Hello friends and family (and strangers)

If you know our family, then you know Lea. She has been part of our lives since 2014, when she left her home in the Philippines to build a new life here. She left behind her parents, two sisters, and a brother, but she has always remained deeply connected to them, speaking with them often.

In May of 2017, her world was shaken when her younger sister, Shela, passed away from cancer. Because of her visa status at the time, Lea was unable to return home to be with her family during that heartbreaking moment. She continued to work hard, study, and persevere, eventually becoming a U.S. citizen in May 2022. Despite all these years, she has not been able to return home since she first left nearly 12 years ago.

Lea has always been an incredibly hard worker. She helped raise our girls from the time Lilly was just a month old. She has worked in retail and, more recently, as a caretaker—always doing whatever she could to support herself and her family back home.

This past Wednesday, March 4th, tragedy struck again. Lea’s father passed away suddenly, leaving her family not only heartbroken but also facing significant financial strain. I am starting this GoFundMe to help Lea with burial expenses and, hopefully, to make it possible for her to fly home and be with her family during this painful time.

If you are able to contribute in any amount, it would mean so much. Please keep Lea and her family in your thoughts as they navigate this loss. Thank you for taking the time to read her story.

-Alannah