Help Anikatou's Family Rebuild in Rochester

Help a Brave Refugee Family Survive in Rochester, NY

In early December 2024, a courageous mother and her two daughters—ages 12 and 21—arrived in Rochester, NY, fleeing unimaginable violence and trauma in their home country in Central Africa. They had spent several years in a refugee camp, hoping for safety and healing. Though they knew no one here, they came legally under U.S. government protection, seeking peace and medical help.

What they’ve endured is almost beyond comprehension.

Mom was shot in the face during the conflict, leaving her severely disfigured and with serious oral and facial complications.

Her 21-year-old daughter was also shot and is now nearly completely paralyzed from the waist down.

Her 12-year-old daughter was born with feet deformities that make it difficult for her to walk very far.

Despite all of this, these women are resilient, gentle, and full of quiet strength.

They were told they would receive 90 days of case management upon arrival, followed by five years of intensive medical case support due to the complexity of their conditions. However, just four months into their time in the U.S., the government has failed to follow through on its promises. The federal administration has refused to pay the agencies responsible for supporting refugee families, leaving organizations like Catholic Charities—who welcomed and cared for this family—with $29 million in debt. As a result, this precious family and many others are now being cut off from vital services they were promised.

At the end of May, they will lose access to their intensive medical case manager, the person who has helped them navigate doctors, medications, therapy, transportation, and basic survival in a new and unfamiliar country. They will be reassigned to a general case manager who is overwhelmed with many cases and cannot provide the time or attention they desperately need. They do not speak English. They are physically comprimised. They cannot work currently. They have no family here. They cannot survive on their own.

My husband, Duane, and I met Anikatou (Mom), Soudadatou (21), and Loubatatou (12) through a friend who worked with Catholic Charities. When we first visited them in December, they were huddled together in one bedroom—frightened, confused, and traumatized. We brought them food, clothing, and friendship, and slowly, they began to trust. Despite the language barrier, they know they are loved and they express gratitude for each of kindness they receive.

But the truth is: they need much more than the two of us can give alone. We are working to establish a small care network of our friends and family who would help transport to appointments, grocery shop for or with, deliver a meal, and other acts of service and friendship. But we will need a larger network in order to have the financial resources to give them stability.

We are raising funds to help support in the following ways:

-Medical expenses not covered by insurance

-Translation and interpretation support when it is critical for Drs appointments

-Needed items that cannot be purchased with their ebt/snap cards (such as hygeniene products, cleaning supplies)

-Bills that are not covered by Medicaid and DHS such as gas/electric bills, phone bill and more.

-Entertainment for them since they are mostly housebound (TV, CD player, etc)

-The ability to provide laundry hook ups at their current apartment or move them to an apartment that has a washer/dryer since it is difficult for them to get to a laundromat.

These women are strong, but they should not have to struggle to survive again—not after finally reaching safety.

Please consider donating to help this family rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Every dollar matters. Every act of compassion helps.

All funds will be managed directly by us, the campaign organizers, and used 100% to support this family’s physical, emotional, and practical needs. We are committed to full transparency and ongoing updates.

If you can’t give, please share. Your voice could connect them to someone who can.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with Anikatou, Soudadatou, and Loubatatou.

— With gratitude,

Duane and Darci Dembroski

Penfield, New York