Help Me Meet My Biological Family

Lena Lachewitz is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Linda Duret.

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My name is Elena Lachewitz, and I am 20 years old and I live with my adopted parents in America whom I love very much.

Growing up, I've always known that I was adopted. It was something openly talked about in my family, and it was always viewed as a positive thing. Twenty years ago I was born prematurely in St. Petersburg, Russia to my two parents -Sergey and Vera. Shortly after my birth, I was put up for adoption due to family's financial struggle. At fourteen months old I was adopted and brought to America to live with my new family. Only a few short months after my arrival in the U.S., I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C. I battled with this disease for eighteen years, finally curing in 2013. I have never met or known my Birth family, but I'm desperate to change that and I hope you can help me!

Since I was very young I have always wondered who I am where I came from. Which parent did my eyes and hair come from? Where did I get my artistic ability?

After 10 years of searching for my biological family, I finally found them; which was and is so surreal to me. My biological father and sister still live in St. Petersburg Russia today. My only contact with them is via Skype and VK (Russian facebook). I cannot tell you what it would mean to me to give my father and sister a hug; something most families take for granted. Sadly, I will not be able to hug my mother because she passed away five years ago from Hepatitis. Similarly to myself, my entire family has Hepatitis - which broke my heart to learn. Each day my father is getting older and the thought of not meeting him, or even losing him, is unthinkable. Making my dream a reality has slowly come to a halt because I do not have the funds for plane tickets to see them.

What I'm Doing:

I'm doing a number of things to raise money to see my family! Recently, I've organized a bake sale to raise money for my fund. The result was amazing and I raised a significant amount - However, there is still a long way to go. I have been spreading my story throughout my university as well as online. I've set up this page because any donation big or small is gratefully received and will help me be one step closer to meeting my biological father and sister. I cannot raise the money alone, which is why this page is so important to me.

All of the funds that I receive will go directly to traveling expenses including: air fare, hotel costs, food costs, and other necessities. On average, a plane ticket from the United States to Europe is approximately $1200-$1500. If I wish to meet both my bioligical father and sister, the expenses increase. This is why my goal is set at $7,000. I hope to achieve this goal in a few months so that I can make this long awaited dream a reality.

My second goal is too help my biological family be cured from their Hepatits. Any extra funds that are raised will be going towards medical treatment for their Hepatitis. As a Hepatitis C Survivor myself, I know how difficult it was to battle for so long. I just found my biological family and I do not want to lose them to this disease. All remaining funds will go towards them in hopes that one day they too can be cured!

My story is unfolding as we speak and I still have so much more to learn. The past months have been incredible and I have already achieved so many things. To continue following my story, please see my YouTube videos below. They will keep you up to date on what I discover and where I am now.

Thank you so much to everyone who has donated already. I cannot begin to explain or describe how important this is to me or my family.

I love you all more than words will ever describe!

XOXO,
Lena

Adoption Christmas Wish Video:

(The video that started it all)

Talking to my family (on skype) for the first time: