Holiday Blessings - Our New Family❤
Donation protected
2016 has been a year of heartache and a year of blessings for Phil & I. This year has brought us the deaths of my godmother, Phil's grandfather and most recently my uncle
Phil & I have celebrated 15 years in our relationship and 5 of them legally married. We have survived many life storms - however this year we have been given the biggest of all storms yet - but ultimately this storm has been followed by the brightest of skies.
As many of you may know we have discussed family planning for quite some time and this summer we were seriously preparing to start.... however in September our extended family was contacted by my Uncle Mike from Florida and he needed help.
Phil & I discussed and decided that I should go to Florida to help...
Background story --- in September 2015 my Aunt Sharon passed away from cancer - fast forward one year later and Uncle Mike is now diagnosed with terminal cancer by the end of September 2016 (given weeks to survive). They have 3 minor children - Amanda (17), Patrick (15) & Jimmy (13) --- (and Amanda is a special needs child with autism)...
Phil & I talked about the situation and we decided that I should stay in Florida and take a leave of absence (unpaid) from work to stabilize the situation and protect the children. With no formal plan, guidelines or instructions I led the effort to keep the family together with support from our long distance extended family.
Phil & I have yet another discussion (around the last week of September 2016) and we agree to step up and take the children as we expand our family planning to include my 3 cousins ❤.
After months of dealing with life in Florida we managed to pull together legal, financial, medical and educational plans to formally transition life to NY with a goal of being home for Thanksgiving! Phil worked tirelessly to maintain his job schedule and to prepare our home for us. I coordinated efforts for the trip from Florida to NY.
On Tuesday, November 22nd 2016 I left Florida with 3 kids, a friend (Amanda's caregiver), the kids dog chihuahua Max, a trunk full of photos, and 8 suitcases --- and we were home in NY the day before Thanksgiving .
The children started school in NY the following week on November 30th...
Uncle Mike passed away on December 6th ...
We are planning the children's first holidays in a new life, new home without their parents....
We are planning our first holidays with our own family and having these kids...
With all of this happening so suddenly we have built some substantial debt - including some legal fees, funeral/memorial costs, travel costs, personal needs for the kids, work we need done in our home for the kids.... the needs and costs keep piling up --- we are asking and hoping that anyone that knows us or reads "Our Story" will find it in their hearts to contribute to this fund to help us give these kids the best new chance at life possible.
From our family to yours we thank you and wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season!!! ❤
Phil & I have celebrated 15 years in our relationship and 5 of them legally married. We have survived many life storms - however this year we have been given the biggest of all storms yet - but ultimately this storm has been followed by the brightest of skies.
As many of you may know we have discussed family planning for quite some time and this summer we were seriously preparing to start.... however in September our extended family was contacted by my Uncle Mike from Florida and he needed help.
Phil & I discussed and decided that I should go to Florida to help...
Background story --- in September 2015 my Aunt Sharon passed away from cancer - fast forward one year later and Uncle Mike is now diagnosed with terminal cancer by the end of September 2016 (given weeks to survive). They have 3 minor children - Amanda (17), Patrick (15) & Jimmy (13) --- (and Amanda is a special needs child with autism)...
Phil & I talked about the situation and we decided that I should stay in Florida and take a leave of absence (unpaid) from work to stabilize the situation and protect the children. With no formal plan, guidelines or instructions I led the effort to keep the family together with support from our long distance extended family.
Phil & I have yet another discussion (around the last week of September 2016) and we agree to step up and take the children as we expand our family planning to include my 3 cousins ❤.
After months of dealing with life in Florida we managed to pull together legal, financial, medical and educational plans to formally transition life to NY with a goal of being home for Thanksgiving! Phil worked tirelessly to maintain his job schedule and to prepare our home for us. I coordinated efforts for the trip from Florida to NY.
On Tuesday, November 22nd 2016 I left Florida with 3 kids, a friend (Amanda's caregiver), the kids dog chihuahua Max, a trunk full of photos, and 8 suitcases --- and we were home in NY the day before Thanksgiving .
The children started school in NY the following week on November 30th...
Uncle Mike passed away on December 6th ...
We are planning the children's first holidays in a new life, new home without their parents....
We are planning our first holidays with our own family and having these kids...
With all of this happening so suddenly we have built some substantial debt - including some legal fees, funeral/memorial costs, travel costs, personal needs for the kids, work we need done in our home for the kids.... the needs and costs keep piling up --- we are asking and hoping that anyone that knows us or reads "Our Story" will find it in their hearts to contribute to this fund to help us give these kids the best new chance at life possible.
From our family to yours we thank you and wish you all a healthy and happy holiday season!!! ❤
Organizer
Kenneth Conway
Organizer
Holbrook, NY