Dear friends,
My name is Augustine (Gabriel). I am an altar server at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London (ROCOR) and a devoted father and husband.
Last year, my wife was hospitalised and placed in an induced coma for three weeks. By God’s mercy, she has now recovered, but during that time I had to be by her side every day. This absence from work sadly cost me my job. I have since returned to full-time work.
My wife is a German national and lives with PTSD, cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia), and borderline personality disorder. She needs my help and support daily, both emotionally and physically. We are preparing her UK spouse visa application so that she can live with me permanently, but this process is costly and comes at a time when our finances are already stretched to breaking point. The visa process alone could cost approximately £7,000–£8,000 including legal fees.
By the grace of God, our baby girl Mathilda has now been born. She and my wife are safe and healthy, and we are deeply grateful. However, this joyful moment also brings new and pressing challenges. Because my wife still has no right to public care services in the UK, we may face significant NHS maternity costs, potentially up to £12,000.
I am currently on paternity leave, and I will need to request extended parental leave in order to care for both my wife and our newborn daughter. This leave will be unpaid, meaning I will soon be without income. Once I return to work, we will also face ongoing out-of-pocket care expenses for both my wife and Mathilda, which we are not in a position to afford on our own.
In addition, my wife urgently needs an electric wheelchair to help her regain some independence, as the manual wheelchair we currently have is no longer suitable for her needs.
We are faithful Orthodox Christians in good standing with our cathedral community, and we are doing our best to stay hopeful and prayerful during this trial. But right now, we need help to cover essential expenses until everything is settled.
Your donation, no matter the size, will go towards:
• Covering immediate living expenses and bills
• Supporting my wife’s healthcare needs
• Helping towards the spouse visa application costs
• Contributing towards maternity care and the birth of our daughter
• Covering ongoing out-of-pocket care for my wife and baby
• Saving for an electric wheelchair to restore her mobility and independence
If you cannot give, please consider sharing this page and remembering us in your prayers.
Every act of kindness helps us take one step closer to stability.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your compassion and support.
In Christ,
Augustine (Gabriel)
My name is Augustine (Gabriel). I am an altar server at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London (ROCOR) and a devoted father and husband.
Last year, my wife was hospitalised and placed in an induced coma for three weeks. By God’s mercy, she has now recovered, but during that time I had to be by her side every day. This absence from work sadly cost me my job. I have since returned to full-time work.
My wife is a German national and lives with PTSD, cerebral palsy (spastic diplegia), and borderline personality disorder. She needs my help and support daily, both emotionally and physically. We are preparing her UK spouse visa application so that she can live with me permanently, but this process is costly and comes at a time when our finances are already stretched to breaking point. The visa process alone could cost approximately £7,000–£8,000 including legal fees.
By the grace of God, our baby girl Mathilda has now been born. She and my wife are safe and healthy, and we are deeply grateful. However, this joyful moment also brings new and pressing challenges. Because my wife still has no right to public care services in the UK, we may face significant NHS maternity costs, potentially up to £12,000.
I am currently on paternity leave, and I will need to request extended parental leave in order to care for both my wife and our newborn daughter. This leave will be unpaid, meaning I will soon be without income. Once I return to work, we will also face ongoing out-of-pocket care expenses for both my wife and Mathilda, which we are not in a position to afford on our own.
In addition, my wife urgently needs an electric wheelchair to help her regain some independence, as the manual wheelchair we currently have is no longer suitable for her needs.
We are faithful Orthodox Christians in good standing with our cathedral community, and we are doing our best to stay hopeful and prayerful during this trial. But right now, we need help to cover essential expenses until everything is settled.
Your donation, no matter the size, will go towards:
• Covering immediate living expenses and bills
• Supporting my wife’s healthcare needs
• Helping towards the spouse visa application costs
• Contributing towards maternity care and the birth of our daughter
• Covering ongoing out-of-pocket care for my wife and baby
• Saving for an electric wheelchair to restore her mobility and independence
If you cannot give, please consider sharing this page and remembering us in your prayers.
Every act of kindness helps us take one step closer to stability.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your compassion and support.
In Christ,
Augustine (Gabriel)