Help Reunite a Mother with Her Son After 3 Years Apart

Hello, and thank you for taking the time to read my story.

My name is Rachel Masala, and I am a third-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham in the UK. I’m reaching out with a deeply personal request: I need help raising £3,000 to finally bring my 3-year-old son to join me after three long years apart.

I left home when my son was just a baby to pursue this academic opportunity, a chance I believed would build a better future for my family. Since then, I’ve only been able to see him once a year due to financial and visa restrictions. He is now three years old, and the painful truth is that he barely knows me. The separation has taken a heavy emotional toll on both of us.

My husband’s visa has been approved and paid for, and he will be joining me soon. But the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for our child, £1,552, remains beyond what we can afford. In addition to that, I need approximately £1,500 for a return flight to go home and bring my little boy here safely.

I’ve already approached the university’s financial aid services, but they were unable to help. That’s why I’m turning to you friends, kind strangers, and anyone who understands the heartbreak of being separated from your child, to help me take this final step.

Your donation, no matter the amount, would mean the world to me. It would help reunite a mother and her child, restore a bond that distance has strained, and allow me to focus more fully on my studies and wellbeing.

If you’re not in a position to give, even sharing this campaign can make a huge difference.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading and for caring. Your kindness can change two lives.

With gratitude,

Rachel