Associated Press reported. The evacuation was due to possible Russian attacks on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine.
Before the couple could leave Kyiv, they were denied by immigration officials, Kelci Jagge wrote in a Facebook post Feb. 13.
Ukrainian officials argued Ruslan’s adoption papers were invalid, but the hold was lifted when border guards learned of Ruslan’s deteriorating health, the couple told The New York Post.
The Jagges said in an interview with ABC News they feared they would be stuck in Ukraine.
Kelci Jagge said the non-profit group Exitus helped them get on a flight to leave Ukraine just in time.
“We got Ruslan to the hospital at a critical time,” she said. “I don’t know if he would have made it another day.”
Ruslan’s new parents have been by his side at an ICU in San Antonio since they entered the United States last week, KAAB reported. Doctors told the parents “the worst is over,” according to The New York Post.
“Right now I feel an indescribable relief,” Kelci Jagge told the Post.
“I love that little boy laying in that hospital bed more today than I have before, and they tell us there is real hope for him to progress and the state he is in now is not what he is limited to,” Theron Jagge told ABC News. “We’re very excited to see how he can flourish in a home where he is loved and surrounded by people that truly care for him.”
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Texas couple escapes Ukraine with newly adopted 4-year-old son. ‘Racing against time’."