Afghan child burn victim Mehria (Charlotte, NC)

UPDATE, Sept 22, 2023: THE EAGLE HAS LANDED! After a harrowing few weeks stuck in airports, rebooked flights x2, a lot of US Embassy help, and friends around the world (including American Airlines flight attendants), the family cleared Immigration in Charlotte 5 hours before their US Humanitarian Parole entries expired in mid August. They are overjoyed to be here! Mehria has already travelled to Shriner's Hospital in Dayton, Ohio twice and had her 1st surgery! All went great and she returns for her next surgery on Oct 2. At this point, we have met our original financial goal of reimbursing all visa/travel costs just to get the family to Charlotte. Any more funds that come in will go towards helping with Charlotte living expenses including monthly rent, security deposit, utilities, etc so they can move into their own apartment. The mother looks forward to working (she is a lawyer), but cannot do so until Mehria's surgeries are further down the line and she gets approved for childcare benefits. If we can get to $20,000, that would provide $9,000 to assist with rent and living expenses until the mother brings in her first paycheck :).

Meet Mehria, an 8yo girl from Afghanistan. Two years ago, she was horrifically burned over much of her body. Shriner's Hospital of Dayton, Ohio has agreed to treat her burns for FREE because her home country of Afghanistan lacks the appropriate specialists and facilities to do so. Treatments including surgeries, injections and therapies will allow Mehria to restore her mobility and relieve her chronic pain.

Rochelle Wilensky of Charlotte, NC has been coordinating a self-assembled team of volunteers to arrange visas, transportation, and logistics to bring Mehria to the US to receive her medical treatment. Mehria, along with her mother and 2 young siblings, have just been granted Humanitarian Parole (HP) visas to enter the US and will arrive in early August 2023. Upon their arrival, they will settle in Charlotte, NC with family while traveling to/from Dayton for Mehria's medical care.

This is where YOU come in. We hope to raise at least $10,700 to fully cover:

-(4) Humanitarian Parole Visas to the US: $2,300

-(4) Medical Screenings for US Embassy visa requirements: $500

-(4) Pakistani Exit Visa Fees for Afghans traveling to the US: $1,625

-Rebooked flights to US: $4,685

-Taxes/Fees from Aug 4th flights that were not refunded by airline when family was denied boarding at the gate: $590

-10 months living expenses in Pakistan while awaiting US visas (Nov 2022-Aug 2023): $1,000

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!