Study Abroad for Seamus
Donation protected
Hi there!
My name is Jeanie Hartranft and I am the proud aunt/sister of Seamus Waters. (He is the eldest son of my youngest sister and was also adopted by my parents after both of his parents passed away...hence, he is my nephew/brother!) I am sharing this story of Seamus because despite his difficult life so far, he has great dreams and aspirations! He is asking for help in raising $2,600.00 so that he can study in Rome with his sophmore college class during the spring of 2017.
Seamus Waters: Adversity hasn’t beaten him yet! Despite the death of his parents and beating cancer, this 19 year old has not lost faith and is determined to study in Rome this spring...but needs your help!
Seamus is a young man who, despite the great adversity in his life is pursuing a degree at the University of Mary in North Dakota. At the tender age of two, he lost his father to a rare form of cancer that he would later find was hereditary. Less than a year after his father's passing, his mother suffered a massive brain bleed and was never able to walk, talk, or eat again. She succumbed to complications from this tragic event about a year later. This left Seamus and his younger brother without parents. Seamus was only 4 years old.
Over the next few years, Seamus was adopted by his maternal grandparents. He underwent genetic testing only to find out he had the gene and genetic markers of the cancer that took his father. At age 12, Seamus had his colon removed to hopefully prevent his cancer from spreading.
Seamus was sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his grandparents could no longer care for him, and then was sent to live with his paternal grandparents during high school. A little more than two years later, his maternal grandmother lost her battle with cancer.
At 18 years of age while still in high school, Seamus began taking responsibility for his future. He did well in his studies and was accepted into the University of Mary in North Dakota. As a sophomore, he has the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, the city his parents dreamed of visiting, but never got the chance.
While Seamus is working part time, he has not earned enough money to cover all of his expenses for the “Rome for the Spring Semester” trip. He hopes to raise $2,600 to cover all the costs: Airfare, tuition, fees, books, food and transportation.
During this trip, Seamus hopes to learn about different cultures: food, politics, religions, societal norms...etc. He expressed that getting out of his comfort zone will help him to understand people who are different from him. He hopes that he can bring this greater awareness and compassion for others back to the United States. Seamus hopes he can use this experience in the future to see others in a new light and to understand classmates and coworkers to a greater degree. He knows he will never be the same again and hopes to help others see the world differently.
Since Seamus' parents always wanted to honeymoon in Rome, but never got the chance, going on this trip will bring him closer to his parents' dreams.
Any small amount you can donate would be greatly appreciated! And please, send this link to others in your life who might be willing to help and spread the word.
Thank you in advance.
My name is Jeanie Hartranft and I am the proud aunt/sister of Seamus Waters. (He is the eldest son of my youngest sister and was also adopted by my parents after both of his parents passed away...hence, he is my nephew/brother!) I am sharing this story of Seamus because despite his difficult life so far, he has great dreams and aspirations! He is asking for help in raising $2,600.00 so that he can study in Rome with his sophmore college class during the spring of 2017.
Seamus Waters: Adversity hasn’t beaten him yet! Despite the death of his parents and beating cancer, this 19 year old has not lost faith and is determined to study in Rome this spring...but needs your help!
Seamus is a young man who, despite the great adversity in his life is pursuing a degree at the University of Mary in North Dakota. At the tender age of two, he lost his father to a rare form of cancer that he would later find was hereditary. Less than a year after his father's passing, his mother suffered a massive brain bleed and was never able to walk, talk, or eat again. She succumbed to complications from this tragic event about a year later. This left Seamus and his younger brother without parents. Seamus was only 4 years old.
Over the next few years, Seamus was adopted by his maternal grandparents. He underwent genetic testing only to find out he had the gene and genetic markers of the cancer that took his father. At age 12, Seamus had his colon removed to hopefully prevent his cancer from spreading.
Seamus was sent to live with his aunt and uncle after his grandparents could no longer care for him, and then was sent to live with his paternal grandparents during high school. A little more than two years later, his maternal grandmother lost her battle with cancer.
At 18 years of age while still in high school, Seamus began taking responsibility for his future. He did well in his studies and was accepted into the University of Mary in North Dakota. As a sophomore, he has the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, the city his parents dreamed of visiting, but never got the chance.
While Seamus is working part time, he has not earned enough money to cover all of his expenses for the “Rome for the Spring Semester” trip. He hopes to raise $2,600 to cover all the costs: Airfare, tuition, fees, books, food and transportation.
During this trip, Seamus hopes to learn about different cultures: food, politics, religions, societal norms...etc. He expressed that getting out of his comfort zone will help him to understand people who are different from him. He hopes that he can bring this greater awareness and compassion for others back to the United States. Seamus hopes he can use this experience in the future to see others in a new light and to understand classmates and coworkers to a greater degree. He knows he will never be the same again and hopes to help others see the world differently.
Since Seamus' parents always wanted to honeymoon in Rome, but never got the chance, going on this trip will bring him closer to his parents' dreams.
Any small amount you can donate would be greatly appreciated! And please, send this link to others in your life who might be willing to help and spread the word.
Thank you in advance.
Organizer
Jeanie M Hartranft
Organizer
Costa Mesa, CA
