Help Laura & her son start a new life

**UPDATE - April 2024** - This is not a joke, folks!

When last we spoke, Laura and Noah were still stuck in Amsterdam but beginning to make forward progress through engagement with a custody lawyer. Since then,

Several well-intentioned friends have suggested that Laura leave Noah with his father in Amsterdam while she establishes their new life in the States. Unfortunately this is not an option. The Dutch courts would not look favorably on this action, it could harm the case, and it would be devastating for both Noah and Laura.

The only path forward is to keep driving toward a legal resolution. Legal counsel is working to ensure that the case is completed in time for Noah to enroll in school in the US this fall.

As you can imagine, Noah & Laura's expenses continue to exceed their income.

We know this is a lot to ask but any help you can provide is going directly toward helping them get to the United States.

Here are the expenses they expect between now and the Fall:

We truly appreciate your continued words of encouragement and support. Noah and Laura made the decision to move to the US 1 year ago today. The journey has been significantly more challenging than either of them could have ever imagined. Yet they are still committed to getting to the US and looking forward to their new life in Greensboro.

Here is a photo of Noah and Louise in temporary housing:

Here is a photo from a few months ago. Noah is wearing his new glasses and jacket (thank you GFM) and trying to charge his phone at the Utrecht Library. A rare & free adventure.

**UPDATE** For the last few months, Laura and her son have been in Amsterdam attempting to persuade her ex to sign legal documents allowing them to move to the US. Laura has tried everything, including engaging a custody lawyer. She is hopeful that they will be able to resolve the situation soon and be able to move to NC as planned.

Unfortunately, the savings they had plus the money already collected through GFM have had to be used to support the time in Amsterdam plus pay for the lawyer.

Any support you can provide to help them get through this difficult time is greatly appreciated!

**ORIGINAL**

Hi, my name is Kristen and I am fundraising for my good friend Laura DeBlois who I have known since we were 14. Laura has been living overseas for nearly 30 years and is trying to get back to the States with her son to start a new life.

Laura has been stuck in Prague for years due to an ex-husband who has made it difficult for her and her children to break free. Laura has taken the bold step to finally break free now that her older 2 children have graduated high school. Her ex is amenable to signing paperwork that allows her youngest to leave the EU as long as Laura has the money to travel and support herself and her son.

Laura is resilient, determined, and (most importantly) she's not alone. Her gratitude towards friends in the know, especially since March, when she started this process, can’t be quantified and deserves a heap of thank-you notes.

So here is where all of you come in. Starting a new life is expensive and Laura has used all of her savings to simply get to where she is today. She needs a financial investment to help her get to the US and start her new life with her son.

• $4,000 in airfare from Amsterdam to the nearest airport with non-stop flights. (Charlotte, Raliegh/Durham, Atlanta, DC). Extra luggage and fee for our cat too.

• $5,000 in extra security deposits for apartment/home rental. This can be returned within a year, once she has established credit and a US work history. **OR** A place to housesit for a semester, or connecting s directly with an owner, for example.

• $2,000 for basic home furnishings like beds, pots, dishes, tables, and chairs. She is open to direct donations and purchases from Goodwill.

• $2,000 for clothing for a 6-foot tall 13-year-old, and business clothing for my interviews.

• $5,000 for a downpayment and insurance for a used car, but without credit this is unclear. Guidance in finding a reliable used car would be fantastic! Maybe you have one to loan or sell.

• $2000 for food and unexpected/unplanned expenses

These are the big and obvious expenses. There will be more, but with frugal living (which she is very good at) she can keep things to a reasonable minimum. A combination of gifts and loans would be wonderful.

Also, any advice or support from Greensboro, NC locals is greatly appreciated.

Laura is excited about getting back to the US, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Thank you in advance to everyone who can help her come home!