A lifetime apart. A sister found. A family waiting to become part of my everyday life.

I was adopted, and for most of my life, I didn't know my biological family. I grew up knowing there was a part of my story I didn't have the answers to, never knowing what it would be like to know where I came from or to have a relationship with the family I was born into.

Then, in Oct 2018, I found them.

One of the most meaningful discoveries of my life was finding my biological sister, who lives in North Carolina.

Since then, something incredibly special has happened.

We have met in person over a dozen times, She has spent a few days with me here and there and I spent one amazing Christmas with her in 2024, but our relationship doesn't stop when we are apart. We talk on the phone and text every single day. We even have coffee together every morning over the phone.

Those everyday conversations have created a bond that I never imagined I would have.

A reunion that came through tragedy

In 2021, our father was tragically murdered during a home invasion.

His funeral was also where I met some of my biological family in person, and it was where I met my sister for the first time.

It is difficult to describe the emotions surrounding that time. There was tremendous grief, but in the middle of that heartbreak, I was also meeting people from the family I had spent my entire life not knowing.

Something that began in such a painful circumstance eventually became one of the most important relationships of my life.

Today, my sister and I are not just people who found each other through DNA or family history.

We are sisters.

We have built a relationship across the miles, one phone call, text, laugh, and morning coffee at a time.

Now I want to take the next step.

I want to move to North Carolina.

I want to be close enough that our morning coffee doesn't have to happen over the phone.

I want to be able to call my sister and say, "Want to get coffee?"

I want to share birthdays, holidays, ordinary days, family gatherings, spontaneous visits, and all of the little moments that sisters normally get to experience together.

I can't get back the years we lost.

But I can do something about the years ahead.

Why I'm asking for help

Moving to another state and establishing a home is a significant financial undertaking.

I am actively working toward opportunities that will allow me to support myself as I begin this new chapter in North Carolina. Although I don't have a permanent position there yet, I am determined to build a stable and independent life once I make the move. Several work-from-home opportunities have already come my way, giving me hope that I can continue working while transitioning to my new home. The funds I raise will help me cover the significant upfront costs of moving and securing housing, giving me the foundation I need to get settled, continue pursuing employment, and finally be close to my sister.

The home I am looking to rent in North Carolina is approximately $2,000 per month. That is actually on the cheaper side of the housing market. 

The fundraiser will help cover the upfront costs, including:

First month's rent

Last month's rent

Security deposit

Utility deposits and connection fees

Moving and transportation expenses

Basic move-in necessities

Other essential costs associated with establishing a home

I will provide a clear breakdown of the fundraising goal so donors can see exactly what their contributions are helping with.

Expense Estimated amount
First month's rent $2,000
Last month's rent $2,000
Security deposit $2,000
Utility deposits/connections $500
Moving/transportation $1,500
Basic household/move-in expenses $1,000 
Emergency cushion $1,000
Estimated goal $10,000

What your support would mean

A donation isn't just helping me move from one state to another.

It would help me close a distance that has existed for most of my life.

It would help me turn a relationship that has grown through phone calls and texts into a relationship where my sister and I can actually be part of each other's everyday lives.

It would help me finally experience something I never thought I would have:

a real, everyday relationship with my biological family.

I want the opportunity to sit with my sister, share holidays and everyday moments, learn about our family history, and experience what it is like to have a relationship with her.

I know asking for financial help is difficult, and I don't take anyone's support for granted.

If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser may be just as valuable. You never know who might see my story, understand what this journey means, and be able to help.

I've spent a lifetime not knowing my biological family.

I found them.

I found my sister.

We've built our relationship one day at a time.

Now I'm asking for help taking the final step — moving to North Carolina so I can finally be there.

Thank you for reading my story, for sharing it, and for helping me turn this dream into a new chapter of my life.

Sometimes family is the people who raise you. Sometimes it's the people you find later. I'm incredibly grateful that I found mine.

Deborah Brown "Naranjo"