Emergency Aid for Samad Family

An Afghan-American family with roots in Kentucky stranded in Afghanistan for months now quarantining in Dubai with Covid. In a series of unfortunate events, the Samad family has lost everything in their attempt to make it back home to the United States of America.

 

Abdul is a close friend of our family. We have known him since he was 14 years old. My wife was his first teacher who taught him how to read. We can attest to his great moral courage and determination to work hard to provide for his family, despite the handicap of having no hands. He has written a book about the story of his life entitled, Out of my Hands. You may want to find a copy to read and be inspired by his faith in God and his love for the common people of Afghanistan and America. Here is an edited copy of an email he recently (1-28-2022) sent to me from a hotel in Dubai. (Intro by Nathan Dunlap father of Anna Potts)

 

“My name is Abdul Samad and I was born in Afghanistan. In 1989, at the age of 13, I picked up a Russian Soviet land mine that exploded in my hands. I lost both of my hands instantly and also my left eye. Eventually I became separated from my family and ended up in a refugee camp in Pakistan. While there, I had multiple surgeries in hospitals sponsored by international communities from the West. I was also taken to Egypt for more medical treatment, but was returned to the refugee camp in Pakistan. Eventually I ended up at the Galilean Children’s Home in Liberty, Kentucky. That is where I found hope and a chance to have a normal life. I began to learn how to read at the age of 17; eventually graduating from high school and also earning an associate’s degree in science. I was lacking only 3 classes to finish my four year degree in business when I had to stop school in order to support my family.

 

I was able to become an American citizen, because America had become my adopted home. However, I continued to search for information about my mother. Finally, in 2008, I returned to Afghanistan to see my mother and siblings for the first time after many years of separation. While there, I married the daughter of a family friend. Eventually my wife was able to immigrate to America and become an American citizen also. We now have four children, two boys and two girls. We lived in Kentucky for several years while I worked at a local restaurant. But, just like any other parent, I dreamed of providing a better life for our children. So, in May, 2021, we moved to Columbus, Ohio to start a new job.

 

Then we received news that my father-in-law in Afghanistan was very sick and might not live long. My wife was very worried about her father and wanted to see him. Also, my mother-in-law was living with us at the time, and she wanted to see her husband. Of course my children wanted to see their grandpa. We all felt that if we did not make the trip, we would regret it for the rest of our lives. So, despite the great challenges, we made the trip happen. We found my father-in-law so weak that he could not walk or speak. We were able to get him to a good doctor and also to provide him with a healthy diet. After several weeks, he regained enough strength to speak and walk again. We were encouraged by his progress.

 

While we were there, the American government pulled its military out of Afghanistan. Life became very confusing and dangerous for us, since we were American citizens. During this time, we kept moving from place to place so that no one would know who we were. Taliban soldiers were everywhere on every street of Kabul. I would send my brother-in-laws out to get food for us. We lived in great fear, for many people were being taken at night and mysteriously killed. I had no idea on how to get my family safely out of the country, so I decided to contact Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell‘s office and the US State Department. I also made contact with someone who shared our story with American television and newspaper media.

 

Here's a link to the Lexington News story:

https://www.lex18.com/news/i-dont-know-what-to-do-casey-county-family-stranded-in-afghanistan-calls-for-government-aid

 

After a few months of talking with American officials, they gave us hope that they would help us to get out. Unfortunately, due to the security situation, all flights were canceled. I searched every way possible to get out, while my wife became depressed and my children became homesick for America. But, every door was closed in my face. Then, in the middle of January, 2022 we received news that the US State Department would get us out at last! But, our excitement turned into sadness when those flights were cancelled again.

 

At this time, I didn’t have any money left, even to buy food. Since the State Department was not going to help us, I needed to find money to buy tickets. Miraculously, my brother had a friend who had worked for the Americans for the past 20 years. This gentleman agreed to loan us $15,000 to buy tickets from Kabul to Dubai to Chicago. I promised him that someday, by the grace of God, I would pay him back. The very next day I made the airplane ticket purchases. When we showed our US passports at the Kabul airport on January 21, 2022, the officials began to question us, and then denied us permission to leave! I became very stressed, for we were already mentally and physically worn out, and we needed to get home to the United States. My kids asked me every day when we were going home. I kept telling them soon, but I did not know how it would happen. I had no choice but to pay a penalty fee to change the flight date in hopes that something would change for us.

 

Again, on January 25 th , our family headed back to the Kabul Airport, hoping the Taliban would allow us to fly out this time. As we went through security, they began to question our US passports again and would not let us go through. I begged them to have compassion on us, but no one was willing to listen to me. I wondered if I would find myself in jail, but for my family’s sake, I could not give up. Every minute felt like an eternity as I continued pleading with them to let us go through. Then finally, someone at security had a change of heart and gave us permission to board our plane! I praise God for this man who had compassion and mercy on us; without him, we would never have been able to leave Afghanistan. As we sat on the airplane, my children become very excited that we were finally on our way to the United States!

 

Our excitement was to be short-lived. Upon our arrival at the Dubai airport, my wife and children tested positive for the coronavirus. We were told that we have to stay in Dubai for 10 day’s quarantine. How could I pay for the hotel rooms and food when I didn’t have any money? I was able to contact friends in the US who loaned us some money to pay for the expensive hotel, which was not my choice, but there was no other way forward. While we are staying at the hotel in Dubai, I got a phone call from my landlord who told me, “you don’t have an apartment anymore and I’m throwing all your stuff outside!” I pleaded with him not to do this and explained that we had been stranded in Afghanistan for many months. Just give us a chance to get the rest of the way home, and I will somehow pay what we owe you and get our belongings out of the apartment. But he would not listen to me and insisted that we were losing everything.

 

My children are eager to get home, but there is no home waiting for them. It is truly a miracle that we came out of Afghanistan alive, but we have lost everything we own. I have faith in God Almighty and also in the American people who are compassionate and generous. Perhaps those who read this can lend us a helping hand. My two little girls and my two little boys need a place to stay and the ability to attend school. But, we also have a large debt to pay back to those who kindly loaned us money to get this far. So, I’m turning to people who are willing to hear our cry and to share in our struggle.

 

Sincerely, Abdul Samad

More information about the organizer:
1. Who you are and where you are from : I, Anna Potts, am organizing this emergency aide for the Samad family. I am from Kentucky originally but currently living in Alaska.
2. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for: I have known Abdul my whole life. My mother taught him English when he first came to the Galilean Children's Home in Liberty, KY. My father recently helped in the editing of Abdul's self-published book, "Out of My Hands".
3. Your plan to send the funds to the intended recipients, and their names: All the money will go to Abdul Samad
4. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible): The primary goal for this fundraiser is for the immediate relief of Abdul Samad and his family including but not limited to housing, food, and travel expenses.