Surrounded by love

Four years ago, Malee and her mother, a single parent, came to the U.S. as refugees from Thailand, settling in McDonough Homes in St. Paul with Malee's grandparents. In late April, just two days before her 10th birthday, Malee's mother, still in her 20s, died suddenly and unexpectedly of heart failure.

Several months before this, Malee had joined Keystone's Hmong Youth & Family Program, participating in the program's dance troupe and other activities of the comprehensive after-school and summer program aimed to helping Hmong children, teens and their parents manage the challenges of life in a new culture. In the wake of the tragedy, friends, staff and other parents in the program showed their support, hosting a special birthday party for Malee complete with a cake, gifts and good wishes.

"All the kids here support Malee and she is able to express herself with them in this difficult situation," said Hlee Thao, the program coordinator pictured below at left.  "Malee tells us that when she comes to our program, she gets caught up in the fun and for a brief period, doesn't think about her mother. For a while at least, she feels better and happier."