Attorneys Fees
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Thank you for taking the time to read my story. My name is Jorge Goytizolo but everyone calls me Coco since I was a little boy.
I am going to tell you about my life and the reason why I decided to create this page.
My partner Philip and I met briefly in 1997. Almost a year later I saw him at the gym and we became best friends. A few months later we realized we were soulmates and we decided to live together on July 5th and we were never apart since then.
Throughout the years, our relationship grew stronger and we took pride in what it had become. Unfortunately, life threw us some punches when we least expected IT. Philip was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) in November 2004. It was right about the same time we decided to become a bigger family by adopting a child. Because of his illness we did not pursue our dreams at that time.
Philip was a strong person and battled the cancer fiercely. He was in remission after the first cycle treatment but he needed to complete the whole plan which lasted nearly 2 years. This tragedy made our relationship and love stronger. We made a decision that we would continue our dreams of having children once he was out of danger.
In 2010 Philip was proclaimed cancer free! We were estatic. We decided then to pursue our dream of having children.
It took us approximate 4 years to complete our family. We went through a crazy roller coaster ride. At the time we were trying to adopt through our state- Florida. We got denied after we went through the whole process as no gay couples were allowed to adopt children. After that disappointment, we decided to go through private adoption.
That process became emotionally draining due to the sudden decisions we needed to make in a matter of hours. When we thought we had no other options, we heard about this very affordable Surrogacy company so we decided to give it a try.
In the process we lost the first 2 pregnancies and one attempt in which the surrogate did not get pregnant. By around this time the law changed and gay couples were allowed to adopt and have foster children. We wanted to have kids, it did not matter if they were adopted or our own... we just wanted to complete our family...then we decided to go through the fostering process as well.
While in the process, we decided to make one last attempt through the surrogacy company as we had 2 embryos left. At the same time Philip started to feel ill again. I asked him whether we should stop with our attempts until we find out what was wrong with him but he declined. I remember vividly what he told me... " Not this time Coco, if there is something wrong with me I do not want you to stop, you hear me?...we always wanted this...I know this is our time and we will have our babies and they will be twins! You'll see and you won't be alone I will not leave you alone..."
We then became pregnant with twins…what a blessing and what a shock!. We talked about getting married in our state Florida once it became legal but since Governor Scott and Pam Biondi kept fighting against it, Philip asked me to marry him before the kids were born. We decided to get married in New York City. It was a beautiful small private ceremony. Philip was still not feeling well.
When we were 6 months pregnant we decided to tell everyone about our babies...we were having a boy and a girl!! We were so happy... but then again our happiness got shadowed 2 weeks later when Philip became very ill. We went to the emergency room in which the doctors informed us he had a large brain tumor and needed to be removed within 24 hours or he would die. Doctors removed a tumor the size of a lemon from his left frontal lobe and found 2 other ones but they could not be removed.
Our worst fears were confirmed, the tumors were cancerous. He was diagnosed with Glioma Multiforme Stage IV, an aggressive type of brain cancer. The expectancy of living more than 2 years was 5%. After the surgery Philip was able to live some what of a normal normal life but his health was deteriorating little by little.
Philip continued to be positive and he concentrated on our children’s birth. However, we were worried about the possibility of running out of time. Florida did not recognized our marriage therefore our children since they were genetically mine, they needed to be adopted by Philip once they were born.
Time was precious and money became tight, between the pregnancy process, his radiation, chemotherapy treatment and attorney fees etc. we were almost out of money and no savings. We made the mistake to hire an attorney who did not care about our situation even though we told her we were pressed for time. The attorney stated that she will do as much as she can. She ended up doing nothing at all.
From the time we retained her to the time Philip passed it was almost 2 months. A few days later after Philip died I called the attorney to let her know Philip passed and to please give me an update on the adoption, she replied saying..." The papers were not submitted to the courts on time...Sorry my friend you are out of luck...!"
Philip passed very sudden on May 3rd of 2014...Picture me being with the kids in our home while Philip went to have lunch with his dad who was visiting that week. I received a call from his dad to ask me if Philip had seizures frequently...I was in shock because he never did...His dad didn't know where they were having lunch at the time...I asked him to call 911 while I was trying to figure out their location.
I finally made it to their location...Philip was half conscious and Rescue arrived almost at the same time I did...I asked Philip if he knew I was there and he nodded yes. The Rescue crew told me they were taking him to Holy Cross and to meet them over there...I insisted to please let me ride the ambulance with him because I was his husband although my marriage is not recognized here...I begged the crew to please allow me in and they agreed.
