Before my father passed away, he mentioned his life insurance, and we tried to claim it. But since he worked overseas, getting through to the company was nearly impossible. We had so few resources, and when we finally did, they denied the claim because he had passed away in his home country. That rejection hit us like a brick wall—we were devastated, left feeling completely hopeless.

Then, one day, one of my father’s friends from North America came to visit. When he heard about our situation, he offered to help. We handed him all the documents and medical records we had. Thankfully, the insurance company was based in North America, and a few months later, we got a letter saying my father was eligible for the claim. They listed the documents we needed to submit, and for the first time in a long while, we felt a spark of hope.

But that hope quickly turned into more frustration. My mom didn’t know how to handle the paperwork, and every time she asked for help—from lawyers or other people—they demanded huge fees, taking advantage of our desperation. My mom refused to give in, but that left us stuck.

For five long years, we searched for someone who could truly help us without trying to take advantage. During that time, we went through so much hardship. My siblings and I had to stop going to school, and life felt like one endless struggle. Our hopes felt shattered, like pieces of broken glass we couldn’t put back together. Those years left a mark we’ll never forget.