When I first made the decision to move to Lexington, my sister introduced me to her online writing friend, Kathryn. Kathryn lives in Louisville, while my sister lives in Florida, so they had never met in real life. Kathryn was a big help in answering my questions pre-move and then made a trip to Lexington to help me move into my new place. She was my first Kentucky friend. 🙂
I’ve attached a link to the Crowdrise fundraising page that I’ve set up to help Kathryn and her husband with a difficult situation they find themselves in.
Click here to learn more about the Bring Fatou Home fundraiser on Crowdrise.
If you’re looking for a way to pay it forward, you can help bring this young girl home where she can be cared for. After years of neglect and abuse as a mentally disabled child in a country where people think that means you’re possessed by demons, she has a chance for a good life with her father and his wife (my friend Kathryn) in Kentucky.
Thank you for reading Fatou’s story. Crowdrise accepts donations starting at $10. If you can help this family, it will be much appreciated.
Kentucky Day Trips 
Thank you, Karen. I would not known about this situation without you.
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Thank YOU, too!
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Passed it along. Praying for this family and the best possible outcome. Thank you for sharing their story.
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Thanks for spreading the word, Kathryn.
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Thank you, so much for helping us get our daughter home from Guinea. We can’t wait until we are all home in Louisville. We look forward to seeing you then!
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Spring in Louisville! I’ll see you all soon!
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Looking forward to an update. I noticed on Facebook that you had nearly reached the financial crowdfunding goal. So hope they get to bring her here.
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Thanks for the reminder, Kathryn! There have been ups and downs…and more ups and downs. They now have a lawyer, plus a Kentucky legislator and the American Embassy advocating for Fatou. They are getting closer to being able to apply for her visa. Because all this is taking much longer than they anticipated, Kathryn is going to fly home to get her daughter (who is staying with friends) and take her back to Guinea to be with them. Apparently there is also the requirement that the entire family be present when the visa application is made to prove this really is a family situation. They are hanging in there!
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Thanks for the update, Karen. I’m glad to know they have so many important people and entities helping them. I understand the requirement about the entire family being present. I’ve seen far too many stories of children being taken from one country to another to become slaves and worse.
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Yes, I remember the requirements the consulate in Bombay imposed on us to qualify for my daughter’s American passport when she was two. We had to provide sonograms and photos of her with us from birth to the time we applied. And we had to appear as a family. It was somewhat unnerving to have my government treat me in such an adversarial way. It’s especially difficult for Kathryn since her daughter in the U.S. is a handicapped/special needs teen.
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Great Post
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Thanks, Mukul. I’m glad you stopped by. I’ll be posting an update on their progress in bringing Fatou home soon.
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welcome. will look out for the update
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