While in the ambulance Philip held my hand very tight...I told him many times he was going to be ok and that I loved him...that I always loved him..." You know that don't you? " I asked him...he nodded his head and right before my eyes he was gone.... he never made it to the hospital...I lost half of me that afternoon...I was in a daze...I wanted to wake up out of this horrible nightmare...but it was not a nightmare...it was real...
I went through all the motions those following weeks...not only to mourn Philip's death but I had to care for my then 3 month old babies. Reality sunk in--the funeral, the rejection of Philip's family to our marriage and legal problems....
Even though Florida did not recognize my marriage and the family attorney did not do her job, I decided to take a shot and file for survivor benefit with the Social Security Administration. They flat out denied me and denied the benefits of our children because we were not married according to Florida law. Philip was not their dad and he did not adopt them on time. I was devastated. Philip's death certificate had me as a person of interest not as spouse which made things more difficult.
A few months later, Same sex marriage became legal in Florida. The good news came too late for my family. I was encouraged by some friends to give the legal system another try but this time I could not do it alone. The Social Security Administration insisted that my marriage and petition was done before it became legal in Florida therefore we were not entitled to appeal or file a new claim again. I was recommended to a wonderful set of lawyers who took me under their wing and advised me what to do and how I needed to proceed.
After a year and half the State of Florida granted us our right. Philip's death certificate was amended. I was now listed as a spouse and the Social Security Administration recognized me as a spouse and the kids as Philip's children as well. The kids will receive a small benefit until they turn 18.
This benefit helps in addition to what I make to support my children. Unfortunately, all the legal fees I needed added up to approximately $40,000.00. This is money that I needed to pay to the lawyers who helped me to be the first successful case in Florida to win this type of legal fight.
I am a person who does not like to ask for money as I take pride on my hard work and achievements, but at this time I am being faced with some financial setbacks as I lost my job and the legal fees do not go away. If you think you could help me pay some of the legal fees I will be forever grateful. I thank you so much for taking the time read my story. A story of family, legal rights and love in which love always win...
In the name of my children Ella, Santiago, and my belated husband Philip and I would like to thank you always...
I am going to tell you about my life and the reason why I decided to create this page.
My partner Philip and I met briefly in 1997. Almost a year later I saw him at the gym and we became best friends. A few months later we realized we were soulmates and we decided to live together on July 5th and we were never apart since then.
Throughout the years, our relationship grew stronger and we took pride in what it had become. Unfortunately, life threw us some punches when we least expected IT. Philip was diagnosed with Leukemia (ALL) in November 2004. It was right about the same time we decided to become a bigger family by adopting a child. Because of his illness we did not pursue our dreams at that time.
Philip was a strong person and battled the cancer fiercely. He was in remission after the first cycle treatment but he needed to complete the whole plan which lasted nearly 2 years. This tragedy made our relationship and love stronger. We made a decision that we would continue our dreams of having children once he was out of danger.
In 2010 Philip was proclaimed cancer free! We were estatic. We decided then to pursue our dream of having children.
It took us approximate 4 years to complete our family. We went through a crazy roller coaster ride. At the time we were trying to adopt through our state- Florida. We got denied after we went through the whole process as no gay couples were allowed to adopt children. After that disappointment, we decided to go through private adoption.
That process became emotionally draining due to the sudden decisions we needed to make in a matter of hours. When we thought we had no other options, we heard about this very affordable Surrogacy company so we decided to give it a try.
In the process we lost the first 2 pregnancies and one attempt in which the surrogate did not get pregnant. By around this time the law changed and gay couples were allowed to adopt and have foster children. We wanted to have kids, it did not matter if they were adopted or our own... we just wanted to complete our family...then we decided to go through the fostering process as well.
While in the process, we decided to make one last attempt through the surrogacy company as we had 2 embryos left. At the same time Philip started to feel ill again. I asked him whether we should stop with our attempts until we find out what was wrong with him but he declined. I remember vividly what he told me... " Not this time Coco, if there is something wrong with me I do not want you to stop, you hear me?...we always wanted this...I know this is our time and we will have our babies and they will be twins! You'll see and you won't be alone I will not leave you alone..."
We then became pregnant with twins…what a blessing and what a shock!. We talked about getting married in our state Florida once it became legal but since Governor Scott and Pam Biondi kept fighting against it, Philip asked me to marry him before the kids were born. We decided to get married in New York City. It was a beautiful small private ceremony. Philip was still not feeling well.
