- K
- S
Hello,
A little over two weeks ago, our lives were changed forever. My wife's sister, Veronica "Vicky," suddenly and unexpectedly passed away in Brazil, leaving behind her friends, family, and most importantly, her four young children: Moroni, 4; Sergio, 8; Paola, 9; and Anna, 15.
During the past year, Vicky had been preparing to move to the United States with her children to give them a better life. We worked closely with her to obtain the necessary paperwork and visas to make this happen.
Vicky was an incredible mother who lived for her children. It was her dream to bring them to America for a better life, education, and a real chance at the American dream—something she only read about in books or watched on TV. Tragically, on the morning of March 29th, just ten days before this dream could come true, it was taken from her, and a mother was taken from her children.
With no one left to care for the children, they faced the prospect of being separated and raised by strangers. My wife and I had a heartfelt discussion about what Vicky would have wanted for her children's future, and we agreed to make her dream a reality. We took the necessary steps to bring the children from Brazil to the United States, picking them up at the airport on April 10th. Now, they will live with us and continue pursuing the dream their mother fought so hard for.
My wife and I already have five children, including one who proudly serves in the United States Navy. Three of the children currently live at home. Among them, our son Brian has autism, so we understand the challenges of raising special needs children. Two of Vicky's children also have autism, and we want to nurture them during this difficult transition, honoring Vicky's legacy.
Welcoming four more children into our family was a daunting decision, but we are committed to seeing it through. We weren't prepared to do this alone and face numerous challenges. The children arrived with scarcely any belongings; we've had to rearrange our home and need to purchase beds, bedroom furniture, clothes, and shoes for them. Our current minivan isn't large enough for our expanded family, and securing green cards will be costly—around $20,000, according to our immigration attorney.
Though we both work hard and I receive a VA pension as a disabled military veteran, the financial strain is overwhelming. It is not easy for us to ask for help, but out of love for our family, I am setting aside my pride to start this GoFundMe campaign. Your donations will first go toward the green card process, essential items like beds and clothes, and maybe help with a down payment on a van that can better accommodate our family of nine. Any excess funds will go into a trust for the children's future.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. We are deeply grateful for your prayers and kind words. We assure you that we will never give up, and we are committed to ensuring Vicky's hard work and dreams for her children are realized. Her children will be loved and cared for as long as we live.
Thank you, everyone!
Organizer
