American Expat's Fight to Survive and Begin Again in Albania

From Grief to Grounding: An American Expat's Fight to Survive and Begin Again in Albania

My name is Leon Arango David. I’m a Colombian-American artist, developer, and survivor — now living in Tirana, Albania with my partner after losing everything we once called home.

2025 has been the hardest year of my life.

I lost my youngest brother — I ran his funeral while barely holding myself together. Not long after, I lost my job, my car, and was forced out of the country I had fought to protect and believe in.
Because of political extremism and digital harassment, I no longer have access to Facebook or many of the communities that once gave me support.
I received dozens of tearful calls this year — from LGBT friends, from protesters, from people I stood beside on the frontlines just a few years ago — terrified about Project 2025 and what’s happening to marginalized lives in America.
I stayed up late into the night talking people through panic attacks, trying to soothe them even as my own life was falling apart.

Then, without warning, my entire development team was laid off. My team and I had given years to that app — to that work. We were told it was “budget discrepancies,” but there was no notice. No severance. Just a void.

The dreams came next.
One where I died in a nuclear blast by my childhood home.
Another where I was executed in an internment camp.
I’ve never felt fear like this.
As a second-generation biracial Colombian-American and neurodivergent man — with a partner who is also neurodivergent and of mixed heritage — we felt the writing on the wall.
So we left.

We gave up a beautiful three-bedroom home in Georgia. We entrusted our two beloved cats, Miko and Frederick, to my mother — only to later learn our eldest, Miko, has gone missing.
I left behind nearly all of my musical gear — managing to save just two guitars with my mentor.
We took three bags.
Two carry-ons.
One cello gifted to me by ReString Appalachia after I lost my previous one in Hurricane Helene.

We are rebuilding from scratch.

️ I’m still actively looking for work as a React Native developer, a musician, and a producer.
I’m open to freelance, collaborations, lessons, anything.
But right now — we need help. We’re scraping to afford food and housing while we get back on our feet.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

I’m launching this GoFundMe and Patreon to raise survival funds, build community, and share our journey with those who believe in our fight.

Your donation will help us:

* Afford safe housing and food in Tirana

* Bring our cats safely overseas to reunite our family

* Secure stable WiFi and tools to continue freelance development and music work

* Continue documenting this journey in honest, unfiltered detail

In return, I’m offering:

* Live cello performances, including custom song requests

* Help with coding questions or mentorship

* Tarot readings and spiritual guidance sessions

* Video logs, livestreams, and journal-style updates from the ground

Whether you can give $5 or $500 — or simply leave a kind comment, a prayer, or share our links — it means everything. Truly.

IN CLOSING

We sacrificed everything for the chance to survive — not just in body, but in spirit.

If you’ve ever felt afraid in your own country...
If you’ve ever lost someone you couldn’t imagine living without...
If you’ve ever had to leave everything behind to begin again...
Then you already understand what we’re fighting for.

Walk with us. Share this journey. Help us stay alive.

With love and fierce gratitude,
Leon Arango David