Posted on 10/02/2008 10:25:50 PM PDT by Tennessee Nana
MARYVILLE - The Japanese widow of a Maryville Marine killed in Iraq has decided to bear their son in Japan.
Hotaru Ferschke, 24, relayed the decision to Sgt. Michael Ferschke's mother, Robin Ferschke, on Thursday after a doctor pronounced her fit and able to make the arduous journey to the U.S.
The baby, who will be named Mikey, is due Jan. 9.
Hotaru Ferschke, who had come to Maryville in August to bury her husband of one month, ran into bureaucratic problems when she tried to return to the U.S. to have the baby, as she and her husband had decided.
Her initial attempts to gain entry to the country were rebuffed, even though the child will be an American citizen even if he is not born in the U.S. With the clout of a U.S. senator, she was ultimately issued a temporary visa that would have allowed her to come to Blount County if her doctor concurred.
He did, Hotaru Ferschke told her mother-in-law on Thursday, but as a first-time mother, she decided she wanted to be near her own mother when the baby is born. Even though her daughter-in-law speaks English well, Ferschke said, if she is attended by Japanese doctors, there will be no fear of miscommunications in case of complications.
"I will follow her wishes," Robin Ferschke said, "like she is following Michael's."
Ferschke said she and her husband, Mike, will fly to Japan about a month after the baby is born to bring Hotaru and the baby back to the U.S. to live, as the sergeant had wanted.
The plan is for Mikey to be reared in the U.S., honoring his American and Asian heritages.
(Excerpt) Read more at knoxnews.com ...
Checks should be written to:
Robin Ferschke (the baby’s grandmother)
Send checks and gifts to:
Mikey Ferschke, 1001 Genesis Rd., Maryville, TN 37804.
Mikey’s full name will be Michael Harvey Ferschke III.
Mikey PING
Thank you Nana. While I am sorry to hear of the family’s troubles, I would love to send a small donation to the family via the paternal grandmother.
I wish Hotaru and Mikey all the best. It saddens me greatly to know the dad will not get to see his son and help raise him.
First, RIP Sgt Ferschke. 2nd, God bless the mother of the soldier for making the FIRST attempt to enter the US legally. Whomever at immigration bungled that process needs to be dismissed. The Japanese mother respected the wishes and culture of the now-deceased Sgt Ferschke and that speaks volumes about the character of the mother.
T0 baby Mikey, welcome home soon to America and may you have a great and promising future.
INFANTICIPATING Praying for Mom til Mikey is safely nestled in her loving arms.
You're confused. Hotaru Ferschke is the widow of Michael Ferschke, not his mother and Michael Ferschke was a Marine, not a soldier.
Thank you for posting this.
Thank you for your service
:)
You’re welcome! How sweet.
I’m grateful for your post on this family. I’d like to help the widow and son. I come from a service family with a Japanese mom and was born in Japan. Prayers for the family and for your support. God bless.
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