tasksgirl
04-07-2008, 12:27 AM
The parts I have doubts about I bolded them..
I obviously haven't gotten to the autism part yet other than collecting links..
There will be a few more hardships but these are my main ones..
Please let me know what you guys think I have kinda hit a writer's block / gathering evidence block ..
April 2, 2008
Consulate General of the United States
Avenida Lopez Meteos 924 N.
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Re: Case No. _____________
Applicant: XXXXXXXXX
Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (I-601)
Claim of Extreme Hardship on the U.S. Citizen Spouse
Dear Sir/Madam:
I, XXXXX, a U.S. citizen, in support of an I-601 Waiver of Grounds of Excludability filed on behalf of my husband, XXXX, submit this personal statement of extreme hardship. I am compelled by our spiritual marital bond to reside with my husband wherever he should be. Therefore, should Luis be banned from the country, I would be forced to relocate with him to Mexico for the duration of his ban. Doing so would cause extreme hardships to myself, a U.S. citizen.
Background Information & Special Circumstances
I find it important for the reader to note that my husband was brought to the United States by his parents when he was only 3 years of age; obviously not of his own accord. My husband was raised here in the United States and has worked hard to become a productive member of American society. He has completely and totally assimilated since that time, attending public school, paying taxes, registering for Selective Service, and enrolling in college. Luis remained in this country after he turned 18 because he had already met and fallen in love with me, and he did not have even the slightest memory of his birth country - a foreign country to him. My husband sincerely considers the United States his home. Once we married, I petitioned for my husband because we wanted to properly comply with the immigration laws of this country. Should we be forced to relocate to Mexico it would be a foreign country to both of us. My husband has no culpability in his illegal entry into this country, and limited culpability in staying. I also think it important to note that my husband has no criminal history, short of one minor incident detailed below when my husband was still a minor, at 17 years of age:
(I included the parts in bold above because I saw something similar in one of Laurel's cases but I am not sure if it's appropriate..)
Prior Incident with Police
When my husband was still in high school he was charged with a misdemeanor of vandalism for writing on the bathroom stalls in his school. My husband sincerely regrets the incident and immediately realized how foolish his actions were. He was given community service and completed his hours promptly and willingly in full cooperation with the court. He knows that every action has a consequence and to respect all laws of the United States. He has been a responsible family man with no indication of any criminal behavior. Before you automatically refer this case to the backlog, please consider that my husband has not had any other incidents with police and he has NO criminal record as an adult. Both the hardships in this case and the fact that my husband did not enter the country of his own accord outweigh the minor juvenile offense, and make this case clearly approvable.
Loss of Career & Inability to Work in Mexico
A – Current Career: I currently work for XXX, Inc. as a Senior Data Structure Operations Specialist, a specialized computer position in which I have worked since 2006. The skills that I have obtained at this job are very specialized, and are only applicable within my company, or possibly within a very small industry of E-Commerce comparison shopping websites. There is no way these skills would be applicable in Mexico. If I had to relocate to Mexico with my husband, I would be losing out on the extensive special training and skills that I have received here and I would miss many future raises and promotions. [Letter from boss] Since 2006 I have received 2 promotions as well as 2 annual raises. [Evidence of pay raises & promotion] My position was very difficult to obtain, and leaving to Mexico would force me to walk away from a great professional career that I have worked hard to establish even at my young age and while still in school. In the United States I am able to continue my excellent professional career; whereas in Mexico ___. XXXX has an excellent health, dental, and vision plan as well as a 401k retirement savings plan and many other valuable benefits which I have taken full advantage of. [Printout of XXX's benefits & my 401k plan] If I had to relocate to Mexico, I would be losing not only professional opportunities for advancement, but also the excellent benefits that my company provides.
