Help Verena Stay With Family and Secure Her Future in the US

Story:

In her teenage years in Germany, Verena would often go to church, lighting a candle and praying, “God, if you are real, please get me out of here. Rescue me!” After years of longing for a loving family, a safe home, and a way out of extreme hardship, God answered her prayers.

A brilliant international student, Verena came to the University of Louisville in 2010, where I met her through a non-profit organization called “InterVarsity, International Student Ministry.” I had the privilege of meeting her during her arrival and assisting her with everything from finding furniture to integrating into a supportive community. 

From the moment Verena arrived, it was clear that she was different—sweet and timid, yet filled with an underlying fear. After noticing that she was afraid to be alone in her apartment, I invited her to stay with our family temporarily. During that time, I learned of the severe persecution, trauma, and abuse that she had endured throughout her childhood and adolescence in Germany. Encouraged by my husband and me, she sought therapy and medical care – something she had never been able to receive up to that point in her life. Having access to this care helped her begin to thrive in her new life here. Continued access to medical care with her team is key for her future, due to the immense hardship she endured for nearly all of her first two decades of life.

Despite the incredible challenges she has faced, Verena has shown remarkable resilience and continues to enrich her community and brighten the lives of those around her. She has excelled academically, achieving a Master of Science, as well as a Doctorate (PhD) in social work from the University of Louisville. Now, she is pursuing dual Master of Arts degrees in Marriage and Family Therapy and in Divinity, at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. 

Throughout her time in the academic world, Verena has consistently excelled in her work, maintaining nearly a 4.0 GPA at all times; and even more importantly, contributing meaningfully to her academic community and to society at large. She has worked on many research studies with a focus on improving quality of life and eliminating barriers to care for persons living with HIV/AIDS in Kentucky. As part of this work, Verena has been the lead researcher on five major projects aimed at applying research findings in order to drive positive changes and advocate for this vulnerable population. 

In her work at LPTS, Verena provides mental health counseling services and plans to continue as a family therapist and researcher, with aspirations of helping children and youth, as well as persons living with chronic illness – particularly the HIV/AIDS community. Additionally, she hopes to be able to continue as an instructor in her field, as she already has served as an excellent teaching assistant both at U of L and at LPTS. Verena’s colleagues ardently support her continued work in the United States, and they have expressed that it would be a tremendous loss to their community and to the vulnerable populations she serves, if she is forced to leave the country.

Verena has been a cherished part of our family since 2010, and we love her more than words can express. She is not just a guest in our home – she is our daughter, a sister, an aunt, a granddaughter, and a dog-mom —an irreplaceable member of our lives. In 2018, Verena rescued a malnourished, neglected puppy, now named Ruby, who was infested with worms and living in filth outdoors. Her dedication to healing, training, and loving Ruby has allowed Ruby to experience a joyful, healthy life, where she lacks nothing. Ruby would be absolutely devastated if Verena were forced to leave the country, separating them forever. 

In addition, Verena’s two nephews and niece love their Aunt Verena dearly and want her to be in their lives forever. They love to go on “special donut trips” for delicious treats, going on adventures to the park, reading stories together, and creating fun arts and crafts. Verena dearly loves her brothers, and they love her. It is our deepest wish that our family will not be torn apart. 

We need your help to make sure that Verena can stay with us, her family, and continue to be part of her home and community in Louisville, where she has built a life these past 14 years. We are fighting to ensure that Verena does not have to return to her home country, where she has nowhere to return to, no medical team to meet her needs, and no support or community. Returning there would not only be devastating to all of us, but it would place her back into a dangerous environment that she worked so hard to escape, all those years ago. Truly, it would be unsafe for her to return. The severity of abuse that Verena endured in her youth has contributed to chronic medical needs, which are expertly managed by a collaborative interdisciplinary team here in the US. Abruptly cutting off access to this care would endanger Verena’s life, adding to the urgency of our need to establish her permanent home here. All of Verena’s support system, family, and professional pursuits are here in Kentucky – her life is here and we must make sure she can stay. 

Verena requires an immigration attorney to assist with her case, and the reduced fee for this service is $15,000. Being an international student, the law does not allow her to have a job. We have set up this GoFundMe account where she can receive donations that she will use only to pay her legal expenses.

We would be incredibly grateful for any contributions you can make toward this goal. Will you please help us keep our daughter safe?

Additionally, please help us spread the word by sharing this link with your friends via social media, and/or by text or email. Your prayers and generosity will mean the world to us and to Verena as she strives for a better future, here in her home in Kentucky.

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, prayers and support!