Born into extreme poverty in Birobidzhan, Russia, Svetlana's earliest memories are filled with hunger, cold winters, and the fierce love of her older brother Artum, who kept her alive while they survived on the streets. After being placed in a harsh orphanage, she endured neglect, exploitation, and unimaginable trauma, learning at a young age that survival often meant silence.
When an unexpected opportunity takes her to America, Svetlana's life changes forever. Adopted into a new family and given a new name, D'Laney, she must navigate a world she does not understand-one filled with privilege, expectations, and a different kind of loneliness. Torn between the identity she lost and the life she was handed, she struggles to reconcile her past with her future.
Do What's Best For is a raw, unflinching memoir of survival, resilience, and the search for belonging. Through heartbreaking memories and moments of unexpected kindness, Svetlana reveals what it means to endure, to adapt, and ultimately to reclaim her voice.