B - Inability to Work in Mexico: As a U.S. citizen, in order to procure legal employment in Mexico, I would have to get a work visa which has stringent requirements difficult for anyone to qualify for. In order to obtain a visa to work in Mexico, an applicant “must be sponsored by a company who must satisfy the authorities that you are essential to their operative requirements.” There are no suitable professional career options for me in Mexico due to my inability to communicate in Spanish, obtain a legal work visa, or navigate the professional world in Mexico. Furthermore, in order to work in Mexico, there is a system of requirements and permits for most professions, none of which I would qualify for or be able to obtain. Non-professional jobs are not an option either as they are difficult to obtain, require knowledge of Spanish language, and do not tend to sponsor applicants for FM3 (?) visas. [Article from Mexperience]
C – Husband’s Inability to Work in Mexico: Having been raised in the United States, my husband is thoroughly americanized and therefore not familiar with the country of Mexico. Having learned English from an early age, my husband’s Spanish skills are limited. Since Luis was never educated in Mexican schools; he never learned how to read or write in Spanish. Therefore although Luis can communicate fairly well verbally in Spanish, his ability to read or write the language is extremely limited, making it nearly impossible for him to obtain sufficient employment in Mexico. Furthermore, my husband’s lack of a Mexican education makes it impossible for him to qualify for the special permits and requirements needed for many professions, and _____. Although one would think that an American education and English language ability would be beneficial, the reality of Mexico’s job market is actually quite different. [Article]
With both my husband and I unemployable; we would be unable to procure safe housing, health care, transportation or education. We would both be essentially lost in a foreign country unable to navigate in society or take care of our own basic needs of food and shelter - an obvious extreme hardship to me.
Loss of Current & Future Education / Loss of Future Career
A - Current Education: I am currently enrolled in the final 2 classes needed before achieving my Associates degree in Business Administration from XXXX. I have worked very hard to obtain this degree, taking night classes while I worked during the day. If I were to relocate to Mexico my degree would not be of value because I would not be allowed to work, and because many jobs in Mexico require an education in Mexican schools (CITE). Since I do not have any special skills that are required to obtain a Mexican work visa, I would not be legally allowed to work while in Mexico.
B – Future Education: If I were to relocate to Mexico not only could I not use the degree which I have rightfully earned, but I would also not be able to continue my education there. Furthering my education in Mexico is not possible not only due to language barriers and monetary cost; but most importantly because Mexico can not offer me the degrees I wish to obtain. My educational and career goals are all centered on United States government, immigration law, and policy. I plan to transfer to XXX and obtain my Bachelors degree in Political Science. After I have completed my Bachelors degree, I plan to attend law school. I have already taken a LSAT prep course to prepare myself for the future process of applying to law school. [Record of class]
C – Career Goals: I wish to become an immigration lawyer who is knowledgeable not only in immigration law, but in the government of the United States so that I can work in advocacy, policy creation, and even lobbying. This country is very important to me, and the immigrant community holds a special place in my heart. I have long wished to make an impact on other’s lives and have always wanted a career in which I could help others. Going through this immigration process with my husband has shown me that the passion I have for immigrants, the love I have for this country, and the desire to help others can be combined into a career. I consider myself to be very politically active. I have already participated in several political activities including rallies, calling campaigns, letter writing campaigns, and a trip to Washington D.C. in which I was able to meet with congressmen and legislative officials and even give a speech on immigration reform. This trip ignited a spark and my plan to major in Political Science so that I could continue working in the fields of advocacy and political activism. Since meeting so many immigrants in my activism so far, I have heard many stories and seen some very sad cases. I have seen firsthand how many people are misled and misguided by immigration lawyers and notaries, and that many people will go through this waiver process without knowing they will need a waiver or hardship letter. I have a strong desire to help other immigrants and their families going through this process and to help inform the immigrant community of the laws they might not be aware of. I consider myself an ambitious person and I would be devastated if I were not able to continue my activism and pursue my career goals, which are extremely important to me. Obviously I could not earn degrees in U.S. immigration law and U.S. government from Mexico, nor could I practice U.S. immigration law or work towards U.S. policy change.
(This part I feel is very emotional but when describing future career goals is that not a very emotional thing? So I am not sure how to put it more cold-cut about career goals and desires..)
