Leaving
Hello everyone,
I'll start with a short introduction and then catch up with more about myself as I find more time to write.
My name is Maureen and I am married, I have four children ranging in age from 17 to 6. Our family is originally from South Africa, we have been living in the United States for seven years. My parents joined us here about six years ago. Just last week Thursday their application with the INS was denied for the last time. For those of you who have been following my parents' case, you will know that they have had countless appeals with the help of their attorney and the community in which we live. By now, their names, Michael and Carol Gormley, have become well known, especially on Bainbridge Island.
Finding out that they have to leave was such a shock for almost everyone involved. I think everyone was not only hoping for a positive outcome, but even expecting it. For those who have not followed their story in the media - my parents originally applied on the same grounds as we have: Asylum from South Africa. They were denied many times; according to the INS, they were unable to prove persecution and fear due to discrimination because of their race and age.
As a last resort, a very true one, their attorney asked for a deferment regarding my fathers health issues. Seven years ago in South Africa, he had a second triple bypass surgery for his failing heart. The doctors then gave him less than five years to live. After my husband, Eric, and I came here with our family, we urged my parents to come over when we found out how advanced cardio care is, in addition to the better quality of life. As I mentioned earlier, they came over six years ago and since then my father has had a defibrillator and a pacemaker inserted. With an astounding combination of medication (11 tablets per day) which took six to eight months of careful modification to get "just right", my dad has lived way past the predicted five years.
Going back to South Africa will be detrimental for him. He will not have access to private medical insurance, and therefore, he will not get the care he needs. Certainly there will not be replacement surgery for a new defibrillator when the time comes. Over here my dad worked in a job he loved - at Safeway - and had medical benefits. His cardiologist over in Seattle, sent a letter to the INS informing them that it is against his medical orders to have my dad leave, especially on an airplane. Regardless of all that has been done to help my parents, they have still been told to leave.
Our community is so upset and disappointed by the decision. So many have offered to help my parents in so many ways. Offers to hide them, to sneak them into Canada and to buy them "green cards" have all been made out of love and desperation. My parents are grateful for so much love and care shown to them, but they have declined anything that is not in fitting with the governments decision. Like us, they want to make a statement. We are not lying about the reasons we left South Africa. And if we are allowed to stay, we want it to be because somebody listened, somebody heard us and believed us. We are not the only applicants. In our quest, we have found other applications have been and are being made in other states.
I'll start with a short introduction and then catch up with more about myself as I find more time to write.
My name is Maureen and I am married, I have four children ranging in age from 17 to 6. Our family is originally from South Africa, we have been living in the United States for seven years. My parents joined us here about six years ago. Just last week Thursday their application with the INS was denied for the last time. For those of you who have been following my parents' case, you will know that they have had countless appeals with the help of their attorney and the community in which we live. By now, their names, Michael and Carol Gormley, have become well known, especially on Bainbridge Island.
Finding out that they have to leave was such a shock for almost everyone involved. I think everyone was not only hoping for a positive outcome, but even expecting it. For those who have not followed their story in the media - my parents originally applied on the same grounds as we have: Asylum from South Africa. They were denied many times; according to the INS, they were unable to prove persecution and fear due to discrimination because of their race and age.
As a last resort, a very true one, their attorney asked for a deferment regarding my fathers health issues. Seven years ago in South Africa, he had a second triple bypass surgery for his failing heart. The doctors then gave him less than five years to live. After my husband, Eric, and I came here with our family, we urged my parents to come over when we found out how advanced cardio care is, in addition to the better quality of life. As I mentioned earlier, they came over six years ago and since then my father has had a defibrillator and a pacemaker inserted. With an astounding combination of medication (11 tablets per day) which took six to eight months of careful modification to get "just right", my dad has lived way past the predicted five years.
Going back to South Africa will be detrimental for him. He will not have access to private medical insurance, and therefore, he will not get the care he needs. Certainly there will not be replacement surgery for a new defibrillator when the time comes. Over here my dad worked in a job he loved - at Safeway - and had medical benefits. His cardiologist over in Seattle, sent a letter to the INS informing them that it is against his medical orders to have my dad leave, especially on an airplane. Regardless of all that has been done to help my parents, they have still been told to leave.
Our community is so upset and disappointed by the decision. So many have offered to help my parents in so many ways. Offers to hide them, to sneak them into Canada and to buy them "green cards" have all been made out of love and desperation. My parents are grateful for so much love and care shown to them, but they have declined anything that is not in fitting with the governments decision. Like us, they want to make a statement. We are not lying about the reasons we left South Africa. And if we are allowed to stay, we want it to be because somebody listened, somebody heard us and believed us. We are not the only applicants. In our quest, we have found other applications have been and are being made in other states.
About a year ago, they finally began making a decision on our case. It seems that we will also be denied our application eventually. Of course we don't want to leave. Our older two children are in high school already, the oldest will be a senior in September. Our youngest, who will be seven in July, was born here - a US citizen - knows nothing of the fearful life we lived in South Africa.
For now, it is one day at a time for our family as my parents prepare to leave. They are slowly wrapping up their lives here in the short time they have left. They have to leave the United States by June 18th.
That's it for now, time to get kids to school and get on with the day!
Maureen.
posted by Maureen | 7:56 AM
2 Comments:
Dear Maureen. Just a short note from family in SA. We wish you and your parents well in your apllications, and from what we have read and heard, you are far better off where you are.
Love Dennis, Eileen & the big kids
It goes without saying, but be prepared, get a automated defibrillator electronic here!
Post a Comment
<< Home