Yadira, 17 years old, PA

Yadira is a resilient young woman who immigrated to the United States from a Latin American country at the age of 10, seeking a better future. Unfortunately, shortly after her arrival, she experienced abuse from her biological father and was forced to flee from the only caregiver she knew. Before leaving that environment, Yadira was not attending school because her father required her to work long hours on a vegetable farm to earn money for basic necessities such as food, books, and clothing. After escaping the abuse, she entered foster care, spending some time in a group home before finding stability with a loving foster family. Now a high school senior, Yadira has big dreams for her future. She hopes to attend college and pursue a career in nursing, becoming a bilingual nurse who can connect with and care for people across cultures—a truly remarkable goal.

Wishes submitted by:

Support Center for Child Advocates