Major Health Problems in USC’s Immediate Family Requiring Care
A – Father’s Degenerative, Debilitating ALS Disorder: At the age of 43 my father XXXX was diagnosed with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a rare genetic form of ALS. According to the ALS Association, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.” [Exhibit 1a] Familial ALS is a rare and less understood form of ALS, occurring in only 10% of all ALS cases. My paternal grandfather, great-grandmother, great-aunt, and other family members were all diagnosed with the disease at varying ages in their lives, some as young as __22__. According to a leading specialist and researcher on familial ALS, who received and reviewed my family’s records, _________.
ALS is a degenerative disease, meaning that the body progressively deteriorates over time. My father when diagnosed was able to walk comfortably, with his only symptom being minor tremors in his hands. Since that time, walking has become extremely painful and increasingly difficult; and it is now impossible for him to walk even short distances without the aid of a cane. In an incident in February 2008, my father was attempting to do some yard work and left his cane in the backyard when moving to the front yard to throw away a bag of trash. Just in this short time he lost his balance and without having his cane to support himself he fell and broke the __ bone in his foot. He had to remain in a wheelchair for 8 weeks while the bone healed. Since that accident he has not regained his former state of mobility, as limited as it already was. Within a few short years my father’s disease has progressed quickly. He is beginning to need the aid of the walker to walk around the house and will inevitably be permanently bound to a wheelchair. Many ALS patients, as mentioned above, eventually become either partially or fully paralyzed. Towards the end of his life my paternal grandfather was paralyzed from the waist down and was unable to move his legs. Looking at the progression of the disease in the family is a strong indicator of the progression the disease will take in my father. According to the doctor who has treated him since his diagnosis in 1999(?), “_____________”.
As the disease progresses, my father will need constant care and it is inevitable that my parents will need my assistance in the immediate future. My mother, aging herself, is the only caretaker available for both my father and my brother, who is mentally disabled. Upkeep of a property and house can be not only expensive but physically demanding. Up until this time my father has handled all problems in the home including pest control, which is needed often in Houston’s warm and humid climate; yard work; plumbing repairs; storm windows; flood, hurricane or tornado damage – also common in Houston; air conditioning & heating malfunctions; attic insulation; piping insulation in winter months, etc. As we can obviously see from my father’s accident, he has been trying to handle these household tasks even now as he can barely walk. My mom is not skilled at these kinds of repairs, and my parents will benefit immensely in the future if my husband is around to provide physical labor and repair when needed. Also, my parents will soon need to make repairs and modifications to their home to ensure that it is fully equipped for wheelchairs – wider doorways, ramps, etc. As neither of my parents are able-bodied enough for major construction work, my husband will be needed at that time to install these new modifications.
Even more devastating, if I were forced to relocate to Mexico for 10 years I would most certainly miss the last years of my dad’s life. According to research released by the ALS Association, “Although the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable and many people live with quality for five years and more. More than half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis. About twenty percent of people with ALS live five years or more and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years and five percent will live 20 years.” [Exhibit 1b] As the research indicates, living more than 10 years past diagnosis is rare and living more than 20 years past diagnosis is extremely rare. Since 10 years have already passed since my father’s initial diagnosis, it is obvious that my father will inevitably pass away within the next 10 years. If I were to be residing in Mexico during this time I would be losing precious time with my father and I would not be able to assist in his daily care towards the end of his life. Since plane tickets from Mexico City, Mexico to Houston, Texas average $___ round trip, while the average Mexican wages are only $__ a day, it would impossible for me to visit my father in the last years of his life. [Cite travel costs] My dad and I have almost daily contact [exhibit phone/email record?] and he has been my support throughout my entire life. Not being able to care for him when he is suffering both physically and emotionally, and spend precious time with him before he passes would be extremely devastating to both of us.