When we were 6 months pregnant we decided to tell everyone about our babies...we were having a boy and a girl!! We were so happy... but then again our happiness got shadowed 2 weeks later when Philip became very ill. We went to the emergency room in which the doctors informed us he had a large brain tumor and needed to be removed within 24 hours or he would die. Doctors removed a tumor the size of a lemon from his left frontal lobe and found 2 other ones but they could not be removed.
Our worst fears were confirmed, the tumors were cancerous. He was diagnosed with Glioma Multiforme Stage IV, an aggressive type of brain cancer. The expectancy of living more than 2 years was 5%. After the surgery Philip was able to live some what of a normal normal life but his health was deteriorating little by little.
Philip continued to be positive and he concentrated on our children’s birth. However, we were worried about the possibility of running out of time. Florida did not recognized our marriage therefore our children since they were genetically mine, they needed to be adopted by Philip once they were born.
Time was precious and money became tight, between the pregnancy process, his radiation, chemotherapy treatment and attorney fees etc. we were almost out of money and no savings. We made the mistake to hire an attorney who did not care about our situation even though we told her we were pressed for time. The attorney stated that she will do as much as she can. She ended up doing nothing at all.
From the time we retained her to the time Philip passed it was almost 2 months. A few days later after Philip died I called the attorney to let her know Philip passed and to please give me an update on the adoption, she replied saying..." The papers were not submitted to the courts on time...Sorry my friend you are out of luck...!"
Philip passed very sudden on May 3rd of 2014...Picture me being with the kids in our home while Philip went to have lunch with his dad who was visiting that week. I received a call from his dad to ask me if Philip had seizures frequently...I was in shock because he never did...His dad didn't know where they were having lunch at the time...I asked him to call 911 while I was trying to figure out their location.
I finally made it to their location...Philip was half conscious and Rescue arrived almost at the same time I did...I asked Philip if he knew I was there and he nodded yes. The Rescue crew told me they were taking him to Holy Cross and to meet them over there...I insisted to please let me ride the ambulance with him because I was his husband although my marriage is not recognized here...I begged the crew to please allow me in and they agreed.
While in the ambulance Philip held my hand very tight...I told him many times he was going to be ok and that I loved him...that I always loved him..." You know that don't you? " I asked him...he nodded his head and right before my eyes he was gone.... he never made it to the hospital...I lost half of me that afternoon...I was in a daze...I wanted to wake up out of this horrible nightmare...but it was not a nightmare...it was real...
I went through all the motions those following weeks...not only to mourn Philip's death but I had to care for my then 3 month old babies. Reality sunk in--the funeral, the rejection of Philip's family to our marriage and legal problems....
Even though Florida did not recognize my marriage and the family attorney did not do her job, I decided to take a shot and file for survivor benefit with the Social Security Administration. They flat out denied me and denied the benefits of our children because we were not married according to Florida law. Philip was not their dad and he did not adopt them on time. I was devastated. Philip's death certificate had me as a person of interest not as spouse which made things more difficult.
A few months later, Same sex marriage became legal in Florida. The good news came too late for my family. I was encouraged by some friends to give the legal system another try but this time I could not do it alone. The Social Security Administration insisted that my marriage and petition was done before it became legal in Florida therefore we were not entitled to appeal or file a new claim again. I was recommended to a wonderful set of lawyers who took me under their wing and advised me what to do and how I needed to proceed.
After a year and half the State of Florida granted us our right. Philip's death certificate was amended. I was now listed as a spouse and the Social Security Administration recognized me as a spouse and the kids as Philip's children as well. The kids will receive a small benefit until they turn 18.
This benefit helps in addition to what I make to support my children. Unfortunately, all the legal fees I needed added up to approximately $40,000.00. This is money that I needed to pay to the lawyers who helped me to be the first successful case in Florida to win this type of legal fight.
I am a person who does not like to ask for money as I take pride on my hard work and achievements, but at this time I am being faced with some financial setbacks as I lost my job and the legal fees do not go away. If you think you could help me pay some of the legal fees I will be forever grateful. I thank you so much for taking the time read my story. A story of family, legal rights and love in which love always win...
In the name of my children Ella, Santiago, and my belated husband Philip and I would like to thank you always...
Organizer
Coco Goytizolo Perez-Vargas
Organizer
Fort Lauderdale, FL