And so it began... Dan and went inside and he immediately called my sister and Steve who came over right away. This situation included her, as when her visit to check in came up, she would be given the same information. We called our lawyer who filled us in on what we were facing and basically there is nothing he could do at this point since our case was closed. He was very upset about it and had been trying to get a hold of the officer who dismissed us to change his mind but with no success. Our lawyer, Mr. Smith, said that the only chance we have at this point is to go to the media and hope the pressure changes the mind of the counsel who is in charge because everything else is done. He cannot explain why our case was denied, and said there were no reasons for the decision, and it did not agree with the way he believes the law should work. It should not be that it works for some and not for others, but a step by step process that if you follow through and complete diligently you would get favorable results. If you do not go through the process - then you do not. Sounds too simple I guess. Afterall, my mom got her green card and she was the one who initially came to this country with us as children. We did not chose to come here nor did we understand or know anything about immigration as kids. We simply went along with our parents like children do. And now, our mom is allowed to stay, but we have to go back to a place we have not returned to in over 26 years, and would have a very hard time adjusting to. It made no sense. What was wrong with us and why were we still unwanted? Is it just a computer glitch or a simple eenie - meenie - miney -mo and we were not it?
I called the Serbian Embassy in Chicago and they too, were flabbergasted by our situation and said they would do anything to help. Nebojsa in the Consulate office assisted us whenever we needed help and we are truly grateful. The good thing was that due to the ankle monitor there was a stall about me going to Chicago in order to obtain my passport and the legal travel documents needed for deportation.
My sister's friend, Jessica asked how she could help and after we suggested the media - she ran with that idea. Fairly soon, we had numerous phonecalls to our home for possible interviews. Also, Steve updated the FB website to now include my story. He changed it from "Free Jelena," to "Keep Oli and Jelena in the US." http://www.facebook.com/groups/164355385075/ (Although this page started out differently and well over 1000 members supported us as I read we hit 1000 on June 21, 2010 Twitter page, FB changed their format and I think due to lack of updates at first, but then a change of format, the page is now labeled "group" and all the members were erased). Unlike button. My sister wrote up a wonderful post about me - one of those Steel Magnolia tearjerkers. I was touched but still in shock and disbelief. My sister-in-law, Kim called again as news was getting around her place of work - where Dan and Jelena both worked as well, for a very long time. People began calling as they saw the Facebook update and I think Dan and Steve answered most phone calls. http://twitter.com/#!/keepolijelena (and there was Twitter too :)
As the urgency was setting in, I remember going through the file cabinet and shredding everything. I had to keep busy. So apparently shredding our old bank statements and bills was a priority to me - I think I just dazed, actually. My sister kept asking what I needed since everyone is calling and asking how they can help. I knew our home was in desperate need of repair, but the only thing we had that we could sell and make money on, on which to live in Serbia. We had no savings left as I mentioned before, and were in a terrible financial shape. We owned the home for about 13 years, so we had equity in it. My reasoning was to fix it up quick and sell it for the best price possible. I knew that once I left, Dan would not take this project on, and probably short-sell it (and when I asked later, he admitted to this excatly), in order to come to Serbia quicker. This would leave us with very little cash to live on and I was worried for my family. I had to act quick and think fast. I asked my sister to let everyone know if they wanted to help, we needed help fixing the house. Immediately people from all over started coming to our house and painting, bringing supplies, food, calling to see what they could do, etc. I wish I had written a diary during this time. I wish I noted every note, e-mail, message, and visit. It was extremely overwhelming and humbling. My sister set up some spreadsheet and my best friend Melissa kept a notebook of needs and things done. It was amazing. I had no will to try but peace through it all. I remember laughing aloud to stay sane because observing my house was too surreal. Inside, I knew God would turn everything out for the best, and no matter what, it will be for my my best. I wanted to scream, yet I just went along with whatever others did and set up. I did not care what was going on; I was in a kind of a zone.
We had dinner provided for at least a week I think, and it was such a blessing seeing I was in no shape to cook or shop for food. So much thanks to Tonya and the Tortorici family, Rita, Roberta and the Met Church ladies who made some kind of care calendar and had people sign up to bring us food. I was literally living as a dead woman. All drive left me and I gave in and let it be. I was weak, but within me the peace was undeniable. It made me smile and laugh and wonder why everyone around me was so worried. Now don't get me wrong, there were certainly times when I dropped my guard and fell into the circumstances and panicked. But strangely, those times prepared me for this extreme sense of patriotism towards America I cannot explain. I felt like the first settlers and long forgotten immigrants who came here many moons ago. I was fighting for my family, for my freedom, and for a chance to be called an American. I was fighting for peace, a better life and greater opportunity for our kids. I paid a dear price and felt mistreated for many years, but then it all went away, and rejection disappeared with the support of so many friends and even people from all over the world we have never even met. I felt God gave me supporters and encourages for the fight. There was even a nice lady from Dublin, Ireland who was supporting us and several from Japan and Australia/New Zealand area! I felt empowered.
I knew I wanted our family to stay here. I wanted my children to go to school here. I wanted to play with my great-grandchildren here. I wanted us to retire here. THIS IS MY HOME! And I fought for it. In it all, I had peace that if we had to leave we would still be together and it would begin an entire new adventure for us. If I turned to "signs" for clues or guides in my life, I would not have fought because all the "signs" pointed to us moving to Serbia. Our neighbor told us of a friend with a mission field in Serbia he could hook us up with. It seemed like the same story but in reverse of us moving here back in 1985 that we "had" to re-live because it was a generational thing... I felt very adventurous and energetic in starting new and fresh because our life was so hard here and we were about to lose our home anyway. Dan and I were sooooo hungry for change. At this point any kind of change to our mundane, poor, and unproductive lives. But - there was a small part of me who saw this as a reason to fight. A part of me who saw this as an opportunity, in this land of opportunity. But as it is said, every testimony begins with a test. And we had so many tests, the eager hope of that many grand testimonies gave me a taste for victory I'll never forget.
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