Melvina Maximovich chronicles the early life of Melvina, a young girl navigating the harsh realities of 19th-century Europe as borders shifted between Poland, Lithuania, and Russia. Orphaned at a young age, Melvina and her younger sister Anna were cared for by their father and supported by their village. They lived in a simple log cabin with a thatched roof, enduring brutal cold and constant threats of starvation.

This book, inspired by Gerald Francis Ames Galuza’s father and supported by his wife Beverly and sister Yvonne, captures Melvina’s resilience and the strength of community during a difficult era. It’s a poignant reflection on survival and family amidst adversity.