My children's father has been deportedI first met Alberto Leyva in 2001 through mutual friends. Our friendship later evolved into a loving relationship. When I first met Alberto, I had a five year old daughter by another relationship. Alberto has raised her as if she was his own biological daughter. As she grew, he always maintained a positive influence in her life. He would take her to watch soccer games and created a children’s league that she was a part of. Sometimes other children didn’t have transportation, so he would arrange transportation for them. Although my oldest daughter’s father never had anything to do with her after she turned two, Alberto has never spoken an ill word about him, choosing instead to devote his energy to ensuring her emotional well being. Alberto has been the only father figure that my eldest daughter has ever known. Alberto has been there for her through recitals, plays, dances, sports tryouts, sports games, the losing of baby teeth, the falls, the tears, the smiles and everything in between. Due in part to the overwhelmingly positive influence Alberto’s had in her life, my daughter is currently enlisted in the United States Air Force. Alberto is very proud of her as he has raised her since she was five and seeing her do so much with her life leaves him emotional.As the years progressed, we had two daughters together, Analilia and Alani Leyva. Currently, they are ten and seven years old, respectively. Their father means everything in the world to them. He encourages them to succeed in school, always asking what they’ve learned and what they’re doing in school. He reads with them and to them. He makes sure that they are doing well in school. He attends school dances with them. Alberto encourages our children to treat others with respect and to be kind and nice. This year the school had their first Father/ Daughter dance. They've missed his presence at their schools annual Donughnuts with Dad breakfast. Our children had been looking forward to both occasions and it breaks my heart and theirs that he wasn't able to be here. He taught them how to ride their bikes. He spends so much time playing with them. Even when he’s extremely tired, our children know they can still depend on him to take them on a walk, get ice cream or whatever it is they want to do. Alberto always tries to make sure that we are provided for, even if he has to go without. He made sure that our daughters were able to enroll in dance classes. He always made sure that they had the appropriate dance attire, shoes, costumes and accessories they needed. On the occasion that there was an out of town competition. he would make sure he was there. He would take the day or if need be, the weekend off to be able to attend. Of course, this would put us in a little financial bind, but it was well worth it. As a family, we all spend a lot of time together. Although everyday is family day, Sunday is the only day he has off, so that’s the day we would go have our outings. We would go to downtown Charlotte to sightsee, take pictures and just enjoy ourselves. As a worker and provider, I can't think of anyone who tries as hard as Alberto. He works extremely long days, six days a week. When we’re short on money, he’ll find a side job to do on Sundays. He is a highly esteemed and valued employee with the company he was employed by. He has been with the company for over ten years. He has proven to be one of their most dependable and trustworthy employees. Alberto has worked with a broken leg that occurred when he played soccer. He has worked when he was sick with the flu. It’s hard to explain, but he says he did it and does it because he has his family to take care of. He’s never complained about how he works, only saying that he has a responsibility to us. He has worked outdoors in the hottest and coldest weather, which would worry me a lot. However, it never stopped him from going. As for his character, Alberto is a wonderful father, partner, and friend. Alberto is the type of person to overlook people’s flaws and negativities and try to focus on the good in them instead. Even people who have not been as good a friend to him, will still have his devotion. If Alberto has a friend in need, he will do his best to help out. If there is a monetary need and he doesn’t have it, he’ll try and raise it. Alberto is the type of person to put other’s needs before his own. Alberto finds it hard to turn his back on anybody in need. He has been an integral part of our community also. The street we live on has a steep hill that leads out to the main road. One year the road was snowed over very badly. Alberto saw that a neighbor had to abandon his vehicle at the bottom of the hill. Alberto went out into the cold, took his Bobcat and cleared our street from one end to the other so that our neighbors could get in and out safely. He didn’t have to do this, as his work truck and my truck were more than capable of navigating the hill but he feels compelled to help others. There is a church located across the street from us. He saw a lone man trying to clear the parking lot with a snow shovel. Alberto offered to clear the church’s two parking lots and the street in front of the church. Although he was offered money for doing this, he refused the money, instead asking that the church donate the money to someone in need. If a neighbor needs help, despite the language barrier, Alberto will always try to help out. Alberto’s just happy to be able to help someone. Alberto is a blessing to our family. He secured employment for two of my family members with his employers and taught them the necessary skills they needed. We really miss him and need for him to be able to come back home. He has been gone almost 8 months. We need to travel to Mexico and help him secure his papers. Without him, our children's emotional well being and our financial well being is uncertain. Since Alberto has been deported I'm trying to hold everything together. My full time job that I've been at for 7 years has temporarily become part time. I am asking for your compassion and help please! We appreciate any and all help! Thank you!
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