Five years ago, on a trip to pick up our son from the Philippines, Nate and I met many angels. The children's home where Jonah was living was also home to ten amazing teenage girls who had experienced unfathomable hardship. I'll call one of these angels "Hannah".

Hannah was very close with Jonah and showered him with love and attention in the absence of his birth parents. We bonded with Hannah immediately and were so impressed by her positive attitude and kindness, despite her difficult circumstances. She has given me permission to share her story but I've left out many details for her privacy.

When Hannah was four years old she was abandoned by her mother. She is a survivor of physical and sexual violence at the hands of multiple family members. Because of the abuse, she was so traumatized and depressed that she attempted suicide at the age of 15. Child protective services became aware of the abuse and she was finally rescued from her family and placed in the children's home where she feels like she was given a second chance on life.

Thanks to the internet, we've been able to stay in touch with Hannah. Our dream is for her to be able to visit the US one day, but due to strict US visa requirements, that's not yet a possibility for her. In the five years since we met Hannah, she moved out of the children's home, worked hard to graduate from high school despite starting from behind, and is about to complete her second year of a 5 year nursing program at Our Lady of Fatima University. Because Hannah does not have family support, she has faced many obstacles including homelessness and financial insecurity while pursuing her education.

Hannah bravely reached out to me out of desperation in hopes that I can help her find a way to afford her summer classes. She works any odd jobs she is able to obtain while in school full time, but is not able to cover her living expenses and tuition. Hannah does not have access to the same forms of financial aid and student loans available in the US and she deserves to be able to complete her degree without choosing between paying for her basic needs and her tuition. With the compassion and kindness of strangers, she can achieve her dream of becoming a nurse, where she hopes to work for an organization that provides medical care for those who cannot afford it. In a world that has been incredibly cruel to Hannah, she is filled with love and optimism. I will personally ensure any funds donated are used to pay for her classes and basic necessities, $350 will cover her summer classes and additional donations will help fund the remainder of her degree. Thank you for showing Hannah that she is cared for and her life is valuable!