Unlived to Lived Dreams: Reunited At Last
a story of reunion between a mother and her four children after being forcibly separated for nearly seven years.
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The story was originally written in June of 2024.
Story written by: Rachel Peet
Photography by: Maher Mahmood & Crystal/Mother
Through an unlived dream stirred by unfortunate events six years ago, Crystal* was connected to IRIS, where lived dreams have materialized from then and there, to here and now, alongside her loved ones in New Haven, CT.
The tragic events began to unfold in 2017 with the sudden death of her father in her home city of Brazzaville, in the Republic of the Congo. Crystal instantly knew that she and her loved ones were at risk of being the next victims. She was desperate for protection – desperate for waking each morning knowing that she’d make it through the day and could still be around to raise her two sets of young twins.
She sought a safe haven in China not only for herself but also for her four children, mother, and siblings. However, Crystal's attempt was perilous and short-lived as she narrowly escaped the same dangers she had fled from in Brazzaville. Eventually, through slim chances and a touch of serendipity, she fled to the United States, carrying faith that her mother and sister would tend to her four children back home.
Crystal's youngest three posing for the camera during their first day trip to Manhattan all together. (Summer of 2024)
On August 20th, 2018 with just $400 in her pocket and absolutely no plan before her, Crystal arrived in Manhattan. As she tried her first few bites of American food at a McDonald’s, she was unexpectedly lended a helping hand from a woman who noticed her plight and lack of direction. The woman eventually provided her a place to stay in her home for the next month in New Haven, CT.
In exchange for accommodation, however, Crystal needed to tend to the woman's young child. The unfortunate events continued.
Crystal's role as a caretaker quickly evolved into more than a full time job, babysitting the young boy for days on end at times. Still with lack of direction, food, and energy overall, Crystal fell one morning while walking the boy to the bus stop and was rushed to the hospital.
There, Crystal discovered she was pregnant.
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The news was unexpected, overwhelming, and the very last message she needed to hear. Crystal was apprehensive to have yet another child. Between the sense of emptiness expanding within, of not having her two sets of twins by her side, and being amongst a completely foreign culture, Crystal felt conflicted beyond comprehension.
She notified the doctor that she would give her final decision as soon as possible – a “soon” that felt beyond reach with how torn she was.
Within two weeks of this doctor’s visit, Crystal’s unlived dream stirred her awake one night.
She vividly recalled a young boy drowning at the bottom of a pool overflowing with her own tears. Her motherly instincts had her diving into the water within seconds to help save the boy who looked about five years-old. When the two connected, the boy kept reminding her that he was her son. Crystal was confused by this as the boy didn’t look anything like her children back in the Congo. The boy reassured her that he was her son, yet her unborn one. He continued to remind Crystal that the pool was full from all her tears, the tears of fear that her unborn baby was a mistake. The tears of immense grief that drained Crystal every night as she contemplated having an abortion or not.
“This was a revelation for me,” Crystal noted in our conversation. Upon waking up from this dream, she decided to keep the baby.
As Crystal informed the doctor of her decision with the vividness of her dream in mind, he introduced her to IRIS. This was a God-send for Crystal and ultimately, a new life-changing direction, all for the best
“The guardian angels above were still watching over me,” she shared with a smile.
Memories from kids' first summer reunited in the States in Connecticut, USA.
For both Crystal and her newborn baby Benjamin, IRIS swiftly became a lifeline, aiding her with obtaining SNAP benefits, financial assistance, as well as housing and educational opportunities. She still felt the void of her four other children, yet she felt steps closer to them through the uplifting connections at IRIS and simply having access to a phone to maintain contact with them daily.
Through this newfound lifeline of IRIS, Crystal was supported enough to go back to Gateway Community College and pursue a career in the medical field. After feeling the hope she received through her experience with the doctor and all the IRIS connections she quickly made thereafter, she longed to care for others and became a certified CNA and EKG technician at Yale Hospital. To this day she feels supported by IRIS and empowered to advance her education in healthcare by attending Southern Connecticut State University this Fall, as she aspires to become a CRNA.
Crystal’s lived dreams continued materializing as she further connected to IRIS and received asylum in the U.S. in 2021. With the assistance of an IRIS lawyer, she was able to quickly apply for and receive her green card. In two years’ time, she finally secured the necessary paperwork to make reuniting with her four children possible.
Over the last year, Crystal manifested the next big dream by saving diligently and pooling together $6,000 for their airplane tickets, ensuring she could provide a welcoming home for all five of her children. She longed to introduce them to the American lifestyle she’d grown accustomed to over the last six years with visits to Lighthouse Point Park, amusement parks, and exploring the city of New Haven. Her children, each with their own dreams—Melanie* aspiring to be a doctor, Angel* aiming to play soccer, and the other twins wishing to become engineers—have been a constant source of motivation.
In the evening of June 12th (2024), she materialized the dream.
Crystal smiling alongside her five children in Downtown New Haven, CT.
(Summer 2024)
The ever-vivid dream of embracing all of her kids in the same, heartfelt space. Her tears overflowed again. Not within an unlived dream and from a place of fear, yet now in a lived dream and from a place of love. The tears would relieve the long pitted void lacking the loving presence of her children in her day-to-day life over the last seven years. Crystal was reunited with her four kids at the JFK Airport, accompanied by both her son born in the States and even IRIS employees who have also experienced her long, winding journey since her own arrival.
“IRIS is my home,” Crystal emphasized. “They helped me so much with my asylum application, and it went by so quickly. Today, I can say that with their help, I’m reunited with my kids again. This is a lifetime gift that IRIS has given me.”
*Names have been altered for privacy.