Help David Estrella rebuild his Life
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David Estrella is a 64-year-old US citizen, scientist, father of five children, and grandfather of one grandchild. On September 9, 2024, David was traveling from Colombia to Venezuela to visit friends, but he disappeared.
Maduro was simply arresting foreign nationals for leverage. Having done this, they have taken everything from David. He lost everything while he was detained, leaving him with nothing. He has not received any financial assistance since and is now forced to start over. He is currently in dire need of financial assistance to get back on his feet, primarily for emotional and medical attention. The goal is to help him get back to a normal life. We can’t give him back all the time he lost or repair the emotional and physical damage this has caused him, but we can help him find the way back to some stability.
David, our loved one, has returned to the United States! He spent 145 days in a cell at Rodeo-1, a super maximum-security prison in Caracas, Venezuela. Where he was not able to leave a tiny cell 24/7. Our precious David is now free thanks to the efforts of so many people, including his former wife, nieces, sons, hostage advocates, Foro Penal, and the wonderful individuals at Special Presidential Envoy for Hostages Affairs (SPEHA) and the White House. David was released alongside five other Americans on Friday, January 31, 2025. We appreciate the non-profit organizations for helping the family representative travel back and forth to D.C., posting on social media, signing the petition, contacting representatives, praying, and offering kind thoughts, and U.S. Hostage for offering emotional support to the family.
David is incredibly beloved. His integrity, compassion, and commitment to the people inspired so many of us to rally behind his cause. Among the isolation and psychological distress he endured from inside a Venezuelan prison, David was still able to serve and support others around him, also incarcerated in Rodeo-1.
As he transitions back into being a free man after being incommunicated from family and friends for almost 6 months of captivity, he will need time to adjust. The U.S. government was not prepared with reintegration services at the time David and the other five arrived to U.S. soil. David received medical attention (after 45 days of being released) through US Hostage, a non-profit organization. However, he is on his own to put the pieces of his life back together. Before this trauma, David worked hard as a scientist. Before this nightmare, David was able to afford all his basic expenses and support his children.
Anything you can donate to support him on this journey back to society will be greatly appreciated.
We are grateful to each of you for your aid in bringing David home. He has repeatedly expressed his gratitude for your support!
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David Estrella es un ciudadano estadounidense de 64 años, científico, padre de cinco hijos y abuelo de un nieto. El 9 de septiembre de 2024, David viajaba de Colombia a Venezuela para visitar a unos amigos, pero desapareció. Maduro simplemente arrestaba a extranjeros para obtener ventajas. Tras ello, le han quitado todo a David. Lo perdió todo mientras estuvo detenido, dejándolo sin nada. No ha recibido ninguna ayuda económica desde entonces y ahora se ve obligado a empezar de cero. Actualmente necesita urgentemente ayuda económica para recuperarse, principalmente para atención emocional y médica. El objetivo es ayudarlo a retomar una vida normal. No podemos devolverle todo el tiempo que perdió ni reparar el daño emocional y físico que esto le ha causado, pero podemos ayudarlo a encontrar el camino hacia una estabilidad.
David, our loved one, has returned to the United States! He spent 145 days in a cell at Rodeo-1, a super maximum-security prison in Caracas, Venezuela. Where he was not able to leave a tiny cell 24/7. Our precious David is now free thanks to the efforts of so many people, including his former wife, nieces, sons, hostage advocates, Foro Penal, and the wonderful individuals at Special Presidential Envoy for Hostages Affairs (SPEHA) and the White House. David was released alongside five other Americans on Friday, January 31, 2025. We appreciate the non-profit organizations for helping the family representative travel back and forth to D.C., posting on social media, signing the petition, contacting representatives, praying, and offering kind thoughts, and U.S. Hostage for offering emotional support to the family.
David es increíblemente querido. Su integridad, compasión y compromiso con el pueblo inspiraron a muchos a apoyar su causa. A pesar del aislamiento y la angustia psicológica que sufrió en una prisión venezolana, David pudo servir y apoyar a quienes lo rodeaban, también encarcelados en Rodeo-1.
Mientras se recupera de su libertad tras casi seis meses de cautiverio, aislado de su familia y amigos, necesitará tiempo para adaptarse. El gobierno estadounidense no contaba con servicios de reintegración cuando David y los otros cinco llegaron a territorio estadounidense. David recibió atención médica (tras 45 días de ser liberado) a través de US Hostage, una organización sin fines de lucro. Sin embargo, está solo para reconstruir su vida. Antes de este trauma, David trabajaba arduamente como científico. Antes de esta pesadilla, David podía cubrir todos sus gastos básicos y mantener a sus hijos.
Cualquier donación para apoyarlo en su regreso a la sociedad será muy apreciada.
Agradecemos a cada uno de ustedes su ayuda para traer a David a casa. ¡Él ha expresado repetidamente su gratitud por su apoyo!
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/18/world/americas/americans-hostages-venezuela-prison.html?unlocked_article_code=1.404.99zx.6KhuYc5Ql7OK&smid=url-share
Co-organizers (2)
Elvia Macias Regalado
Organizer
Iselin, NJ
David Estrella
Beneficiary
Melanie Bordoy
Co-organizer