B – Brother’s Autism & Need for Care: Furthermore, my brother XXX is autistic. Autism is
C – USC’s Family’s Absolute Need for Future Care: When my father passes away; my mother and brother will need considerable help both emotionally, financially, and physically. I am named as the ___ for my brother’s trust fund and I am the only family member available to assist in his care. As my mother has not worked in over 20 years and has never been involved in the finances of the family; the responsibility to coordinate my father’s funeral, as well my brother’s trust fund and care would fall on me. My mother is also aging, with a family history and diagnosis of high cholesterol; she is at risk for heart disease. There is also a history of cancer in my mother’s immediate family – her own mother died at the age of __ of brain cancer and my mother’s twin sister is currently battling ovarian cancer.
In the event of one or both of my parent’s deaths, which are certainly coming as death is a natural part of life, I am the sole family member who can provide care for my brother. There are no other family members who have the time and resources to dedicate to a special needs person like my brother. I have no other siblings, and no one in my extended family has the resources to take on another disabled individual. My mom has 3 sisters, one of which has 3rd stage ovarian cancer, the other of which is bipolar and mentally unstable, and the third of which is a single parent also raising a daughter with autism. [Evidence of all of these things] Aside from the fact that other family members are suffering with their own medical problems; my brother needs a very stable and familiar environment, and as mentioned in the psychiatric evaluation of my brother Kyle, “____________.” He absolutely refuses to communicate with others outside the home, even extended family members whom he is familiar with; and if he were not in the care of someone from his immediate family that could understand him, his mental and physical health would definitely decline. As a mentally disabled individual, he will have an extremely difficult time dealing with the inevitable loss of one or both of my parents, and would most definitely need special mental health care. Autistic individuals are lost within their own minds, and my parents and I have been the only individuals who have ever been able to break through even slightly into my brother’s world. Not being able to care for my father and brother would be devastating to me emotionally as would not being able to spend time with my father in his last years of life. My family has always been there for me and I absolutely must be there to take care of them as they struggle with their health issues.
Major Hereditary Health Risks in USC’s Immediate Family
A – Extreme Risk of FALS in USC’s Future: Research indicates that individuals who have one or more family members with ALS carry an extreme risk of being diagnosed themselves. (CITE) With nearly every single member of my extended paternal family suffering from this severe, hereditary condition; I am obviously at dramatic risk of diagnosis of this potentially devastating disorder. Furthermore, as demonstrated in my family’s records, a diagnosis can come at any age (CITE), even in one’s 20s or 30s. Unfortunately genetic testing is not enough to determine whether an individual will develop ALS. There is one method to test an individual such as myself which a large family history, but in only 2% of cases are the results conclusive. (CITE) Therefore it is impossible to know until diagnosis whether an individual is a carrier of the disease or not. Symptoms can begin to occur at any age, and _____. It is extremely likely I will eventually carry the diagnosis myself; it is just a matter of when. While ALS is not curable and currently not treatable (CITE), new clinical drug trials and research are being done in the United States in an attempt to slow down the progression of ALS. (CITE) Therefore, if a diagnosis were to befall me during the 10 years I would be living in Mexico, I would be losing out on the latest technologies and medical treatments available in the United States. Even if such treatments were to eventually become available in Mexico, I would not have access to the health care system to treat my condition, nor the money to pay the hospitals directly. The salary my husband would make in Mexico would leave nothing to pay for medical care, or insurance to cover it. Since I am not a Mexican citizen and I do not have any of the special skills necessary to qualify for a visa to work in Mexico, I will not have the ability to work and we would not have the means to pay for medical care. Failing to receive any future treatments for the disease would drastically shorten my life, not to mention the quality of my life. If the onslaught of ALS were to occur while living in Mexico, by the time I would re-enter and re-establish myself in the U.S. I would have lost valuable time to slow the progression of ALS. Also, once diagnosed, I would be uninsurable. This means that if diagnosed while not under any existing health insurance, I would not be able to get any new insurance coverage when I return to the U.S. (CITE)
B – Risk of Autism & Mental Health Disorders in Future Children
I obviously haven't gotten to the autism part yet other than collecting links..
There will be a few more hardships but these are my main ones..
Please let me know what you guys think I have kinda hit a writer's block / gathering evidence block ..
