Boun Lod Immigration Lawyer Fund

My name is Vilayvanh Phanhvanh and I am a sophomore at High Point Central High School.  Everybody knows me by my nickname Boun Lod (pronounced boone-loud) which means “Miracle”. When I was two weeks old, a candle started a house fire, and I was severely burned in my crib. I only had a 3% chance of survival, and very few people believed that I would make it. My parents took me to the hospital where the doctors cut off my arms without my parents’ permission. The doctors did not think I would live so my dad took me home.  I survived.  This is why I am a Miracle. 


I got a medical VISA to come to America when I was four years old for surgeries and treatments for my burns. I would stay in America for six months to a year at a time until I could recover, and then I would return to Laos. Since then, I have been living in and out of the hospital, and I will continue to need hospital care until I turn 21. In order to remain in America I had to take custody from my parents and give it to the foster care system. Currently, I remain in foster care. Over a year ago, my medical VISA expired. However, I was allowed to stay here because I was in the process of getting a green card. Unfortunately, due to administrative paperwork complications, my green card application was denied. 


On May 16th my family received a letter that told me I had thirty-three days until I had to return to Laos, which will be June 19th. Since then, with the help of teachers, friends, and family, we have been working tirelessly on options for me, so I would be able to stay here in America. 

Returning to Laos scares me for several reasons.  First, I have been abused by my half brother since I was a child.  If I return to Laos I will be living with him.   Also, the community does not welcome me back. In my country they do not see me as a human being, they see me as a monster-- a creepy looking girl with no arms who has scars all over her body. People in my country see me as a useless person.  Because of this I was denied an education.   




I had never been able to experience what it was like to be a normal child, until I came to America. Since I have been here, I have made many friends who accept me for who I am regardless of my appearance, and have gotten the opportunity to go to school and gain an education, and to play soccer on the Central High School team. I know I can have a better life with an education. Currently I am in Honors classes and have a 3.3 GPA.  I would like to do something in the medical field – perhaps become an advocate for kids who will have to go through experiences similar to mine, or into research, to be able to help heal kids who have had injuries like mine. 

To be able to stay here in America, I will need a lot of financial assistance. I have retained an Immigration Lawyer and he is working on my behalf to correct the administrative mistakes that were made. Lawyers are very expensive.  I was informed that I have several financial deadlines to meet:  By next week, June 15, I will need $1250.00.  The attorney has worked out a payment plan for me and I will owe him $695 per month starting in July through June 2020, totaling $9550.  We are planning several fundraisers (car wash, we will assist with baseball game parking, and possibly even a corn hole tournament), but I will still need your assistance.  I would very much appreciate any support you can share with me so I can continue my life and education in America.