teamMarius

We’re writing with GREAT NEWS from Team Marius! The custody issue we have been dealing with for months has finally been resolved, and in our favor! We just received word that Marius’ brother, Ionut, has officially received custody of Marius, which was the final hurdle we needed to clear before getting visas processed. As you read in our last update, it has been a long road, but with invaluable dedication from both Teo, our interpreter, and Gabriela Barbu, the Romanian attorney who took Marius’ case, it’s been a success!

We hope to schedule an appointment for next week with the U.S. embassy in Romania for Teo, Ionut, and Marius to get their visas. If all goes well, they could be on a flight to Los Angeles within a matter of weeks!!!

In other great news, the Romanian community in California is already rallying to support Marius and Ionut when they arrive. Recently, through some of our contacts, an e-mail was sent to 600 members of the Romanian community in Los Angeles asking them to reach out to Marius and family when they arrive. We are so grateful and thrilled that Marius and Ionut will have that support when they are so far from home.

Finally, if you’d like to see some incredibly inspiring video footage of Marius, check out the blog of Elisa Bushman, one of this summer’s university interns who has been visiting Marius. She took a brief video of him walking with support from Teo and posted it under her July 13 entry on elisabushman.blogspot.com.

As always, we are grateful beyond words for everyone’s love and support and prayers on behalf of this little boy. They have worked wonders already and will continue to mean so much on the road ahead.

With love and appreciation,

Team Marius