On March 8th, our lives turned into a living nightmare. My dad was kidnapped and held hostage in Mexico for a ransom of $16,000. My sisters and I had to drive four hours to Los Angeles to deliver the money while my dad was tied up and held at gunpoint the entire time.

For those four hours, we didn’t know if we would ever see him again. I can’t even begin to imagine the trauma and pain my father experienced during those moments. He was beaten and choked for hours over $16,000. All we could do was pray that it wasn’t real and pray for my dad’s safety.

When he was finally released and my aunt was able to pick him up, we returned home emotionally drained and heartbroken. My father has always been a hardworking man who spent 32 years in the United States doing everything he could to provide the best life for his wife and children. Being deported was devastating for him, especially having to leave behind my 5-year-old brother.

The money raised will help our family recover a little from the ransom we had to pay and help us get back on our feet after this traumatic experience.

If you are able to donate or simply share our story, it would truly mean the world to our family. Even sharing helps more than you know.

I also own a small baking business where I sell cakes, cupcakes, and cake pops if anyone would like to support us that way as well. You can find my business on Instagram and Facebook: @sweetcravingsbymichi

Thank you so much for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can give.