[AnaM-H]

A year ago this weekend we were in Guatemala visiting Almari for the second time. We were waiting on our PA and luckily I got help from our US Representative Lincoln Diaz-Balart. His office found out that the US Embassy had set up an appointment with our attorney back in early July and she failed to attend. I found this out as I was boarding the flight with my mom. I cried. I panicked. I refused to board the plane. I called the agency. I called the facillator. I called my husband. Everyone told me to relax and to board the flight.

I remember walking into the lobby of the hotel and having Almari's face light up when she heard my voice. I cried and just held her. I knew I had to fight to bring her home. Luckily we got to meet the attorney (she was always the good attorney and the other attorney and facillator will always be known as the clowns). She was an angel and the ONLY HELP we ever got in bringing Almari home. It turns out the US Embassy emailed the notice to three wrong emails (they faxed and emailed us a copy of the email that was never received), so no one knew of the appointment. We faxed and emailed the US Embassy daily a few times from the day we arrived in Guatemala. It took a week for them to give us another appointment on 9/13/07. She was interviewed under oath (also recorded)for almost three hours and finally the next day on day 101 we got PA.

Almari came home on 5/20/08 and it seems like she was always here. I can't express the love I feel for her.

To everyone still in the process my prayers go out to you all. May your children come home SOON.