In 2012, a Sudanese woman named Alik arrived in Fort Worth, Texas, as a refugee. She was pregnant and had two small children with her. Her husband, Dyan, could not come. While the family fled war, they had lost the papers that proved they were married, Faithwire reported.
Without that proof, Dyan had no official link to his wife or children, and he stayed behind in a refugee camp. He had to find a way to prove the family was his. He feared he would never see them again.
It took four years. In late 2016, Dyan finally landed in Texas. A video of the refugee reunion, filmed by Robert Fuqua, spread widely online.
Who helped the family?
Catholic Charities resettled Alik and her children, according to World Relief. Two women from The Village Church in Fort Worth, Molly and Mary Claire, stepped in to help. With their church group, they looked after Alik and the kids. They were there when her third child was born.
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Fuqua said the effort that began with those two women grew into a ministry of more than a hundred vetted volunteers who serve refugee families in the area.
Why do lost papers keep families apart?
People who flee war often leave without passports, birth certificates or marriage records. Many lose them on the way. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) says refugees often struggle to prove who they are or who their family members are. In some countries, the wait to reunite can last years.
In the United States, refugee cases are sorted into priority groups. One group is for family members joining relatives who are already here. Without proof of the marriage, Dyan could not show he belonged with his family.
For Dyan, the wait meant he missed a lot. He had not seen his oldest son since the boy was 4. By the time they met again, the boy was 8. He had never met his youngest son, who was now 3.
What happened at the airport?
Alik waited at baggage claim and grew nervous as other passengers came through. Had he missed his flight? Then Dyan appeared, tapping on the glass.
His boys ran into his arms, even the 3-year-old who had never seen his father in person. Dyan hugged his wife. Then he dropped to his knees and gave thanks.
Fuqua noticed something on a screen over the baggage carousel when Dyan hugged his wife. The ad on it read, “Where Dreams take their Course.” In the background, Molly and Mary Claire’s husbands and their four sons watched. Their boys had become friends with Dyan’s children. Dyan then met the volunteers who had helped bring him home.
How does a long separation affect health?
Getting off the plane is not the end of the story. Families who reunite after years apart often have to get to know each other again. Kids may barely remember a parent, and adults have to start over in a new country.
Stress after arrival can weigh on mental health, too. A 2025 review in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that problems after resettling, such as legal uncertainty, no job, unfair treatment and unstable housing, can harm mental health as much as the trauma that made people flee.
Support from neighbors can help. Many local Catholic Charities offices and other resettlement groups match volunteers with new refugee families. They may need help with rides, English practice, school forms or finding work. For Alik and Dyan, that help started with two women who said yes.
Disclaimer: The author is not a licensed medical professional. The information provided is for general informational and educational purposes only and is based on research from publicly available, reputable sources. It is not intended to constitute, and should not be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a licensed physician or other qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, symptoms, or medications. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment because of information contained herein.
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