April 2, 2008
Consulate General of the United States
Avenida Lopez Meteos 924 N.
Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
Re: Case No. _____________
Applicant: XXXXXXXXX
Application for Waiver of Grounds of Excludability (I-601)
Claim of Extreme Hardship on the U.S. Citizen Spouse
Dear Sir/Madam:
I, XXXXX, a U.S. citizen, in support of an I-601 Waiver of Grounds of Excludability filed on behalf of my husband, XXXX, submit this personal statement of extreme hardship. I am compelled by our spiritual marital bond to reside with my husband wherever he should be. Therefore, should Luis be banned from the country, I would be forced to relocate with him to Mexico for the duration of his ban. Doing so would cause extreme hardships to myself, a U.S. citizen.
Background Information & Special Circumstances
I find it important for the reader to note that my husband was brought to the United States by his parents when he was only 3 years of age; obviously not of his own accord. My husband was raised here in the United States and has worked hard to become a productive member of American society. He has completely and totally assimilated since that time, attending public school, paying taxes, registering for Selective Service, and enrolling in college. Luis remained in this country after he turned 18 because he had already met and fallen in love with me, and he did not have even the slightest memory of his birth country - a foreign country to him. My husband sincerely considers the United States his home. Once we married, I petitioned for my husband because we wanted to properly comply with the immigration laws of this country. Should we be forced to relocate to Mexico it would be a foreign country to both of us. My husband has no culpability in his illegal entry into this country, and limited culpability in staying. I also think it important to note that my husband has no criminal history, short of one minor incident detailed below when my husband was still a minor, at 17 years of age:
(I included the parts in bold above because I saw something similar in one of Laurel's cases but I am not sure if it's appropriate..)
Prior Incident with Police
When my husband was still in high school he was charged with a misdemeanor of vandalism for writing on the bathroom stalls in his school. My husband sincerely regrets the incident and immediately realized how foolish his actions were. He was given community service and completed his hours promptly and willingly in full cooperation with the court. He knows that every action has a consequence and to respect all laws of the United States. He has been a responsible family man with no indication of any criminal behavior. Before you automatically refer this case to the backlog, please consider that my husband has not had any other incidents with police and he has NO criminal record as an adult. Both the hardships in this case and the fact that my husband did not enter the country of his own accord outweigh the minor juvenile offense, and make this case clearly approvable.
Loss of Career & Inability to Work in Mexico
A – Current Career: I currently work for XXX, Inc. as a Senior Data Structure Operations Specialist, a specialized computer position in which I have worked since 2006. The skills that I have obtained at this job are very specialized, and are only applicable within my company, or possibly within a very small industry of E-Commerce comparison shopping websites. There is no way these skills would be applicable in Mexico. If I had to relocate to Mexico with my husband, I would be losing out on the extensive special training and skills that I have received here and I would miss many future raises and promotions. [Letter from boss] Since 2006 I have received 2 promotions as well as 2 annual raises. [Evidence of pay raises & promotion] My position was very difficult to obtain, and leaving to Mexico would force me to walk away from a great professional career that I have worked hard to establish even at my young age and while still in school. In the United States I am able to continue my excellent professional career; whereas in Mexico ___. XXXX has an excellent health, dental, and vision plan as well as a 401k retirement savings plan and many other valuable benefits which I have taken full advantage of. [Printout of XXX's benefits & my 401k plan] If I had to relocate to Mexico, I would be losing not only professional opportunities for advancement, but also the excellent benefits that my company provides.
