June 15 marks my Mom’s 67th turn around the sun. The amount of life she’s lived - the joy, love, friendship, and adventure - could never be measured by a single number. Happiness simply seeps from this woman’s pores. And if you’re reading this, you’ve no doubt seen it - in the form of fresh baked brownies delivered to your doorstep, around the Linda Vista Park loop, between PE periods at Kennedy Middle School, in the aisles of Trader Joe’s, or across the table as you clink glasses over happy hour. My Mom has always been a superhero, cloaked in athletic gear and a cell phone strapped to her waist.

But this past year has been difficult and heartbreaking, to say the least. Dementia has robbed her of so many ways in which she shares her joy with the world: her ability to speak, to dance, to more or less move. She no longer smiles as easily but when she does, it’s with her full body - the joy emanates from within and delivers a belly laugh and smile that ripples across her entire face. There is no disease that could steal the love and joy this woman holds in her heart.

There are two people who don’t need words to communicate with my Mom - her caregivers, Lua & Tonya, speak her language of love: kindness. They have helped ensure that we maintain as much independence, strength, and mobility for my Mom as possible throughout a disease that seems hell-bent on progressing as fast as possible. They help her do all of the things she is unable to do on her own anymore. They walk with her, they dance together, they paint her nails, they hold her hand as they sit outside for fresh air each day. I think the universe must have tallied up all the acts of love my Mom shared with the world and is now returning them to her in the form of care from these angelic women.

Lua & Tonya are sisters, originally from Tonga. They trade off caring for my Mom and provide live-in care to another individual on the weeks the other is not with my Mom. In between all of that, they each have families - Lua lives with her husband and 5 children (the 6th is away on his mission) and Tonya lives with her 2 sons (& her daughter lives close by). They recently shared with me that they are in the process of applying for their citizenship, yet are struggling with the associated costs. It is an expensive and massively time-consuming process.

These women have become a part of our family. We are tremendously grateful for the love and care that they provide to my Mom. We will be contributing money towards the cost of their citizenship application process. We are hoping to raise additional funds to provide legal support and guidance to them, as well. My Mom’s other love language is gift giving - whether a plate of baked goods or a thoughtful, thematically appropriate knick-knack, she has never missed an opportunity to give. We’d like to use this day in which we celebrate her gracious, loving spirit to ask that you consider giving in her honor. Any amount would be greatly appreciated by Lua & Tonya, and by our entire family. I’ve itemized the associated costs of the citizenship application process, below.

Sending a huge thank you and a big hug to each of you.

With gratitude,

Jessie

We are hoping to raise funds to go towards the following costs (multiplied by 2 to cover each sister):

• Citizenship Application: $725 x 2 = $1,450
• Green Card renewal fee: $540 x 2 = $1,080
• Immigration Lawyer: ~$7,500