Hi, my name is Maria. Asking for help like this is incredibly difficult, but I’m at a place in life where I can’t carry everything alone anymore — no matter how hard I try.

I was not adopted. I was taken.

I was born in Colombia. My biological mother died giving birth to me, and shortly after, I was brought to the U.S. by a woman who pretended to be my mother. There was no legal process, no documentation — just a stolen identity and a childhood filled with trauma. She raised me in a home of emotional and physical abuse, never providing the love or safety a child deserves. I kept my distance from her as I got older, and somehow, I survived.

The one person who tried to protect me and give me a sense of stability was my father. Though he wasn’t always able to shield me from everything, he did the best he could with what he had. His love is one of the few bright lights I had growing up. But now, he’s sick and unable to help — physically or financially. And that breaks my heart even more.

In 2023, I applied for U.S. citizenship after being a green card holder for many years. It felt like I was finally reclaiming control over my life. But my application was denied — because I couldn’t prove how I entered the country. I was an infant. I had no control over what happened to me, and yet now, that missing proof is keeping me from becoming a legal citizen.

Because of this, I’m stuck in a painful legal limbo. I’m working two jobs, doing everything I can to stay afloat. But attorney fees and immigration filing costs are mounting, and I’m doing all of this alone.

I never wanted to be in this position. I never imagined I’d be so vulnerable in front of the world, asking strangers for help. But I’m doing it because I refuse to give up on myself — and I believe that kindness from others can change everything.

Your support — whether it’s a donation or simply sharing my story — will help cover legal fees, support my case, and give me a real chance at stability, safety, and citizenship.

If you’ve ever known what it feels like to fight through life without a safety net, then you know how much this means.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Thank you for believing in people like me.

And thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for any help you can give.

With love and hope,

Maria