B - Inability to Work in Mexico: As a U.S. citizen, in order to procure legal employment in Mexico, I would have to get a work visa which has stringent requirements difficult for anyone to qualify for. In order to obtain a visa to work in Mexico, an applicant “must be sponsored by a company who must satisfy the authorities that you are essential to their operative requirements.” There are no suitable professional career options for me in Mexico due to my inability to communicate in Spanish, obtain a legal work visa, or navigate the professional world in Mexico. Furthermore, in order to work in Mexico, there is a system of requirements and permits for most professions, none of which I would qualify for or be able to obtain. Non-professional jobs are not an option either as they are difficult to obtain, require knowledge of Spanish language, and do not tend to sponsor applicants for FM3 (?) visas. [Article from Mexperience]
C – Husband’s Inability to Work in Mexico: Having been raised in the United States, my husband is thoroughly americanized and therefore not familiar with the country of Mexico. Having learned English from an early age, my husband’s Spanish skills are limited. Since Luis was never educated in Mexican schools; he never learned how to read or write in Spanish. Therefore although Luis can communicate fairly well verbally in Spanish, his ability to read or write the language is extremely limited, making it nearly impossible for him to obtain sufficient employment in Mexico. Furthermore, my husband’s lack of a Mexican education makes it impossible for him to qualify for the special permits and requirements needed for many professions, and _____. Although one would think that an American education and English language ability would be beneficial, the reality of Mexico’s job market is actually quite different. [Article]
With both my husband and I unemployable; we would be unable to procure safe housing, health care, transportation or education. We would both be essentially lost in a foreign country unable to navigate in society or take care of our own basic needs of food and shelter - an obvious extreme hardship to me.
Loss of Current & Future Education / Loss of Future Career
A - Current Education: I am currently enrolled in the final 2 classes needed before achieving my Associates degree in Business Administration from XXXX. I have worked very hard to obtain this degree, taking night classes while I worked during the day. If I were to relocate to Mexico my degree would not be of value because I would not be allowed to work, and because many jobs in Mexico require an education in Mexican schools (CITE). Since I do not have any special skills that are required to obtain a Mexican work visa, I would not be legally allowed to work while in Mexico.
B – Future Education: If I were to relocate to Mexico not only could I not use the degree which I have rightfully earned, but I would also not be able to continue my education there. Furthering my education in Mexico is not possible not only due to language barriers and monetary cost; but most importantly because Mexico can not offer me the degrees I wish to obtain. My educational and career goals are all centered on United States government, immigration law, and policy. I plan to transfer to XXX and obtain my Bachelors degree in Political Science. After I have completed my Bachelors degree, I plan to attend law school. I have already taken a LSAT prep course to prepare myself for the future process of applying to law school. [Record of class]
C – Career Goals: I wish to become an immigration lawyer who is knowledgeable not only in immigration law, but in the government of the United States so that I can work in advocacy, policy creation, and even lobbying. This country is very important to me, and the immigrant community holds a special place in my heart. I have long wished to make an impact on other’s lives and have always wanted a career in which I could help others. Going through this immigration process with my husband has shown me that the passion I have for immigrants, the love I have for this country, and the desire to help others can be combined into a career. I consider myself to be very politically active. I have already participated in several political activities including rallies, calling campaigns, letter writing campaigns, and a trip to Washington D.C. in which I was able to meet with congressmen and legislative officials and even give a speech on immigration reform. This trip ignited a spark and my plan to major in Political Science so that I could continue working in the fields of advocacy and political activism. Since meeting so many immigrants in my activism so far, I have heard many stories and seen some very sad cases. I have seen firsthand how many people are misled and misguided by immigration lawyers and notaries, and that many people will go through this waiver process without knowing they will need a waiver or hardship letter. I have a strong desire to help other immigrants and their families going through this process and to help inform the immigrant community of the laws they might not be aware of. I consider myself an ambitious person and I would be devastated if I were not able to continue my activism and pursue my career goals, which are extremely important to me. Obviously I could not earn degrees in U.S. immigration law and U.S. government from Mexico, nor could I practice U.S. immigration law or work towards U.S. policy change.
(This part I feel is very emotional but when describing future career goals is that not a very emotional thing? So I am not sure how to put it more cold-cut about career goals and desires..)
