Life was very different for Roman Orlovskyy 10 years ago.

A Ukrainian exchange student, he spent his junior year attending Kingfisher High School and living with host family John and Jody Gooden and their now adult children, Valerie (Gooden) Johnson and Aaron Gooden.

He dove head first into American high school life, taking particular interest in the photography program taught by Dr. A.J. Johnson and becoming one of Johnson’s many award-winning protegés.

“He was an outstanding student photographer and won several awards at the state competition our students always attend,” Johnson said.

Orlovskyy became like a second son for the Goodens and was included in their family Christmas picture.

He also vacationed with the Goodens, both while a visitor in the U.S. and after returning to his homeland to complete his education.

Now a self-employed young professional, Orlovskyy continues to take captivating photos and videos.

But since Feb. 24, the focus of his lens has shifted from bright, cheerful shots to a grizzly pictoral chronical of destruction, devastation and ruin in the wake of the ongoing Russian invasion of his country.

“Life has seemed so very surreal lately,” John Gooden commented.

“Here we are, where life is good and normal, where every night and every morning our last and first thoughts of each day are of Roman.

“He has been spending so much time in a home basement listening to bombs go off and shaking their windows.

“Meanwhile, we eat family dinners and play games.”

The Goodens have kept in touch with Orlovskyy, checking in through texts and other means to get updates on the safety of Roman and his family.

With the Goodens’ blessing, Johnson also reached out last week, receiving several folders of photos and videos in response, along with an essay from Orlovskyy, describing recent events and his current state of mind.

Johnson shared the material with the Times & Free Press, asking only that we not publish any information that might put Orlovskyy or his family in danger.

In his email response to Johnson, Orlovskyy wrote:

“Really glad to hear from you and thank you for caring about me and my family!

“I’ve made a decision to evacuate my mom and sister to my grandparents on the west side of the country.

“And the very next day after we left our house was damaged [see photo on Page 1]. So I have experienced another miracle.

“Now we are at a safe place and I finlay have some time to write to you back. So sorry for such a late reply.

“Let me know if you would like more details on any specific question.

“Thank you again for getting in touch with me.

“I really hope that Ukraine will win this war and I will be able to visit you at KHS again.”

What follows is an edited version of Orlovskyy’s report, which he attached as a separate document to his email:

Our hearts are broken, but our souls are unbreakable.

Volodymyr Zelenskiy is the best President Ukraine ever had and especially during these hard times. I’m sure that if we had any other president at the moment he would capitulate and give up the country on the very first day or even before the war started.

It’s all started with bombing several Ukrainian cities with missles and by Russian airforce. We woke from the noise of explosions on Feb. 24 at 5 a.m.(almost like the Soviet Union in 1941 from an attack by Germany).

Couldn’t believe it, but all my friends and family in different cities experienced the same and woke up from the explosions. Later in the morning our government and President confirmed that Russia started the war against Ukraine.

Later that day we went to the office to pick up all the needed documents and staff and prepared the basement in our house for sheltering. Our life divided into before and after.

We all are very proud of the Ukrainian Army and Ukrainian people, all of them are heroes and doing a great job. Putin didn’t bring panic to Ukraine, but united Ukrainians all over the world. A lot of people became volunteers or joined city defending groups to help our Police and Ukrainian Army.

Civil people also help, there are dozens of stories about stealing Russian tanks and APCs by farmers and gypsies or a granny that burned down Russian APC with Molotov cocktail that she learned to make when she was a kid during WW2.

We are very thankful to the whole world who supports Ukraine in any way. But we need the world to continue to support Ukraine to win this war and protect our territory.

It’s very sad to hear from governments of other countries that they will only refuse using Russian gas or provide Ukraine more modern ammunition or do other sanctions only if Russia will use chemical or biological or nuclear weapons.

That’s just terrible. Russia already killed too many Ukrainians and destroyed too many cities to wait for something.

The world has to react fast and support Ukraine otherwise russia will not stop.

Really hope that Ukraine will win soon and all ukrainins will be able to get back to their home cities and start renovating their homes and cities.

We didn’t start this war. We don’t want this war.

We only protect our territories and our people.

In an update to a prayer group at her church, Jody Gooden said her “heart is lightened” at the news that Orlovskyy has relocated to a safer region with his mother and sister.

“Praising God for getting them there safely and asking his guidance for them on what to do next,” she wrote. “I cannot imagine the incredible weight on this young man’s shoulders right now. Please pray for all of them and this new situation.”

Throughout the ordeal, Orlovskyy’s updates to the Gooden family have consisted of “faithful, positive views of his situation,” John Gooden said.

“It’s a great testament to his character and his faith,” Gooden said. “Still, Roman will not likely be able to leave the country, being a young man of combat age. His mother and sister might.”