A relieved daughter who rescued her elderly mam and nan from Ukraine is now appealing for help to get them back to Ireland.
Luba Healy drove over 3,000km from Meath to collect her 'precious cargo' on Monday after finally persuading her 99-year-old nan and 70-year-old mam to leave the war torn country for safety.
They also collected five adult neighbours, a four-year-old girl and three dogs to bring to Ireland for refuge.
But the convoy is now looking for help to secure a 'flexible' booking by ferry home as their journey time to France is dependent on stoppages to check on nan Galina's health.
Luba said: "We had to make frequent stops on Tuesday to check on nana's health.
"Her blood pressure was high so we had to monitor that and we have to make sure she is fully hydrated.
"She is also a bit confused and thinks she is going back to her home in Ukraine rather than coming to Ireland.
"She keeps telling me to lie her on granddad's bed when we get home and for me to take the adjoining room with my baby Harrison and little girl Hannah Rose, who is back in Ireland.
"And four of the passengers have never been outside Ukraine so they are a bit shocked by the journey and many of them have been hit with motion sickness.
"We had hoped to be home today (Wednesday) but all the stoppages mean this won't happen now and I'm sure there will be many more stops along the way as well.
"As we are not sure when we will arrive at the ports in France, we have tried calling various ferry companies to see if we can make a flexible booking in case we miss a crossing.
"My husband Eugene and I can't seem to get talking to anyone that can help us. We are either chatting to someone who doesn't know or an automated service.
"We also have dogs and some ferries need advanced notice for animals.
"One lady told us that the next crossing would be on the 17th - but we can't wait around that long. Nana wouldn't be able for that. We came here via a ferry to the UK and then the Channel Tunnel but we can't go back through the UK due to their visa requirements.
"We are hoping for a ferry for either tomorrow night which might be a stretch or Friday morning. We don't mind which port in France we have to drive to but we don't want to have to spend days waiting when we get there."
Luba left Trim, Co. Meath last Saturday in a jeep and campervan alongside her husband Eugene, teenage son Francis and family friend Diarmuid Dawson to cross Europe after her nan Galina and mum Nina, 70, finally agreed to leave their hometown of Haivoron in Ukraine.
Apart from a visit to Crimea when she was 28, Galina has never left the Ukraine and was being pushed to air raid shelters in a wheelbarrow by Nina who then carried her on her back down to the basements.
After the emotional reunion, Luba said she could now "breathe and sleep again".
"They only agreed to leave Ukraine after I promised to bring them back after the war. Nana is 99 so we all know she will probably only be going back to be buried with granddad.
"Nana isn't doing too well and we are all exhausted but very much relieved.
"Once I get them home to Trim, Ill mind them like an egg - but I just want to secure a ferry crossing to get them home as soon as possible."
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