My former husband and dear friend Myke is facing imminent deportation due to some legal trouble that he got into a few years ago and the current political climate with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Myke is also dealing with numerous physical, emotional and mental disabilities between his back injury that left him permanently disabled, his autism and CTE.
(CTE disease” refers to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease linked to repetitive head trauma and is characterized by symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, mood changes, and movement disorders like tremors and balance problems. While there is no cure for CTE, understanding and preventing repeated head impacts is the current approach to management. A diagnosis of CTE can only be definitively made after death through an autopsy.
If he is sent back to Canada after living here in the US for over 35 years, he has nothing to go back to.
I was present for the birth of his child, Skye who is also autistic and struggles with emotional issues as well. The stress of all of this has been incredible on “them” (Skye’s preferred pronoun) and I do not know how well Skye will manage without Myke for emotional and financial support.
To make matters worse his beloved deaf pit bull Julie, who was adopted and returned 3 times before anyone figured out she was deaf, has been through so much pain and suffering the last few years. But Myke and she have an amazing bond and comminucate well since he has taught her over a dozen American Sign Language signals. But sadly, if he is sent back to Canada most of the country has breed specific legislation that bans pitties, so it is possible she could be destroyed just based on her breed.
Words could not express how dear Myke, Skye and Julie are to me or how absolutely heartbreaking this has been for all of us. There is SO MUCH fear and anxiety right now, not knowing what is going to happen or how the hell they will manage if he is sent back to Canada after living here over 35 years. I am sick to my stomach with worry for him and for Skye and his sweet pup Julie.
I know you have no reason to care – but if you could help even a little, it will mean the world to me and to them. Thank you!
Thank you so very much.