Supporting a Stable and Loving Future for the Twins

Dear Friends,

We are reaching out with full hearts to share our journey and invite you to be a part of something truly special—bringing our beloved twin nieces home. While this path has been full of unexpected turns, we remain steadfast in our commitment to providing them with the love, security, and stability they deserve.

On January 31st, 2024, two beautiful twin girls entered the world, bringing light into our family during a time of great loss. Their mother, our sister-in-law, tragically passed away due to a clot in her lung, leaving them in need of a permanent, loving home. Given our deep connection and family ties, we have stepped forward to offer them that home. Their father, my brother, faces significant challenges, including vision impairment, making it difficult for him to provide the care they need. As someone who was adopted myself, I know firsthand how life-changing it is to be welcomed into a nurturing and supportive family, and we feel called to do the same for our nieces.

While this journey is one of love and hope, international adoption is also a complex and costly process. The twins are currently in South Africa, and we live in Florida, which adds additional legal, logistical, and financial challenges.

The costs associated with this process include adoption agency fees, home study expenses, legal paperwork, and international processing. Here are just a few of the expenses required to bring our nieces home:

Holt Adoption Agency Application Fee: $350 (Paid)

Adoption Fee 1: $5,065 (Paid)

Home Study Fee: $2,500 - $2,900 (Paid)

Home Study Assessment/Post Adoption Reporting Fees: $1,500 - $5,000 (Paid)

Post-Adoption Reporting Fees: $1,500 - $3,000 (Paid)

Adoption Fee 2: $8,394

Adoption Fee 3: $4,540 - $8,665

(We are happy to share a full breakdown of costs for transparency.)

We never imagined that starting our own family would be this challenging, but we are determined to do everything possible to ensure these precious girls grow up surrounded by family and love. Every donation, big or small, brings us one step closer to making that dream a reality.

If you are unable to give, we kindly ask for your support in other ways—through prayers, positive thoughts, and by sharing our story with your network. Your encouragement means the world to us and will help create the momentum needed to overcome these obstacles.

For privacy reasons and to respect legal boundaries, we are not sharing photos of the twins at this time, but we would love to share more about our journey if you have any questions.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your kindness, generosity, and support. It truly takes a village, and we are beyond grateful for each and every one of you.

With love and gratitude,

Jo-Anne & Rafael Alvarez

(Please note that GoFundMe deducts a small percentage from each donation to support their services.)