THE BEACON APRIL 2009
Article from South Valley Unitarian Universalist Society's Monthly Newsletter:
THE GROWING GRANDAS
It all began with a conversation on Mother's day last year. Eddie
Eddie's parents had divorced when he was a teenager and his
REGAL events by night! So, now, after hiring a lawyer, doing
Now with the kids finally in the
Bassinet
Playpen
Car seat/carrier
Diapers (lots!)
Baby formula
Gift cards to Babies R Us or coupons for diapers and
formula
Ongoing:
Boys shoes and winter boots (for boys the size of 9, 11
and 13 year olds)
Boys snow pants (sizes 8-12)
Boys clothing sizes 8-12
Girls clothes sizes 12-14 girls and women's/teens small
and x-small
Gift cards for Old Navy (for the girls)
Daily use products like: Shampoo, conditioner, lotion,
body wash, toilet paper, razors and
deodorant.
Gift cards or coupons for entertainment activities
Gift cards or coupons for places that we usually shop at
like Smith's grocery, Costco, Old
Navy, Target, etc.
Services we'll need each month like haircuts!
Household:
Any food donations of cereal, rice, lunch snacks, canned
tuna, etc.
Paper goods (plates, cups, paper towels)
Laundry detergent (liquid)
Gift cards to Home Depot or Lowes
Small vacuum for hard surface floors
DVDs with Spanish dubbing or subtitles
Soccer balls and small nets
Gift cards for bookstores, toy stores, craft stores, or even
Amazon.com.
For the latest details, please go to www.causes.com/
GrandaCause. Go there to read the full story, see
pictures, and even donate cash through
Social Action Council program, Family-Caring-for-Family.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Citizenship:
In order for the children's to obtain U.S. citizenship via their deceased
father, they have to be "legitimized". Since the parents were not married and father is not alive to legally claim the children, the Consulate is requiring that the kid's relationship to their citizen father be proven by DNA testing. Two months ago we were told that all we needed were their Ecuadorian birth certificates, since he had signed each of them, therefore claiming paternity. So, we need to prove that the kids have their father's DNA. Since we don't want to exhume the father's body in Ecuador, the testing company says we should be able to simply prove that they are Eddie's half-siblings. Though the legal department has not yet formally approved that route, we've gone ahead with testing. The only problem we think they would have with the plan is if they won't accept Eddie's birth certificate as enough proof that he too has the DNA of the father. But, since it is not his parentage that is required to be proven (because he is not applying for a Consular Report of Birth Abroad) for their citizenship, we really hope they will accept his parentage as fact.
Sooooo, last saturday Eddie, two of his full-siblings, and their Mother were all tested. The lab will map out their DNA, then subtract their Mother's contribution to create a "Reconstruction" (as they called it) of the Father's DNA. That will then be compared to the children's mapping. If the results aren't conclusive, we will test the children's mother's side of the family to be able to reconstruct her contribution and subtract it from their maps (like they'll do for Eddie's family). Right now all we're waiting on is FedEx to deliver the sample kits to the consulate in Ecuador to that the kid's can be brought down there (6 hours away) to have their cheek swabs done. The package was sent 14 days ago and has been stuck in customs awaiting "clearance" since the 13th! Customs will not tell FedEx how much longer it will be. So, we just have to wait. This testing put us behind schedule by a month with the best case scenario, now it looks like it will be two more months. With our 18th birthday deadline to have the citizenship secured for the oldest girl looming ahead (in Feb.), we are getting worried.
Guardianship:
Our lawyer in Ecuador is waiting for Eddie's Power of Attorney paperwork to be returned to her, along with his translated birth certificate and U.S. driver license with Apostilles. She can't begin to file anything without them. He's sent everything to the Ecuadorian consulate in LA that they need to create that document. They told him to call them the day after he sent it (a week ago) to schedule a day to fly out there to sign it, but he cannot get through to anyone there now!