Help Bring Our Children Home

I married my high school crush in 2008, nearly 20 years after graduating. After we graduated high school we both went our separate ways, and began to experience life as adults.  Adult lives have their fair share of pitfalls. I think that is something we all can attest to; some more than others.  This story is about the hurdles my husband endured as a young husband and father, as well as the one we share together as parents today.

Shortly after graduating, my husband joined the Army. He dedicated his life to our country for 10 years. He was stationed in Germany for the majority of his time in the military. During that time, he met a German national and they got married and had four children. It was a marriage that had its share of struggles, primarily because his former wife suffered from severe mental disorders. However, for the benefit of his children, he tried to do the best he could to hold their family together.

At the end of his 10 years in the military, my husband's marriage fell apart and during that process, his former wife disappeared with their children.  Unable to find his children or receive assistance in locating them from the German government, he returned to the United States alone. He tried to do what he could, to find them from here in the U.S., but he soon realized how much more challenging an international search was and held onto the hope that someday his children would try to find him. 

Sadly, it took 12 years and the miracle of the Internet and social media before we were able to find them again.  Through nothing short of Divine assistance, we found them on March 1, 2014.  However, this virtual reunion was bittersweet, we were informed by one of his daughters, that not long after their abduction, the children were later abandoned by their mother and were raised primarily through the German foster care system.

Over the course of the past year, my husband has worked hard to rekindle his relationship with his children, ages 21, 19, 15 and 13 and one grandson, age 2.  Of course, there are challenges, for example, the language barrier, as only one of the four children can speak English.

To say that the children have not had an easy life, would be an understatement.  However, having their father back in their lives again has been a dream come true for them and we try to make the best of it every way we can. Unfortunately, though, when hard things happen, being thousands of miles away is the most helpless feeling.

Our initial reason for turning to a source like GoFundMe, was when my husband's 19-year-old daughter began struggling with severe depression. Our once happy Skype chats turned into either me or my husband (or both) consoling her. It felt like our hearts were being ripped from our chests.  She voiced her desire to move to the U.S. with us recently and we have been able to raise money to help with her relocation.

Over the course of the last year, my husband and I were able to save every cent so we could to fly to Germany to reunite with his children.  We were able to help Martina get things ready for her move and spend time with her to ease her emotional struggles. However, while we were there, we discovered that the boys' situation is less than ideal.  The boys have now expressed that even though they know it will be hard, they want to live in the United States with their "Mama and Papa." They want to have a life with a family who loves them unconditionally.

My husband and I simply do not have the financial means to move one child, let alone three, to the United States; in the short amount of time that it needs to happen. Additionally, we will more than likely need to embark in an international legal battle to move the boys.

At this time, we are trying to do what we can to raise money to relocate all three children to the United States.

What does this involve financially? We begin by contacting the Dept. of State to find out my husband's rights and if necessary hire an international attorney who can practice in Germany.  If successful, fly each of the children to the U.S., as soon as we acquire German and U.S. passports for all three of them.  We will need to locate bedroom furniture that will fit in the space we have and arrange to get the children the help they need to heal from the traumas of their childhood. Finally, one of the boys also needs surgery to repair a cleft lip and both boys have orthodontia needs.

My husband has spent the past nine years helping me raise my own children, two of whom are still school age and live at home with us.  He has supported me through some of my own tough times and now I want to do what I can to support him during his.  

It takes a village to raise a child and we are turning to our greater village, to help us in any way possible. We know that without financial help, we will be unable to relocate the children here as expeditiously as we need to.  We are scared and want to act quickly, but with wisdom.

Please share this with as many people as possible.  Even if you cannot contribute financially, maybe this message will reach someone who can, with just a simple share. Thank you for your prayers and support

Blessings to all who read this message.

Frank and Michelle Bassett -- and children