Make Liz's Family Reunion Dream Come True

Hey y'all! Call me Liz! Those are my girls, Faith and Hope!

This story is about me. Yet it is also about my girls!

I was born July 25th, 1984, in Fort Myers, Florida. I'll be 41 this year.

My mother was a young single parent with a 5-year-old when she got pregnant with me. My mother decided that my biological father wasn't exactly the best option at the time to be a dad to me. It wasn't the best of situations all around. As a result, I never knew my biological dad. I had a stepdad that helped raise me, but there was just always something missing. So, 2 years ago, I decided to take on the journey of Ancestry DNA! I ordered the test, performed the test, and sent my spit flying through priority mail! Four weeks later, I had my results! My whole life changed. Ancestry gives you matches of related family members on both parents' sides. I immediately noticed a man that wasn't from my mother's side of the family and looked closer and realized he was from my biological father's side. He was my 1st cousin! I immediately sent him a message! Several days go by, and I start to lose hope, then I get a reply! As we talked for several days, we learned about each other, and I learned about a part of me that I thought I'd never know! Through him, I made contact with my brother! My brother!! My big brother! Then guess what? I also have 4 sisters, 19 nieces and nephews, 20-something great-nieces and nephews, and my dad, he's still alive! Over the last 2 years, we've talked and chatted and got to know each other! A family I thought I'd never know! That other half of me, they exist! I feel a little fuller now, a bit more whole as a person! Now the reason for the GoFundMe...

My oldest sister contacted me a few days ago and said the siblings were getting together and throwing our dad a 90th birthday party, and she wants me to come with my girls and be a part of this family event. My father was just recently re-diagnosed with cancer and is turning 90 on June 7th. I never thought I'd get an opportunity to meet any of them, and now it's here in my lap and just unreachable. I'm a single mother myself and work job to job. And this is just not something I planned for, obviously. This could be one of the most incredible experiences not only for myself but my children. I'm a Spanish woman that was raised by white parents in the South. It was quite the difficult upbringing. They just didn't know I needed that connection, let alone myself knowing. I've thought and thought about how to make this possible, and I personally cannot make it happen on my own. So I came here to ask my community for a hand up! Help us continue with this journey! Help me make this happen! I didn't know what to put my goal at, so I just went with the suggested amount from the site. We need 3 round-trip plane tickets from New Mexico to near Fort Myers, Florida, for the week of June 2nd to the 10th. And money to run on while there! I'll have some money saved up, but it won't be a lot by that time! The plane tickets have been purchased now! I would like to have the money for the hotel for 2 nights ! I would like to have spending money for food and gas and any amenities we may need. I just want to make sure we're ok while so far from home!

Please contribute to our next step in this journey!