Hello my name is Wayne West I am raising funds for Lidia who lives in Romania. My friend Ciprian is her son. He is a United States citizen living in Illinois. His dad/Lidia’s husband of 52 years passed unexpectedly due to a lack of quality healthcare, leaving Lidia without family or financial support. Not only is she alone without financial support, she is struggling with the loss of her husband/best friend. She has overcome unimaginable circumstances in her life that no person(s) should ever have to go through. Please find it in your heart to help reunite Lidia with her family by donating. The money donated will be used to pay for expenses related to the Immigration process. Once here in America, Lidia will be reunited with Ciprian's family and physically have all the love and support she has dreamed of for many years.

Below is the story of Lidia's life through her daughter-in-law, Anne's, eyes.

A Journey of Faith, Strength and Perseverance

This is Lidia. She lives in Cluj Napoca, Romania. She has lived in Romania her entire life.

Lidia married her husband Vasile at 21 years old. Lidia and Vasilie raised 2 children during communism and later raised their granddaughter. Though the life was hard, Lidia nor Vasile never gave up. Lidia has experienced joy in life however it has been accompanied with much pain but through it all she has had one constant, her relationship with Jesus Christ, He is the source of her strength and grace. She is a strong role model in my life; she is my mother in law.

This is a picture of me and my husband, Ciprian, shortly after we married standing next to his parents (Vasile and Lidia) wedding picture that hung in our home. This is our life, connecting with his family via phone calls, video, text or pictures. Our son Jaxon, has never met his grandparents in person, he has only connected with them through Skype. Unfortunately, Jaxon will never have the opportunity to meet his grandpa as he went home to his reward on November 10, 2023 after a brutal battle, largely due to inadequate healthcare.

We are now on a mission to bring Lidia to America, to live with us, as she is now alone in Romania. All of her children and grandchildren live here in America. Lidia is tired; she has cared for her husband Vasile since 2010. In 2010, Vasile suffered a stroke that was a direct result of not getting a pacemaker in time, as he was on a waiting list. He suffered 3 more strokes over the years but seemed to be doing better in 2022 when he received a new pacemaker. In October of 2023, he fell at home which was discovered weeks later that the fall resulted in a femoral neck fracture. This injury forced Lidia to search out help for his care. She had no choice but to place him in a facility that only allowed a maximum of a 2 hour daily visit. This left Lidia crushed as she took care of him meticulously with love for the last 13 years. After a short time he was transported to an orthopedic hospital. His condition was grave. It was there where he suffered from an infection from a catheter. There is so much more to say but the bottom line is Lidia is tired and missing her family beyond measure. We watched her via video stand without a child by her side, as she buried her husband. As I watched her via zoom I thought she is a pillar of strength, a statue of grace. How is she doing this? Not an easy task but an easy explanation, Jesus. He is her foundation and strength. That being said, it was the most heart wrenching experience to bury a loved one virtually.

The last time Ciprian saw his parents in person, is when he boarded a plane to America in 2011. Ciprian is determined to do whatever it takes to bring his mother here to America so she can live out the rest of her life surrounded by family. Lidia has cared for someone her entire life, her mother, her children, her grandchild, then her husband. It is Lidia’s turn to rest and allow us to care for her. Lidia is not only suffering the loss of her husband and best friend but she is also experiencing a significant financial burden as it was Vasile’s retirement that allowed them to survive. We are now trying to figure out how to not only support her emotionally afar but financially as well. So with bringing her to America, we can give her the gift of reuniting her with her children and grandchild along with getting to know her grandchild and her great grandchildren she has yet to hug in person. This will give the grandchildren the opportunity to know her and to be blessed by her faith and love.

This was Ciprian’s fathers wish, that the family would be reunited in person. Both parents sacrificed beyond what most American’s can even begin to fathom, just so their children could have a roof over their head. Vasile and Lidia worked for state enterprises during communism. Vasile was away working sometimes for 2-3 weeks sleeping in deplorable conditions. Lidia had to be at work at 6am and would take her children to what we know as daycare by 5am via public transportation. They did all this to give their children a chance to have a better life. But in order for better opportunities in life they had to say good bye to their children and their granddaughter that they raised, one by one over a period of 6 years. What a sacrificial love. What an example, a picture of God’s love for us. I never had the opportunity to have a conversation in a common language with Vasile but despite that fact, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt he loved me like a daughter and loved our son beyond measure. I cannot explain it. It is like I know God loves me though I do not physically see Him. For those that have/had difficult relationships with their father they struggle to accept God’s love because they cannot understand it. I am so blessed that I witnessed a father’s love for his children, grandchildren and children by marriage.

As you can see in this picture as Vasile was skyping with his granddaughter, during the call he just spontaneously began praying over his entire family in America. In fact, this was one of his last phone calls. Once he fell, none of us in America spoke or saw him again. We want to honor him by bringing his wife to live with us as he desired. However, this is no easy task, it will take resources that are beyond our means but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that all things are possible with God leading the way.

We are not ones to ask for help but many dear friends and acquaintances have reached out to Ciprian asking him what they can do to help him. It is due, to the love we have for Lidia and the desire to be together in one place that has brought us to the point to frankly state the needs. Unfortunately due to the immigration process Lidia just cannot board a plane to even visit the U.S. We need to file paperwork and it will take Ciprian making a couple trips out there to accompany her to the U.S. Embassy for her VISA/Greencard amongst other tasks she requires his help. Watching her grieve from a distance is heart breaking day after day. We are planning to bring her here permanently as she has expressed to us this is her deepest desire, despite she has never traveled and is overwhelmed with the process that is set before her. Ciprian is a citizen so we are hopeful that will help the process but it is a long and expensive process. The process is multiple steps and could take anywhere from 2-4 years. We have no idea how it will all work out except that faith has brought is to this point and it will see us through to the end. Everyone has their trials and each one is important to God. But the only way we see through some trials in life is through the kindness and generosity of others, whether it is with someone’s time, prayers, or financial assistance. Each one is very important.

I would like to end this story with verses Lidia wanted to share with everyone. Anytime we are on Skype with her and when she meets with our family and friends she always greets time with a verse from God’s Word. Lidia would like to share these verses to all that have taken the time to read this story:

Philippians 4:19

19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus

Jude 21

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-1716-17

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father encourage you and strengthen you in every good thing you do and say. God loved us, and through his grace he gave us a good hope and encouragement that continues forever.

2 Corinthians 2:14

14 But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

Romans 1:8

First I want to say that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because people everywhere in the world are talking about your faith.

Thank you for your prayers and any assistance to help us support Lidia and move her into our home. Our hearts are filled with gratitude and awe. We are blessed!