Challen Jay and Rosalie Kelker

Help Us Bring Kayla Home After the Tragic Loss of Her Mother

Hello, we are Challen Jay and Rosalie Kelker, and we are in the process of adopting our niece, Kayla, from the Philippines.

Kayla is the beloved daughter of Rosalie’s sister, Rowena, who tragically passed away in July 2024 after a courageous battle with colon cancer. In her final days, as her health rapidly declined, Rowena reached out to us through a video call. In that heartbreaking moment, she asked us to take care of her daughter. It was a promise we made through tears—and one we are determined to keep.

Shortly after Rowena’s passing, our family faced another challenge when Rosalie’s mother suffered an ischemic stroke. Thankfully, she is recovering, but it has been an incredibly difficult time for our family.

Through it all, our focus has remained the same: to bring Kayla into a safe, loving, and stable home, just as her mother wished.

We are currently in the process of an intercountry adoption, which comes with significant costs, including agency fees, home study expenses, legal processing, medical requirements, and travel. The total estimated cost is $58,905.

So far, we have already paid:

• $350 application fee
• $4,500 initial agency fee
• $295 home study application
• $2,600 for home study and caseworker services

We are currently working on completing our home study and are hoping to raise $15,000 to help cover the next steps in this journey. We also plan to apply for grants once our home study is finalized.

While the financial burden is overwhelming, our commitment to Kayla is unwavering. She has already endured so much loss at such a young age, and we want to give her the love, stability, and future she deserves.

Thank you for your kindness and support, and for helping us honor Rowena’s final wish and for being part of Kayla’s journey home.