A Dream 18 Years in the Making — Reuniting With My American Family ❤️

Sometimes, people come into our lives, become part of our hearts, and remain there no matter how many years pass or how far life takes us.

My name is Katsiaryna, and I am from Belarus. When I was a little girl, I lost my biological parents. Through a children’s program, I had the opportunity to travel to the United States and spend the summer with an American family.

At that time, I was just a child. I could never have imagined how important these people would become in my life.

They gave me kindness, warmth, care, love, and memories that I have carried with me throughout my entire life. To me, they were never simply a host family. They became like family and a truly special part of my childhood—people I will always remember with love and gratitude.

Then the program ended, and life changed.

Years passed.

It has now been about 18 years since I last visited the United States and saw my American family in person.

Eighteen years is a very long time.

I grew up. I became a mother. I went through a divorce. Today, I live in Poland with my child.

But there is one dream I have never given up on.

I want to see them again.

I want to travel to the United States with my child and introduce them to the people who were once such an important part of my childhood.

I want to stand at their door after all these years, see their faces, hug them, and simply say:

“I never forgot you.”

And there is something very special I hope to do.

I would love for our reunion to be a surprise. ❤️

Unfortunately, I cannot afford this trip on my own at the moment. The cost of visas, flights, travel insurance, transportation, accommodation, and other necessary expenses is more than I can manage financially.

That is why I decided to share my story and ask for help.

I am not raising money for a luxury vacation.

I am raising money for a reunion I have been dreaming about for 18 years.

My goal is to raise $5,500 to cover the necessary expenses of traveling from Poland to Michigan with my child and returning home safely.

If you would like to help, you can make a donation through this campaign. Even a small amount will bring us closer to this reunion. If you are unable to donate right now, please share the fundraiser with your friends or on social media. For a new campaign, spreading the word is especially important: one share could reach someone who is able to help.

You can also support me with a kind message. It means a great deal to me to know that my story has reached people who care about the dream of reuniting a family.

I will openly share updates about the fundraiser and the preparations for the trip. All funds will be used for visas, flights, insurance, transportation, accommodation, and other necessary travel-related expenses.

I know there are many important causes in the world, so I am sincerely grateful to everyone who takes the time to read my story.

If you can help financially, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can only share, that is also an enormous help. And if you simply read this story and support me in your thoughts, I am grateful to you as well.

Perhaps, thanks to your help, I will be able to take one more step toward that door.

After 18 years, I want to go back.

I want to see the people who were part of my childhood.

I want my child to meet them.

And I want them to know that, despite all the years that have passed and the distance between us,

I never forgot them. ❤️

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who reads my story, makes a donation, shares the fundraiser, or leaves words of support.

With gratitude,

Katsiaryna