Major Health Problems in USC’s Immediate Family Requiring Care
A – Father’s Degenerative, Debilitating ALS Disorder: At the age of 43 my father XXXX was diagnosed with Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a rare genetic form of ALS. According to the ALS Association, “Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Motor neurons reach from the brain to the spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the muscles throughout the body. The progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in ALS eventually lead to their death. When the motor neurons die, the ability of the brain to initiate and control muscle movement is lost. With voluntary muscle action progressively affected, patients in the later stages of the disease may become totally paralyzed.” [Exhibit 1a] Familial ALS is a rare and less understood form of ALS, occurring in only 10% of all ALS cases. My paternal grandfather, great-grandmother, great-aunt, and other family members were all diagnosed with the disease at varying ages in their lives, some as young as __22__. According to a leading specialist and researcher on familial ALS, who received and reviewed my family’s records, _________.
ALS is a degenerative disease, meaning that the body progressively deteriorates over time. My father when diagnosed was able to walk comfortably, with his only symptom being minor tremors in his hands. Since that time, walking has become extremely painful and increasingly difficult; and it is now impossible for him to walk even short distances without the aid of a cane. In an incident in February 2008, my father was attempting to do some yard work and left his cane in the backyard when moving to the front yard to throw away a bag of trash. Just in this short time he lost his balance and without having his cane to support himself he fell and broke the __ bone in his foot. He had to remain in a wheelchair for 8 weeks while the bone healed. Since that accident he has not regained his former state of mobility, as limited as it already was. Within a few short years my father’s disease has progressed quickly. He is beginning to need the aid of the walker to walk around the house and will inevitably be permanently bound to a wheelchair. Many ALS patients, as mentioned above, eventually become either partially or fully paralyzed. Towards the end of his life my paternal grandfather was paralyzed from the waist down and was unable to move his legs. Looking at the progression of the disease in the family is a strong indicator of the progression the disease will take in my father. According to the doctor who has treated him since his diagnosis in 1999(?), “_____________”.
As the disease progresses, my father will need constant care and it is inevitable that my parents will need my assistance in the immediate future. My mother, aging herself, is the only caretaker available for both my father and my brother, who is mentally disabled. Upkeep of a property and house can be not only expensive but physically demanding. Up until this time my father has handled all problems in the home including pest control, which is needed often in Houston’s warm and humid climate; yard work; plumbing repairs; storm windows; flood, hurricane or tornado damage – also common in Houston; air conditioning & heating malfunctions; attic insulation; piping insulation in winter months, etc. As we can obviously see from my father’s accident, he has been trying to handle these household tasks even now as he can barely walk. My mom is not skilled at these kinds of repairs, and my parents will benefit immensely in the future if my husband is around to provide physical labor and repair when needed. Also, my parents will soon need to make repairs and modifications to their home to ensure that it is fully equipped for wheelchairs – wider doorways, ramps, etc. As neither of my parents are able-bodied enough for major construction work, my husband will be needed at that time to install these new modifications.
Even more devastating, if I were forced to relocate to Mexico for 10 years I would most certainly miss the last years of my dad’s life. According to research released by the ALS Association, “Although the life expectancy of an ALS patient averages about two to five years from the time of diagnosis, this disease is variable and many people live with quality for five years and more. More than half of all patients live more than three years after diagnosis. About twenty percent of people with ALS live five years or more and up to ten percent will survive more than ten years and five percent will live 20 years.” [Exhibit 1b] As the research indicates, living more than 10 years past diagnosis is rare and living more than 20 years past diagnosis is extremely rare. Since 10 years have already passed since my father’s initial diagnosis, it is obvious that my father will inevitably pass away within the next 10 years. If I were to be residing in Mexico during this time I would be losing precious time with my father and I would not be able to assist in his daily care towards the end of his life. Since plane tickets from Mexico City, Mexico to Houston, Texas average $___ round trip, while the average Mexican wages are only $__ a day, it would impossible for me to visit my father in the last years of his life. [Cite travel costs] My dad and I have almost daily contact [exhibit phone/email record?] and he has been my support throughout my entire life. Not being able to care for him when he is suffering both physically and emotionally, and spend precious time with him before he passes would be extremely devastating to both of us.
