The Backstory

Since her true love, Maximiano Sánchez Lugo, was deported to Mexico October 2017, Liliana Moreno Cruz has been raising their five beautiful children here in Portland, Oregon, to be kind, loving, respectful and hardworking-all while working 3 jobs. ¨Papa Maxi¨ was a thoughtful and devoted father and husband-being in touch as much as he could despite the distance. This gofund me is being organized by the Sánchez-Moreno´s family and friends. I had the honor of getting to know this family when one of  their children was in my first grade classroom. I saw firsthand how well the Sánchez-Moreno family takes care of each other and those around them. They always treat everyone  with kindness, respect, joy and dignity-you would never know they carried such a heavy sadness. Liliana and her family never gave up hope that they would be reunited some day but sadly, that day will not come in this lifetime.

In July of this year, Mr. Sánchez Lugo went missing trying to reunite with his family in Oregon. The family put out a missing persons´ request and prayed daily for his return. On Friday, September 18, their worst fears were realized when Liliana received a call that he had been identified in a morgue in Mexico. He'd been found August 10 in the Arizona desert-potentially left behind by the crew he was travelling with. Because of our corrupt and inadequate system, he had to risk his life trying to get back to his family.

When Liliana told their youngest she said, "Mom, when he went to heaven, did they give him water and food to eat?" just wanting to know he was ok. He should not have died this way. His family should not be alone in this way. This country has failed them.

How you can support

Now Liliana is unsure how her and her family will make it to Mexico to put Maximiano to rest-by his mother´s grave as he´d requested-and see his family on top of paying day to day expenses.  Liliana continues to work to make ends meet as do her oldest boys. They pray daily and hold each other close.

Please find it in your heart to donate what you can and/or share this post widely to ease some of the burden of this already taxed and super loving family. Let them know that there is a community looking out for them and that we care about their wellbeing. Proceeds will go to the family´s travel expenses to Mexico, to funeral expenses, and for living expenses to feed and house the family.