Let's Get Alex Home...

Hi, my name is Emily, and I have started this fundraiser due to the urgent need to make travel arrangements to get Alex home to the United States from the Philippines.

Alex has been through so much over the past few years. His father passed away in 2018, and his mother passed away last November. His stepfather obtained custody of him after the passing of Alex’s mom. Most recently, Alex has been stranded in the Philippines due to his stepfather passing away tragically from a heart attack while they were on a trip there to spread his mother’s ashes in her home country. There have been many roadblocks in the past month since his stepfather’s passing in trying to get Alex home. He only has two known blood relatives that live in the United States and neither of them took the steps necessary to obtain custody of Alex so that he could return home. Communication has been limited, and he is staying with family that he had never met before this trip.

Alex is a best friend, classmate, and bandmate of my son. I have come to know and love him over the past few years. He is an A honor student, plays Baritone in the marching band and concert band at school, and plays tennis. Despite all the tragedies in his life, Alex always maintains a positive attitude about life and still lights up any room he walks into. About 2 weeks ago, I was contacted about possibly obtaining emergency custody of Alex, so that he would have a custodian and home to come to. I agreed wholeheartedly! So, the process of talking to attorneys and court hearings began. I was awarded emergency custody of him to be able to get him home and back to school. Once he is home, there will be another hearing for me to get long-term custody. I could not be more blessed than to get to raise my son and his best friend as they begin high school together.

No one could have ever expected this summer to turn out the way it did. The urgency in this fundraiser request is due to Alex’s visa expiring this Saturday, August 12th. I was granted emergency custody only one week away from that travel deadline. I have reached out to the US Embassy for assistance but have not had much luck due to the time difference and the complexity of the situation. Searching for available and affordable international airfare at the last minute has proven to be a difficult task. Most flights require multiple long layovers in other countries. However, I have located ONE available direct flight this week from the Philippines to the United States with a hefty price tag.

I have faith that everything will work out. Any contribution to Alex’s travel expenses would be greatly appreciated. I knew when this adventure began there would be a lot of financial commitments involved between legal costs, travel expenses, and replacing his personal belongings. We are unable to obtain his belongings currently due to one of his family members having them and not responding to inquiries to get them back. HOWEVER, Alex is worth every tear shed, dollar spent, and joyous feeling knowing he is coming back home to where he wants to be with his friends that are now family.

Thank You for your time and consideration in contributing to this young man’s travel back home.

~Emily Jones~