B – Brother’s Autism & Need for Care: Furthermore, my brother XXX is autistic. Autism is
C – USC’s Family’s Absolute Need for Future Care: When my father passes away; my mother and brother will need considerable help both emotionally, financially, and physically. I am named as the ___ for my brother’s trust fund and I am the only family member available to assist in his care. As my mother has not worked in over 20 years and has never been involved in the finances of the family; the responsibility to coordinate my father’s funeral, as well my brother’s trust fund and care would fall on me. My mother is also aging, with a family history and diagnosis of high cholesterol; she is at risk for heart disease. There is also a history of cancer in my mother’s immediate family – her own mother died at the age of __ of brain cancer and my mother’s twin sister is currently battling ovarian cancer.
In the event of one or both of my parent’s deaths, which are certainly coming as death is a natural part of life, I am the sole family member who can provide care for my brother. There are no other family members who have the time and resources to dedicate to a special needs person like my brother. I have no other siblings, and no one in my extended family has the resources to take on another disabled individual. My mom has 3 sisters, one of which has 3rd stage ovarian cancer, the other of which is bipolar and mentally unstable, and the third of which is a single parent also raising a daughter with autism. [Evidence of all of these things] Aside from the fact that other family members are suffering with their own medical problems; my brother needs a very stable and familiar environment, and as mentioned in the psychiatric evaluation of my brother Kyle, “____________.” He absolutely refuses to communicate with others outside the home, even extended family members whom he is familiar with; and if he were not in the care of someone from his immediate family that could understand him, his mental and physical health would definitely decline. As a mentally disabled individual, he will have an extremely difficult time dealing with the inevitable loss of one or both of my parents, and would most definitely need special mental health care. Autistic individuals are lost within their own minds, and my parents and I have been the only individuals who have ever been able to break through even slightly into my brother’s world. Not being able to care for my father and brother would be devastating to me emotionally as would not being able to spend time with my father in his last years of life. My family has always been there for me and I absolutely must be there to take care of them as they struggle with their health issues.
Major Hereditary Health Risks in USC’s Immediate Family
A – Extreme Risk of FALS in USC’s Future: Research indicates that individuals who have one or more family members with ALS carry an extreme risk of being diagnosed themselves. (CITE) With nearly every single member of my extended paternal family suffering from this severe, hereditary condition; I am obviously at dramatic risk of diagnosis of this potentially devastating disorder. Furthermore, as demonstrated in my family’s records, a diagnosis can come at any age (CITE), even in one’s 20s or 30s. Unfortunately genetic testing is not enough to determine whether an individual will develop ALS. There is one method to test an individual such as myself which a large family history, but in only 2% of cases are the results conclusive. (CITE) Therefore it is impossible to know until diagnosis whether an individual is a carrier of the disease or not. Symptoms can begin to occur at any age, and _____. It is extremely likely I will eventually carry the diagnosis myself; it is just a matter of when. While ALS is not curable and currently not treatable (CITE), new clinical drug trials and research are being done in the United States in an attempt to slow down the progression of ALS. (CITE) Therefore, if a diagnosis were to befall me during the 10 years I would be living in Mexico, I would be losing out on the latest technologies and medical treatments available in the United States. Even if such treatments were to eventually become available in Mexico, I would not have access to the health care system to treat my condition, nor the money to pay the hospitals directly. The salary my husband would make in Mexico would leave nothing to pay for medical care, or insurance to cover it. Since I am not a Mexican citizen and I do not have any of the special skills necessary to qualify for a visa to work in Mexico, I will not have the ability to work and we would not have the means to pay for medical care. Failing to receive any future treatments for the disease would drastically shorten my life, not to mention the quality of my life. If the onslaught of ALS were to occur while living in Mexico, by the time I would re-enter and re-establish myself in the U.S. I would have lost valuable time to slow the progression of ALS. Also, once diagnosed, I would be uninsurable. This means that if diagnosed while not under any existing health insurance, I would not be able to get any new insurance coverage when I return to the U.S. (CITE)
B – Risk of Autism & Mental Health Disorders in Future Children