- Jul 12, 2006
- 111,866
- 31,364
- 146
OK AT. I have a serious request for the AT effect.
In brief (brief with me? yeah right--cliffs at bottom
)
My cousin and her husband served on the Peace Corps in Togo (West Africa) from 2005-2007. While there, they befriended and eventually adopted (March, 2007) a beautiful young girl, Awa, at the behest of her birth parents. This adoption was recognized through every legal manner afforded by the Togolese government and through the US Embassy. Lori and Michael are the Mother and Father of this 8 year-old girl.
Unfortunately, Awa still remains in Togo, as their efforts to bring her home have been thwarted for more than a year now. Lori and Michael remained in Togo well beyond their scheduled stay in order to work this issue out, but had to return home for various reasons. Lori has now attended her first year at Duke Law School, and Michael had to return (4 months after Lori) to complete a home study program, and now works for the Global Health initiative.
They have appealed to their State Senators and Representatives, and have requested my help to appeal to my state senator (I have obliged), and are exhausting every resource they can to bring their bright young girl home.
They have created a petition to request USCIS for a humanitarian parole, which remains their only option to bring Awa home. more details are on the petition, no registration required, but an email address may be. this petition service asks for donations after signature, but it is not mandatory. The petition seems to be working with the politicians that they have contacted....so I'm thinking the AT effect can go a long way here.
come on folks, let's help out some truly decent people here
Cliffs:
1. Family went to peace corps, adopted kid
2. Visa to bring child into US stalled for more than 1 year
3. sign petition, please help
4. picks of beautiful child, family forthcoming.
Petition for Awa
Awa, Lori, and Michael Russell
Update: 4-21-08
so, I was in NC this past weekend for a wedding and had brunch with Lori and Michael. It seems they have actually been in regular contact with the offices of Senator Burr and Congressman Price. It seems that they have been able to garner a bit of pull here, as their representatives have been in contact with USCIS to get this humanitarian parole approved. Also helps that a ton of their friends have inundated these offices with hordes of letters.
Lori and Michael also have several letters from pediatricians (in the US and in Togo) documenting Awa's health issues and why she needs treatment in the US (apparently she has developed a large wart on the bottom of one of her feet. not dangerous, but extremely uncomfortable.) Obviously, this needs to be removed but the Togolese physician (who is well-trained apparently), recommends Awa be moved to the US for the surgery so that the risk of infection may be reduced.
Lori is planning on traveling to Togo in May. She has finals during these next three weeks, so things are a bit stressful.
Last week, I mailed letters to Barack Obama (being that he is my senator, and is currently campaigning in NC)
Thanks again to all for the help!
In brief (brief with me? yeah right--cliffs at bottom
)My cousin and her husband served on the Peace Corps in Togo (West Africa) from 2005-2007. While there, they befriended and eventually adopted (March, 2007) a beautiful young girl, Awa, at the behest of her birth parents. This adoption was recognized through every legal manner afforded by the Togolese government and through the US Embassy. Lori and Michael are the Mother and Father of this 8 year-old girl.
Unfortunately, Awa still remains in Togo, as their efforts to bring her home have been thwarted for more than a year now. Lori and Michael remained in Togo well beyond their scheduled stay in order to work this issue out, but had to return home for various reasons. Lori has now attended her first year at Duke Law School, and Michael had to return (4 months after Lori) to complete a home study program, and now works for the Global Health initiative.
They have appealed to their State Senators and Representatives, and have requested my help to appeal to my state senator (I have obliged), and are exhausting every resource they can to bring their bright young girl home.
They have created a petition to request USCIS for a humanitarian parole, which remains their only option to bring Awa home. more details are on the petition, no registration required, but an email address may be. this petition service asks for donations after signature, but it is not mandatory. The petition seems to be working with the politicians that they have contacted....so I'm thinking the AT effect can go a long way here.
come on folks, let's help out some truly decent people here
Cliffs:
1. Family went to peace corps, adopted kid
2. Visa to bring child into US stalled for more than 1 year
3. sign petition, please help
4. picks of beautiful child, family forthcoming.
Petition for Awa
Awa, Lori, and Michael Russell
Update: 4-21-08
so, I was in NC this past weekend for a wedding and had brunch with Lori and Michael. It seems they have actually been in regular contact with the offices of Senator Burr and Congressman Price. It seems that they have been able to garner a bit of pull here, as their representatives have been in contact with USCIS to get this humanitarian parole approved. Also helps that a ton of their friends have inundated these offices with hordes of letters.
Lori and Michael also have several letters from pediatricians (in the US and in Togo) documenting Awa's health issues and why she needs treatment in the US (apparently she has developed a large wart on the bottom of one of her feet. not dangerous, but extremely uncomfortable.) Obviously, this needs to be removed but the Togolese physician (who is well-trained apparently), recommends Awa be moved to the US for the surgery so that the risk of infection may be reduced.
Lori is planning on traveling to Togo in May. She has finals during these next three weeks, so things are a bit stressful.
Last week, I mailed letters to Barack Obama (being that he is my senator, and is currently campaigning in NC
)Thanks again to all for the help!
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