Our Family:

I am a mother to two amazing nine-year-old children. Both of my children are neurodivergent, and my daughter is trans. I am scared. And we all need your help.

We became a family when my kids were infants- through fostering and (later) adoption. I’ve always been aware of the potential challenges my children would face at various stages in their lives. In no small part due to their difficult starts in life. I’ve embraced their special needs and advocated for them at every turn. As each year has unfolded, we’ve navigated the obstacle set before us together. And while It’s never been an easy road, I am truly proud of who my kids and all they are.

My son loves nature, math, and building with Legos. My daughter loves crafts, singing, and is currently obsessed with K-Pop Demon Hunters. They go to school, they have friends and they are important parts of our little community. Getting them here has required a scaffolding of sacrifice and support, legal protections and safeguards for families like ours.

The radically changing political environment in the United States is destroying all of this. The persecution of citizens with my children's differences have made it clear that I am no longer able to protect my children in this country. The only way I can keep them safe is to leave the US. And I desperately need your help to do so.

The Threats We Face:

Anti-trans legislation endangers my daughter’s safety, making her increasingly afraid of being her true self.

Recently my daughter came to me worried about fitting in with other girls in the locker room at her swim lessons at a community center near our home. She hasn’t started puberty yet — not in any physical way — but the social realities are already pressing in on her. I gently reminded her that in our family, being yourself matters more than fitting in. But even as I said it, my heart broke.

How long until puberty makes it harder for her to belong in any designated locker room? How long until simply being herself isn’t enough to feel safe? What acts of physical and psychological violence may be in store for her?

Xenophobic and anti-black policies threaten the security of our entire family. As a Black mother of a multiracial family formed by adoption, fear and stress have taken a serious toll on my health. I have children that require extra care and patience. Even on the best days, parenting special needs children is hard. Living under the constant fear of physical violence for my family is draining me. I need to be in a safe environment so that I can fully function and keep my children safe while I support their needs.

Special-Ed services have been gutted as part of the changes in the US Department of Education. With stigma rising, and a shift towards blame-based policies in the diagnosis and treatment of autism and ADHD – I worry my neurodivergent children won’t get the support they need to thrive or live as their full selves in this country. And the federal protections they have received will soon become nonexistent.

Fear of school shootings is real and ever present in the US, with kids facing the anxiety of repeated lockdown drills.

We recently experienced a lockdown at my kids’ school. My children only attend in-person classes a few days a week, and I stay on campus during this time. When the lockdown alarm sounded that day, I froze. I had just been near the front door — how could something have happened so quickly? I looked around and realized I was alone in the hallway. I knew I should be doing something, but I couldn’t think. My body froze while my mind raced with a million thoughts. It wasn’t until I saw a teacher rushing to lock the classroom door — the one my daughter was behind — that I remembered what we had practiced. Thankfully, our lockdown was accidentally and innocently triggered. No real threat occurred. No child should ever have to know how to hide from someone with a gun. No teacher should ever have to fake calm for a classroom full of scared children while trying to keep them safe. I refuse to allow my children to grow up believing these experiences are normal any longer. It was the final straw that compelled me into this action- and plea for help.

Our Only Option: Moving out of the country

I have researched every possible option, and I've come to the painful conclusion that we have no choice but to leave the U.S. to ensure our safety and wellbeing as a family. I've found a path to secure a visa for our family, allowing us to live as residents in another country. There, I will feel safer sending my children to school where they will be free from the threats of public hatred and violence. I have a solid plan to work in that country upon arrival.

Time is Critical:

Countries outside of the US are rapidly changing their visa policies in response to an increase in Americans fleeing the country due to the political turmoil and social unrest. We need to leave before our planned path to safety is no longer an option.

I cannot stop the realities that puberty will bring to my daughter’s body. We must get to a safer country before my daughter can no longer hide behind loose clothing and closed locker room doors.

Why I’m Asking for Help:

Moving overseas is a huge expense, and we simply do not have the funds to make this move. Especially with federal financial supports now being withheld indefinitely. We need to cover the costs of family relocation, securing housing and starting completely over in a new country.

I need to raise at least $60,000 (US). It is an enormous sum that is out of reach for us alone.

This will pay for:

Flights - approx. $2,500.

Visa fees - approx. $6,000

Moving fees - $10,000 - $20,000

Rent - (first/last/deposit) approx. $10,000

The remaining $20,000 would assure that we would have something to fall back on in case of any unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies or additional support needs for the kids.

I’m asking for your support. Every contribution, big or small, helps. If you can’t donate, you can help by sharing this post. Help me protect my children—so my daughter can live authentically without fear, and my son can thrive. With your generosity, we can begin a new chapter of hope, safety, and possibility.

Thank you. With all my heart, I thank you.