On September 25, 2025, Miriam’s husband, Andres Marcelo Lalvay Lalvay, was forced to leave the United States and his 38 week pregnant wife Miriam and their 3 year old son, and return to Ecuador.

Miriam is the heart of our clinic. She’s the kind of person who shows up with a smile even on the hardest days, offering her full energy, care, and empathy to every single patient who walks through our doors. As a medical assistant, she has spent years helping thousands of uninsured and underserved patients from Westchester and Putnam Counties in New York, and Fairfield County in Connecticut. She is the quiet strength behind so many lives — someone who helps others at their most vulnerable moments, while often carrying her own burdens in silence.

During the height of COVID, while pregnant with her first son, Miriam continued to come to work every day, putting others first. Now, nearly due with her second child via scheduled C-section on October 3rd, she is facing a crisis that no one should have to endure — the forced deportation of her husband and the sudden separation of her young family.

Andres came to the U.S. from Ecuador in 2012, when he was just 19 years old, seeking asylum and the chance to build a safer, more stable life. Since then, he has worked legally in the construction industry for 13 years, paying taxes, holding a valid work permit and Social Security number, and living as a peaceful, contributing member of his community. He has no criminal record and has built his life around providing for his family.

Unfortunately, due to a failure by his legal counsel, Andres never received notice that a deportation order had been issued in his case. Over the years, he renewed his work permit without issue and had no reason to believe that his status had changed — until this year, when he was suddenly served with a letter of deportation just 12 days before a court hearing scheduled for September 24. At that hearing, Andres was given a devastating choice: leave the country voluntarily within 24 hours, or face ICE detention, a process that could impact Miriam’s own ability to remain in the country and eventually apply for citizenship.

He chose to leave — not because he wanted to, but because he feared the consequences for his wife and children if he stayed.

Now, Miriam is left behind to raise their 3-year-old son, who asks every day, “Where is Dad?” and “When is he coming home?” These are questions no mother should have to answer alone — especially not while preparing to undergo major surgery to bring another child into the world.

Miriam is currently working with an immigration attorney to try to bring Andres home, but the process is costly and uncertain. The lawyer’s retainer fee is $6,000, and costs are expected to rise as the case moves forward. At the same time, Miriam is about to go on maternity leave, and without Andres — the family’s primary breadwinner — she is now responsible for rent, car insurance, food, and bills, all while recovering from a C-section and caring for two young children alone.

This fundraiser is to help Miriam and her family survive and heal through this incredibly painful and vulnerable period. Our goal is to raise $25,000 to cover legal expenses, provide financial support while Miriam is unable to work, and ensure her children have what they need during this time. More than anything, it is an effort to show Miriam that she is not alone — that just as she has dedicated her life to caring for others, her community is here to care for her in return.

If you can give, please do. Every donation, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to reunifying this family and relieving the crushing weight Miriam now carries alone. And if you can’t give right now, sharing this campaign means the world.

Miriam should be preparing to welcome her new baby with joy, not fear. Let’s come together to make sure she knows she’s supported, loved, and not forgotten.

With deep gratitude,

Karen Tam, MD, a friend of Miriam